RIDESHARE

Ridesare

The way we travel has drastically changed over the past several years. There was a time we used phonebooks to request a taxi for our travel. Now we have the convenience of Rideshare at our fingertips. However, with the increase of Rideshare access, safety has been a great cause of concern. Whether you are the driver operating a Rideshare or a passenger using Rideshare, it is important to know your rights after an accident.

With Rideshare there can be multiple insurance companies involved after an accident occurs. It should not be your job to figure out which insurance company is liable and who pays you for your injuries. It is important that you know your rights. If you have been injured in auto accident, call me at K. Hall Law Group to receive a free consultation with me personally.

HOW WE CAN HELP

Free consultation and a free review of your case
Explanation of the process
Opening a claim for you and dealing with the insurance companies
Assistance with Property Damage
Recovery of Loss Wages
Help with Doctor Appointments
Financial compensation for your injuries

Hurt in an Uber Accident or Lyft Accident in Georgia? Call Our Ridesharing Accident Lawyer in Atlanta

There are many different ways of getting around in Atlanta, but ridesharing apps like Uber in Atlanta and Lyft in Atlanta of become a lot more common over the years. These services are generally affordable, fast, and convenient, helping people who live, work, or visit Atlanta get to where they need to go. Although the vast majority of ridesharing trips occur without an issue, our ridesharing accident lawyer in Atlanta knows that that is not always the case. Statistics claim that ridesharing services account for an overall 2-3% increase in traffic fatalities. Even though this figure does not sound significant, each year in the United States there are roughly 43,000 traffic fatalities, meaning that a 3% increase would be almost an additional 1,300 fatalities – or about 3-4 more people killed each day just by ridesharing accidents.

These statistics also do not account for the number of non-fatal injuries caused in ridesharing accidents. Indeed, this number is also significant and troubling. According to a study of certain statistics by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ridesharing apps resulted in 4.6% increased odds of being injured in a motor vehicle crash as compared to using a taxi. This risk was specifically increased for drivers or occupants of motor vehicles, as well as for pedestrians on or around the roadway.

Here at the K. Hall Law Group, we understand how devastating that a ridesharing accident can be for victims and their families. That’s why we offer free case evaluations to help victims and their families learn more about their rights to compensation under Georgia law after an Uber accident or Lyft accident. We also pay the upfront costs and disbursements of litigation, which are only reimbursed after a recovery is made on your behalf. The same is true of our legal bills, which only come from a percentage of what we recover for you – and only after we make such a recovery. To learn more about how our experienced ridesharing accident lawyer in Atlanta can help you, contact us today to schedule a FREE case consultation.

Compensation in Ridesharing Accident Cases

Victims in ridesharing accidents in Georgia may be entitled to compensation for:

Pain and suffering
Lost wages
Medical bills
Lost future earnings
Nursing care and assistance (in the home or at a facility)
Home or vehicle modifications (grab bars, ramps, lifts, and related things)
Mobility assistance devices
Medical equipment
Punitive damages, and
Other damages caused by a ridesharing crash.

In addition to what victims may be entitled to recover, families may also be entitled to cover the following:

Loss of consortium
Medical bills they have paid on behalf of a victim
Time lost from work to help a loved one
Funeral bills
Burial expenses, and
Other damages caused by injuries to a loved one, or due to the wrongful death of a loved one in Georgia.

Why Ridesharing Accidents are Different

At first glance, it may appear that ridesharing accidents are just like normal car accidents. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Unlike normal car accidents where a driver is not working and is operating for personal reasons, ridesharing accidents are complicated because the driver is working for a business. Under Georgia law, businesses are generally vicariously liable for the negligence of their employees under the doctrine of respondeat superior. That means a business could be liable for the negligence of a driver who was working within the scope of his or her employment at the time of the motor vehicle accident.

However, historically, ridesharing companies have tried to use an exception to this doctrine by claiming that ridesharing drivers were independent contractors. Under Georgia law, like nearly all other states, businesses are generally not liable for the negligence of an independent contractor. Therefore, ridesharing companies would try to disclaim coverage, dismiss cases, and otherwise refuse to pay out ridesharing accident claims by innocent people who were harmed.

Fortunately, that has changed somewhat due to the efforts of experienced ridesharing accident lawyers in Atlanta and through changes in legislation and the common law. Thus, ridesharing companies may still be primarily liable for motor vehicle accidents in Georgia. However, there are still issues relating to the scope of a driver’s employment and whose insurance applies (the company or the driver). This is in addition to normal car accident rules governing who may be liable for a crash. Accordingly, victims and their families need to rely on an experienced legal team who knows how to specifically handle ridesharing accidents in Georgia like the
K. Hall Law Group.

Types of Ridesharing Accidents the K. Hall Law Group Can Handle For You

In addition to being able to handle some of the most complex liability issues involving ridesharing accidents in Georgia, the K. Hall Law Group can also handle some of the most disabling, devastating, and outright life-changing personal injuries. Some of the most serious injuries that we can handle for you and your family include the following:

Traumatic brain injuries including concussions
Spinal cord injuries including paraplegia, quadriplegia, and other types of paralysis
Broken bones
Loss of a limb
Blindness or vision injuries
Organ injuries, especially to the spleen, liver, lungs, kidneys, heart, or any other organs that may be damaged in a car accident
Neck injuries or back injuries, including disc herniations, annular tears, cord compression, the need for a spinal fusion, and other spine injuries
Joint injuries, including to the shoulder, knee, hip, elbow, wrist, ankle, or any other joint
Burn injuries or other significant disfigurement cases
Wrongful death, and
Any other types of serious or catastrophic personal injuries that our experienced ridesharing accident lawyer in Atlanta can handle for you and your family.

What to Do After a Ridesharing Accident in Georgia

The steps to take after a ridesharing accident in Georgia are similar to the steps to take after most other types of motor vehicle crashes. However, there are some steps and things that you can do which are unique to ridesharing accidents that would really help support your case. Some of the most important things to do after a ridesharing accident in Georgia include the following:

Immediately Take a Screenshot of the Ride

If you are involved in a ridesharing accident, make sure to bring up the ridesharing app on your phone and the map showing that you were still engaged in an active ride, and take a screenshot. You may want to take other screenshots in the app of your order, that the ride was still ongoing, and zoom in on the area of the accident location. The purpose is to prove that you were still a “rider” and your ride has not been completed yet.

That’s because ridesharing apps often claim as a defense that you were injured in an accident before the official ride started, after it had concluded, or that you and the driver had a side-deal and were not engaged in a ridesharing ride. Thus, by showing that the ride had not been finished and that you still had a longer route on the map to go, you will be able to refute this claim. Do not assume that the app will save this for you! Always screenshot it.

Call 911

Before you swipe out of the ridesharing app and the map, take a screenshot of the app and then call 911. Even if you are unsure if you are seriously hurt, anytime you are involved in a motor vehicle accident and may have suffered some type of injury, where another person may have suffered an injury, or where the vehicles have sustained moderate damage, you should always call 911 for help. The police will be able to create an official report documenting the accident, as well as obtaining all of the proper insurance information for all parties involved. This is a critical step to protecting your rights.

Follow Medical Advice

When first responders get to the scene, be evaluated and follow their instructions. Report every ache or pain you have, even if it is mild, because some back injuries may start as a mild ache but result in a permanent spinal fusion. If medical providers recommend that you get evaluated at the hospital, you should go. Do not go against medical recommendations. This is not only to protect your potential case, but also your life.

Take Photos or Videos of the Scene

If you are medically able to do so, take photographs and videos of the accident scene. This includes debris fields, points of impact to the vehicles, signage, traffic conditions, and scan of the surrounding area (including homes and businesses), of license plates or DOT markings, and of the other drivers if you believe they may be acting odd (such as impaired by drugs or alcohol). Only do this if it is safe for the traffic conditions and if it does not agitate another driver.

Obtain as Much Information as You Can From the Vehicles Involved

Again, if you are medically able to do so, get the insurance information from other drivers and their addresses. Do not expect law enforcement to get this for you, enough though most police officers will do this. It is always important that you get it for your own information and can use the police officer’s information as a backup to confirm what you have.

Seek Representation from an Experienced Ridesharing Accident Lawyer in Georgia

Although you will need to give timely notice to the insurance company, as soon as you contact them they will start to try to undermine your claim. Thus, whatever you say can be used against your case. Therefore, it is important to immediately hire an experienced ridesharing accident lawyer in Georgia to represent you and put in a claim with the insurance company. This will ensure that the adjuster does not do anything to trick you into admitting facts that were either not true or that could hurt your case.

Hurt in an Uber Accident or Lyft Accident in Georgia? Call Our Ridesharing Accident Lawyer in Atlanta at the
K. Hall Law Group

Even where liability and your injuries may be absolutely clear, unfortunately too many insurance companies and defense lawyers will try to take advantage of you by undermining, underpaying, and otherwise outright denying otherwise valid claims. By retaining an experienced ridesharing accident lawyer in Atlanta like the one at the K. Hall Law Group, you and your family can fight back to protect your rights under Georgia law. We offer free consultations and case evaluations, and only get paid after you get paid.

Whether you live in Atlanta or were just visiting when your ridesharing accident occurred, you’ll need the help from a Georgia lawyer to handle your case. Learn more about how our compassionate and experienced legal team can help you by dialing 678-367-3339 or by using the “Contact Us” box available here.