If you have been injured in a rideshare accident, you are not alone. Accidents involving Uber and Lyft vehicles are becoming increasingly common in Alabama, and we regularly hear from rideshare passengers and other victims who need help seeking just compensation for their injuries. Rideshare accident cases can present some unique issues, so it is important to make sure you know what you need to do to protect yourself in this scenario. Keep reading to learn more from an experienced Birmingham rideshare accident attorney:
The Right to Find Out Why Your Rideshare Accident Happened
When you get injured in a rideshare accident, you have the right to find out why the accident happened. This is critical because determining why the accident happened will allow you to determine who (or what company) is legally responsible for your accident-related losses.
However, you most likely won’t be able to find out why the accident happened on your own.
Determining why your rideshare accident happened requires a thorough investigation. This involves not only investigating at the scene of the accident, but potentially obtaining the rideshare driver’s phone records (including data usage) and various other forms of evidence as well. To collect the evidence you need, you will need an experienced Birmingham rideshare accident attorney on your side.
The Right to File a Claim Under the Rideshare Driver’s Insurance Policy
If the rideshare driver was at fault in your accident, you have the right to file a claim under the rideshare driver’s insurance policy. Rideshare drivers are required to carry liability insurance (the kind of insurance that pays for accident victims’ losses) under Alabama law.
Filing a claim under a rideshare driver’s liability insurance policy is similar to filing a claim after any other type of auto accident in Alabama. To receive just compensation for your accident-related losses, you will need to be able to prove that the rideshare driver was at fault in the collision, and you will also need to be able to prove how much you are entitled to recover.
The Right to File a Claim Under Uber or Lyft’s Insurance Policy
If the rideshare driver was at fault and doesn’t have insurance—or if the rideshare driver’s insurance coverage is inadequate to cover your financial and non-financial losses—you have the right to file a claim under Uber or Lyft’s insurance policy. Both of the major rideshare companies have liability insurance that covers accidents in which their drivers were at fault.
Here too, it is up to you to prove that you are entitled to coverage. To make sure you have all of the evidence you need, you should hire a Birmingham rideshare accident attorney to get to work on your claim as soon as possible.
The Right to Hold Any Other At-Fault Parties Accountable
While many Uber and Lyft accidents are the result of the rideshare driver’s negligence, other factors can lead to accidents involving rideshare vehicles as well. If another driver’s negligence, a vehicle or road defect, or any other issue is to blame for your accident-related injuries, you will need to rely on your Birmingham rideshare accident attorney to make sure you are fighting to hold the right party (or parties) accountable.
With that said, regardless of who (or what company) was at fault, you are entitled to just compensation. Here too, seeking just compensation will most likely involve dealing with the insurance companies, and you will want to have your attorney deal with the insurance companies on your behalf.
The Right to Be Treated Fairly By the Insurance Companies
While it is important to hire an experienced attorney to fight for the compensation you deserve, it is also important to know that you have the right to be treated fairly by the insurance companies. The insurance companies must conduct a good-faith investigation, and they must handle the subsequent stages of your claim in good faith as well.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. Bad-faith insurance practices are common, and far too often, these tactics leave accident victims without the compensation they deserve. This is another reason why it is important to rely on the advice and representation of an experienced Birmingham rideshare accident attorney rather than trying to handle your claim on your own.
The Right to Just Compensation for Your Financial and Non-Financial Losses
Regardless of the specific claim (or claims) you need to file, you have the right to just compensation for your financial and non-financial losses resulting from your rideshare accident. This includes just compensation for your present and future:
- Medical bills and other out-of-pocket costs
- Lost income and benefits
- Pain, suffering, emotional trauma, and post-traumatic stress
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of companionship, consortium, services, society, support, and enjoyment of life
These losses are all unique to you, and this means that the compensation you are entitled to recover is unique to you as well. Once you hire an attorney to represent you, your attorney will be able to take the necessary steps to document your financial and non-financial losses and seek the full compensation you deserve.
The Right to Experienced Legal Representation
As a rideshare accident victim in Alabama, you have the right to experienced legal representation. You are entitled to hire an attorney to deal with the insurance companies for you, and once you hire an attorney, the insurance companies will need to communicate with your attorney directly. Hiring an attorney in this scenario costs nothing out-of-pocket, and an experienced attorney will be focused on helping maximize your take-home financial recovery.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation with a Birmingham Rideshare Accident Attorney Today
Do you need to know more about your legal rights after a rideshare accident in Alabama? If so, we invite you to contact us promptly for a free consultation. To speak with an experienced Birmingham rideshare accident attorney in confidence as soon as possible, call us at 205-855-2745 or tell us how we can get in touch online now.