Ride-Sharing Accident Lawyers in Atlanta Tag Archives

a man driving a car as viewed from the backseat Uber – and other rideshare companies – arrived on the scene seemingly overnight, and they aren’t going away anytime soon. While hopping in an Uber can be extremely convenient, as drivers ourselves, we also have to contend with this additional traffic. The fact is that drivers for Uber and Lyft (and all the other companies) aren’t commercial drivers in any real sense – but they are out hustling to earn a living and they sometimes cause dangerous accidents. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a rideshare driver, it adds an additional layer of complications to your insurance claim, and you should consult with an experienced Atlanta-area personal injury attorney.

Claim Complications

The brilliance of most rideshare companies’ business plans is that they keep their profits high by hiring drivers as independent contractors whom they take very little responsibility for. While public outrage and the law is catching up with these companies somewhat, complications remain for those injured in accidents caused by their drivers. If you’ve been injured by a rideshare driver’s negligence, there are some basics that you should understand.

Lyft logo At 9:30 p.m. on March 21, an accident occurred in northwest Atlanta involving a semi-truck and a Lyft driver. The accident occurred at the intersection of Perry Boulevard and Johnson Road when the semi truck smashed into the passenger side of the car. Tragically, the passenger in the Lyft vehicle, an unidentified Atlanta woman, died as a result of her injuries. Police have reported that the Lyft driver was at fault and charges are pending. The accident raises a number of questions surrounding car accidents involving Lyft or Uber ridesharing services.

Why Uber and Lyft Accidents are Complicated

Uber and Lyft accidents present unique challenges that aren’t present in an accident between privately owned vehicles or even accidents involving taxi cabs. First and foremost, Uber and Lyft, at their core, are software companies – they have developed apps that connect drivers with riders. As a result, their drivers are considered independent contractors, who own their own vehicles, are responsible for maintenance and insurance, and basically handle all of the obligations that would typically be handled by a taxi company. In addition, Uber and Lyft have been slow to provide protection of their drivers and their passengers, and this is an area of the law that is still developing.