Charlotte Rideshare Accident Attorneys

Fighting for Your Rights

Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft are increasingly popular modes of transportation, especially in major cities like Charlotte, North Carolina. These services use smartphone apps to connect passengers with local drivers, often at lower rates than traditional taxicab companies. However, there is also a drawback to this affordability and convenience: rideshare drivers are not always carefully screened, creating a risk of crashes and deadly accidents. Yet because the rideshare industry is so new, victims often face difficulties understanding their legal rights, what is covered by insurance, and who is liable for an Uber or Lyft accident. The Lyft and Uber accident lawyers of Dewey, Ramsay & Hunt, P.A. are well-versed in this area of the law and are ready to fight aggressively if you or a family member was injured in a crash.

Our Charlotte rideshare accident attorneys have decades of experience handling personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against negligent drivers, insurance companies, and other parties involved in car crashes. With the advent of ridesharing, our injury firm has seen an increase in accidents of this type, and we understand how to use effective legal strategies to advocate for the victims.

Our Personal Injury Lawyers In Charlotte Also Focus On The Following Practice Areas:

Uber & Lyft Accident Injury Claims in NC: About Liability and Insurance

Though the rideshare industry has pushed back against regulators on insurance issues, often denying liability for even the most serious of injuries, that does not mean it is impossible to hold negligent parties liable when accidents occur. It simply means that it is very important to be represented by an attorney who has experience handling cases against rideshare companies, and who understands how these laws are constantly evolving in North Carolina’s civil courts.

Various parties may be liable when an Uber or Lyft driver causes an accident, regardless of whether the accident involves pedestrians, cyclists, passengers in the rideshare car, or occupants of another vehicle. Our attorneys can thoroughly dissect your claim to determine which parties could be held liable, including both the company and the individual driver.

According to the Uber website as of May 2018, “When [a driver is] on a trip in North Carolina, [the driver’s] liability to third parties is covered by Uber’s $1.5 million insurance policy. It covers each and every incident that occurs between accepting a trip and reaching the rider’s destination.” This includes a $1.5 million commercial insurance policy, $1 million for uninsured/underinsured motorist injury (often called “UM/UIM coverage”), and contingent collision and comprehensive insurance.

Depending on the company and when the accident occurs, coverage may or may not apply – for example, whether the app is on/in “driver mode.” Moreover, a serious injury can lead to large medical expenses that exceed the driver’s insurance limits, or the victim’s own insurance. An effective Lyft or Uber accident lawyer in Charlotte can help you understand how rideshare insurance policies affect your claim and work to maximize the amount of compensation that you are entitled to receive.

Different kinds of compensation, or “damages,” may be available for the victims of a Lyft or Uber crash in North Carolina.

Examples include compensation for:

  • Burial and funeral expenses, in cases where wrongful death occurred
  • Diminished earning capacity
  • Lost income
  • Medical bills
  • Pain and suffering

The amount of compensation that is available through a lawsuit or settlement depends on factors that are unique to each accident. These factors include how seriously the victim was injured, how the injury will impact the victim’s life in the future, and impacts to those whom the victim was supporting, such as dependent children.

Because they provide transportation services, Uber and Lyft are considered “Transportation Network Companies” (TNCs). This classification is important because TNCs are subject to specific legal criteria, which, like many of the laws surrounding rideshare companies, are still in the process of being shaped.

To set up a free consultation about a claim against Uber or Lyft in Charlotte, call (704) 377-3737 today. Our rideshare accident attorneys have recovered millions for injured clients and can help you work toward a secure future, too.

Related Links: