Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Denver, CO
Growing up, everyone told you not to get into cars with strangers. In today’s modern world full of technology, every day, people are getting into cars with strangers using ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft. However, an accident involving a rideshare driver can present many challenges that are different from other types of accidents.
The complexity of rideshare cases makes it difficult for accident victims to obtain compensation for their injuries and losses. You need a law firm that takes an innovative approach to rideshare accidents. A Denver rideshare accident lawyer can help you file a claim against many entities, including the driver, rideshare company, insurance companies, and any legal teams these parties have.
Varner Faddis Elite Legal represents victims of all types of car accidents, including those involving rideshare vehicles. We have obtained results in excess of $800,000 in motor vehicle accident cases and can accurately assess how much your claim is worth. Moreover, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you won’t owe us any legal fees unless we successfully recover compensation for you.
How far above and beyond do we go for our clients? When a loophole in ridesharing insurance requirements kept our clients from getting the compensation they deserved, we successfully lobbied the state legislature and governor to change the law.
Contact us today for more information about how Denver Rideshare Accident Lawyer can help you.
Table of Contents
- How Does Ridesharing Work?
- Rideshare Accident Statistics
- How Do Ridesharing Accidents Happen?
- Liability Is Complex
- Rideshare Accident Injuries
- What Compensation Can You Obtain After an Uber or Lyft Accident?
- Why Do You Need a Denver Rideshare Accident Attorney From Varner Faddis Elite Legal, LLC?
How Does Ridesharing Work?
The ridesharing process is simple, allowing riders to contact a driver and get to their destination quickly. You pick up your phone, open the ridesharing app of your choice, enter location information, and wait for a driver to appear. The driver will arrive at your location; you will verify the information and get in the car.
When an Uber or Lyft accident occurs, things can get messy. The driver’s status at the time of the accident will determine which insurance company you need to file a claim with. These intricacies cause a lot of contention for many accident claims.
Rideshare Accident Statistics
Uber has become very popular in recent years, and with the uptick in use, there has also been an uptick in accidents.
Reports for one recent year show that:
- Uber accidents resulted in 97 fatalities
- 30 percent of Uber accidents involve pedestrians
- Most accidents occur in urban areas
- 2 percent of Uber accidents involve bicycles
Additionally, the latest reporting year had 469 fatalities in Colorado due to motor vehicle collisions.
How Do Ridesharing Accidents Happen?
Driver error is the number one cause of motor vehicle accidents, whether it involves rideshare or not. Many Uber and Lyft drivers are in a hurry to get to their destination and move to the next ride. Rideshare drivers face additional pressure and distraction. They must constantly be glancing at their phone for directions and the next opportunity for a gig. These and other factors will heavily impact how rideshare accidents happen.
The most common driver errors in Denver rideshare accidents are:
- Distractions: All drivers face distractions, but Uber and Lyft drivers face additional distractions. They are constantly checking their phones for incoming rides, using GPS to navigate unknown territory, and paying attention to the passengers they pick up. Some apps will allow passengers to choose the type of music they want to listen to, meaning the driver must change the music with each passenger.
- Speeding: Drivers are in a rush to get their passengers to their next location and will use excessive speeds to arrive quickly. The more rides they take, the more money they will make. That translates to drivers wanting to finish rides quickly by not following the road rules.
- Unsafe lane changes: Another reckless driver error is hazardous lane changes, when a driver changes lanes quickly to make it to their location faster.
- Following too closely: To pressure other drivers out of their way, rideshare drivers will sometimes tailgate behind other vehicles. However, this often results in rear-end accidents.
- Improper vehicle maintenance: All drivers on the road must adequately maintain their vehicles and ensure they are safe to be on the road. An Uber or Lyft driver can face a tire blowout or a brake malfunction, among other problems, due to a lack of maintenance.
- Disobeying traffic signs and signals: For the flow of traffic and the safety of everyone, there are many signs and signals found across the city. When a driver disobeys these laws, a collision is imminent.
- Fatigue: Since Uber and Lyft drivers only get paid when they take rides, they often stay online for longer to get as many rides as possible. Driving while tired is almost the same as driving while under the influence and results in countless accidents every year.
- Looking for passengers: Drivers often pick up passengers in unknown locations. Since they are unfamiliar with the location, they will pay attention to addresses instead of on the road. They will even stop loading and unloading passengers in unsafe areas to save time. A situation where one passenger is exiting and another is entering has many legal implications.
There are many other reasons why Uber and Lyft accidents in Denver occur. While you have legal protections in these cases, you must also remember that drivers and the companies they work for will try to place hurdles in your path to recovery. An Uber and Lyft accident attorney is your first line of defense against unfair treatment during the insurance claim process.
Liability Is Complex
How Uber and Lyft handle a rideshare accident claim will depend on what the driver did during the accident. Additionally, how and when the accident occurred will impact the amount of insurance coverage available following the crash and how you can be paid fair compensation.
There are three possible outcomes and considerations:
- A Lyft or Uber driver is not logged into the app but is on personal time when the accident occurs. When that is the case, the party responsible for the damages is the driver’s insurance carrier.
- When the rideshare driver is logged onto the app but does not have a ride, their insurance is liable for injuries in a collision. However, in these cases, Uber and Lyft provide additional coverage if a claim gets denied or the policy does not cover all damages.
- When a driver has a passenger or has accepted a ride and is on the way to pick up the passenger, the rideshare company’s insurance policy will kick in. Both Uber and Lyft have $1 million liability coverage policies for all parties in an accident. While these policies and limits exist, filing a claim and receiving fair compensation is not always straightforward.
Other Variables That Affect Rideshare Accidents
Liability will heavily depend on the app, and it is crucial to have information on your trip at the time of the accident. Sometimes, a driver will end a trip before you reach your destination or have left the vehicle. They are not supposed to do this, and these actions can hurt your case. There is no additional oversight for the operation of these rideshare companies like there is for taxis, which means these companies make their own rules that will benefit them and save them money.
Additionally, another driver may have caused the accident. When another driver on the street is at fault for the accident while you are in rideshare, the liability complications are even more challenging. Instead of only dealing with the rideshare and their insurance company, you will now also need to handle another driver’s insurance company. The policies of insurance companies generally do not benefit rideshare accident victims. However, with a Denver Uber and Lyft accident lawyer who is knowledgeable in this area of personal injury law, you can get the justice you deserve.
Rideshare Accident Injuries
Most passengers ride in the back seat and do not pay much attention to the road during their trip. Backseats do not have airbags, and many riders will not use their seatbelt. During an accident, a rideshare passenger will often have little to no protection.
Some common accident injuries include:
- Chest and rib injuries
- Lacerations and bruising
- Broken bones
- Soft tissues injuries
- Whiplash
- Wrongful Death
- Eye injuries
- Head and brain injuries
- Spinal cord trauma
- Burn injuries
- Herniation in the head or neck
The list is not all-inclusive and shows just a few possible outcomes for your Denver rideshare accident. Depending on your injuries, your medical treatment can take weeks to months. Many injury victims cannot return to their everyday lives and will have to adjust how they move through life and make an income. At Varner Faddis Elite Legal, we help Lyft and Uber accident victims recover the compensation they need to recover from their injuries and move forward during this challenging time.
What Compensation Can You Obtain After an Uber or Lyft Accident?
These accidents are like any other car accident, and the results are often the same. The main difference is who will pay for the damages. While your Denver rideshare accident lawyer works to determine liability and who to file a claim against, you are recovering emotionally, physically, and financially.
An injury claim can result in payment for:
- Pain and suffering
- Ongoing medical bills
- Emergency medical treatment
- Loss of enjoyment of life payment
- Lost income, earnings, and wages
- Lost benefits from your loss of employment
- Property damage for any personal items you had during the crash
- Loss of future earning potential
- Mental anguish
Every case is unique, and while these are a few examples of compensation you can recover, it is not an exhaustive list. You must work with your Denver rideshare accident lawyer to determine how much your claim is worth and find every avenue for compensation.
Why You Need a Denver Rideshare Accident Attorney From Varner Faddis Elite Legal, LLC?
It is vital to have a law firm on your side that uses state-of-the-art technology to find evidence that can help you build a solid case and hold the driver, rideshare company, and all other parties liable for their negligence.
You need a law firm that will fight for your rights by:
- Obtaining critical evidence for your claim
- Proving liability in your case
- Request and analyze insurance policies
- Ensure you get the quality medical treatment you need for your injuries
- Advocate for fair treatment during the legal process
- Handle communication between all relevant parties to ensure there are no underhanded tactics underway
- Build a solid case to present during negotiations
- Take your case into litigation and prepare for trial
- Represent you in a trial if the need arises
Denver Rideshare Accident Attorneys, Lauren Varner
Varner Faddis Elite Legal, LLC will take over your case and handle every aspect of this list and more. We are client-invested and results-oriented. You will have personal and timely access to the Denver rideshare accident lawyer handling your case, a benefit not all law firms can offer.
Just contact us at 720-710-9073, and let us start with your free claim evaluation.
Office
6025 South Quebec St.
Suite 100
Centennial, CO 80111
Phone: 720-710-9073
Testimonials
All Charges-Found NOT GUILTY
“Eric took my case about a month before I had to go to trial. He showed up and showed out! His preparation for the case was phenomenal! He didn’t forget to study anything. He is the only lawyer I have ever met who actually cares about his clients, they are not just a paycheck to him. He will give you his all!
– Anonymous, Criminal Defense Client
