Richland Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers
Respected rideshare accident attorneys in Washington
Drivers and riders both like using Uber and Lyft to travel around the Richland and Tri-Cities region. Drivers like rideshare services because they can earn extra money while using their own car. Drivers like Uber and Lyft because they can arrange rides from their phones instead of hailing a taxi. Rideshare services mean you can reserve rides on short notice for reasonable fees. There are risks. Rideshare drivers aren’t vetted like taxi drivers. Many Uber and Lyft drivers don’t know the Richland area very well. Drivers are often so busy using their smartphones they are distracted from traffic emergencies.
At Telaré Law, our Richland Uber and Lyft car accident attorneys understand the complexities involved in rideshare accidents. In addition to standard liability issues involved with any type of car accident, there are complex insurance coverage issues. Telaré Law understands when just the driver is liable, and when Uber & Lyft are also liable. Our lawyers are respected car accident lawyers because of our record of high verdicts and strong settlements.
How can we help?
- What types of rideshare accident cases do you handle?
- Why do Richland Uber & Lyft accidents happen?
- What types of serious injuries do Uber and Lyft accidents cause?
- Who is liable for a Richland Uber or Lyft accident?
- Which insurance company pays my Richland rideshare accident claim?
- How much is my Uber/Lyft rideshare accident claim worth?
- Do you have an Uber and Lyft accident lawyer near me?
What types of rideshare accident cases do you handle?
Our Richland Uber and Lyft car accident lawyers represent the victims of all types of rideshare accidents including:
- Head-on crashes
- Rear-end crashes
- Broadsides/T-bone crashes
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Single-vehicle accidents
- Accidents in bad weather and heavy traffic
- Accidents involving trucks
- Accidents involving motorcycles
- Accidents when a passenger is entering or exiting a car
- Accidents caused by defective auto parts
- All other types of car accidents that cause severe injuries or death
Why do Richland Uber & Lyft accidents happen?
Rideshare accidents happen mostly for the same reasons that any car accidents happen. Common acts of negligence for all drivers include:
- Driving while intoxicated
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding, failure to yield, and other traffic violations
- Driving too fast for traffic conditions
- Driving too fast for weather conditions
While all drivers may drive while distracted, rideshare driving is especially problematic. Many Uber & Lyft drivers use their cell phones, while they’re driving, to schedule future rides. These drivers are often part-time drivers who are not familiar with the roads and routes. Many drivers rely too much on their GPS system instead of looking at the traffic around them.
Some rideshare accidents happen when passengers get into and out of the car - for example, if a driver pulls away before the passenger is fully in the car.
What types of serious injuries do Uber and Lyft accidents cause?
At Telaré Law, our Richland rideshare attorneys represent car accident victims with serious injuries. Many of our clients have permanent injuries. Some injuries are catastrophic – which means a victim’s life is never the same as before the accident.
Our Southeast Washington Uber & Lyft lawyers represent the occupants of any vehicle (rideshare or another car), pedestrians, and bicycle riders who suffer:
- A traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord damage or paralysis
- Third-degree burn injuries
- Traumatic amputation/limb loss
- Damage to kidneys and other internal organ damage
- Permanent vision or hearing loss
- Multiple fractures, compound, and other serious fractures
Our lawyers work with your physicians to verify your diagnosis, place a value on all your medical bills including future bills, and understand all your limitations, anxieties, and concerns.
Who is liable for a Richland Uber or Lyft accident?
We file accident claims against all responsible defendants when a rideshare accident occurs including:
- The Uber or Lyft driver
- Another driver
- The owners of the vehicles involved in the accident
- Manufacturers of defective auto parts
- Other defendants in some cases depending on what happened
Which insurance company pays my Richland rideshare accident claim?
Insurance coverage in Uber and Lyft cases is very complicated. Never try to handle a rideshare claim, or any car accident claim, on your own.
At Telaré Law, we understand these complexities. We’ll answer all your questions about insurance coverage. Generally, depending on how the accident happened, and whether the Uber or Lyft driver had accepted a ride, the insurance coverage rules are as follows:
- Driver liability insurance. All drivers, Uber and Lyft drivers and all other drivers, must have minimum liability insurance in the following amounts:
- $25,000 for injuries or death to one victim.
- $50,000 for injuries or death to more than one victim in one accident.
- $10,000 for property damage.
Since just one night in a hospital can cost tens of thousands of dollars, drivers should purchase as much liability insurance as they can afford.
Drivers who use their car for a “transportation network company” such as Uber or Lyft must have higher “commercial” liability insurance coverage in some parts of Washington. For example, Seattle has this regulation that requires liability insurance as follows:
-
- $100,000 for injuries or death to one victim.
- $300,000 for injuries or death to more than one victim in one accident.
- $25,000 for property damage.
- Uber and Lyft insurance. Uber and Lyft, by state law, must have the following insurance coverage:
- Before a ride is accepted. $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 for multiple victims in one accident, and $30,000 for property damage.
- After a ride is accepted until the passenger is discharged. “Combined single limit liability coverage in the amount of one million dollars for death, personal injury, and property damage,” and “underinsured motorist coverage in the amount of one million dollars.”
- Uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage. Uber and Lyft accident victims in Richland may be able to submit a claim through their own UM/UIM carrier – if the other insurance coverage isn’t enough.
Rideshare accident victims may also be allowed to submit claims for medical bills, regardless of fault, if they have personal injury protection insurance.
How much is my rideshare accident claim worth?
If you’re hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident, you can demand damages from the liable defendants for all your economic and noneconomic losses. Our Southeast Washington lawyers demand compensation for:
- All your medical expenses. Catastrophic injury victims often need medical care for the rest of their lives.
- All your lost income. You can claim all the income you lose from the date of the accident until the date you can return to work. If you cannot return to work, you can claim additional wage loss compensation for your disability.
- Pain and suffering. You live in daily pain with constant worries. You’re entitled to compensation for your agony.
Additionally, you can claim compensation for:
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Inability to use any part of your body
- Loss of consortium
- Property damage
- Burial and funeral expenses, in the event of a fatal accident
Do you have an Uber and Lyft accident lawyer near me?
Telaré Law meets clients at our Richland office located at 1321 Columbia Park Trail, Suite B, Richland, WA. We have a Kennewick office too. We meet clients at their homes or a convenient location if they are unable to come to our office.
Talk with our Richland Uber & Lyft accident lawyers today
At Telaré Law, our lawyers understand how traumatic any car accident is. One minute you reserved a ride to get home, to a doctor’s appointment, or to see your grandchild. The next minute, you’re in a hospital. Our lawyers represent clients who never fully recover from their injuries. We investigate how the accident happened, and who is responsible. We fight to obtain the strongest recovery possible. We’re skilled at reviewing apps and other Uber & Lyft records.
To discuss your rights with an experienced Richland trial attorney, call us at 509-737-8500 or complete our contact form to schedule a consultation. We represent Uber & Lyft clients on a contingency fee basis. Our lawyers represent accident victims who live in Richland, Pasco, Walla Walla, Pullman, Othello, Moses Lake, Ritzville, and all Southeast Washington.
