Transportation network companies, commonly called ridesharing services, have become a popular mode of getting around town. While companies like Uber and Lyft offer a practical and valuable service, they could also be dangerous for their drivers, passengers, and other motorists on the road. Ridesharing drivers may be more prone to accidents because of their constant cell phone use while driving. MIT Technology Review even reports that traffic deaths have increased by over 1,100 per year because of ridesharing services.
In addition to the increased danger from the presence of many ridesharing drivers on the road, car accidents involving these services are also more complex than usual. It can be unclear where you should turn for compensation if you suffered an injury in a ridesharing car accident, but if the accident was not your fault, you could be entitled to receive compensation for your losses.
At Ben Crump Law, PLLC, our Durham ridesharing accident lawyer can help you navigate ridesharing rules and North Carolina’s laws after you experience a ridesharing car accident. Our team could help you seek financial compensation for your suffering. Reach out to us at (844) 730-0233 to learn more about what to do after a ridesharing accident.
Ridesharing Car Accidents Can Be Complicated
When you are in a car accident that involves a ridesharing service, the situation can be complicated. Instead of two drivers in a simple car accident, there can be many parties involved, including:
- The ridesharing driver
- The other driver (or multiple other drivers)
- The parent ridesharing company
- Ridesharing passengers
This situation is complex because of the commercial nature of a rideshare service. If the ridesharing driver caused the accident, the company could also share liability. If you were the ridesharing driver, you may wonder whether to turn to the other driver’s insurance policy, your own insurance policy, or the ridesharing company’s insurance policy. If you were a passenger in the ridesharing vehicle, it may also be unclear where you should seek compensation for your injuries.
To help with this situation, the North Carolina General Assembly recently passed a bill that stipulates insurance regulations and other aspects of using ridesharing services in this state. North Carolina General Statutes (GS) §20-280 requires all ridesharing drivers to carry certain amounts of insurance coverage, both for when they have paying passengers in their vehicle and for when they do not, but they have the Uber or Lyft app turned on. The transportation network companies themselves also carry large insurance policies to help when their drivers are involved in a car accident.
There are three possible liable parties in a ridesharing accident. The first two are the ridesharing driver and the other driver, but a third party could also have or share responsibility, such as:
- The transportation network company, if they failed to follow all the rules for hiring drivers, such as required background checks
- The city, if they failed to provide safe roadways
- A mechanic, if they failed to service a vehicle correctly
- A bartender, if they overserved a driver
If you suffered an injury or property damage in a ridesharing car accident in the Durham, North Carolina area, you should contact a Durham ridesharing accident lawyer as soon as possible. At Ben Crump Law, PLLC, we can help you determine who is liable for your suffering, communicate with insurance companies for you, or file a civil lawsuit on your behalf.
For a free legal consultation with a ridesharing accidents lawyer serving Durham, call (844) 730-0233
Recoverable Damages for a Ridesharing Accident
Regardless of whether you were the ridesharing driver, another driver, or a passenger in the car accident, when someone else causes you harm, you have the right to pursue financial compensation for your suffering. The types of damages that you may be able to recover for your losses include both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages refer to your out-of-pocket expenses, such as medical bills, property damage costs, and lost income. Noneconomic damages are those that are harder to quantify, such as your physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other changes to your life because of the accident, such as loss of companionship.
Durham Ridesharing Accident Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
How Ben Crump Law, PLLC Can Help You
Any car accident can be both physically and emotionally traumatic. Instead of adding to your stress by struggling with the financial burden of the accident or trying to obtain compensation from ridesharing companies by yourself, you can let Ben Crump Law, PLLC take on your case so that you can focus on rest and recovery.
Our Durham ridesharing accident lawyer can meet with you for a free consultation, investigate the circumstances of your accident, and advise you of your legal options. Specific ways we could help you recover compensation include negotiating on your behalf with insurance companies, filing a personal injury lawsuit to pursue damages for your losses, or filing a wrongful death lawsuit if your family member died in the accident.
If a civil lawsuit is the best way to receive the compensation you deserve, you will need to act quickly. North Carolina’s statutes of limitations limit you to three years for filing a personal injury case, according to GS § 1-52, and two years for filing a wrongful death case, according to GS § 1-53.
Our team will also investigate the accident and collect evidence of who was at fault for it and who is liable for your suffering, including information like:
- Video surveillance of the accident
- Photos of the scene of the accident and the damages
- Eyewitness statements
- The police report on the accident
- Medical records showing your injury
- Records of the TNC’s compliance with state laws, such as whether they conducted the proper inspections and background checks
To get started, contact us at (844) 730-0233 for a free consultation. You will have no obligation to continue after your consultation, and we work on contingency, which means you have nothing to lose because we never charge you any fees unless we can earn a settlement for you.
Call or text (844) 730-0233 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
