Rideshare Accident Attorney in Denver

Rideshare services are widespread across the United States, with Uber and Lyft operating in many towns and cities. However, using these services may come with severe risks to your personal safety. If you or a loved one suffer injuries in a Denver rideshare accident, call the tough, smart, and capable personal injury attorneys at Dormer Harpring.

Dormer Harpring’s Uber & Lyft accident lawyers can help you hold a rideshare company accountable for your injuries and any accident-related losses. Compensation for your rideshare claim can pay for medical bills, lost income, lost earning capacity, and more.

The rideshare accident attorneys at Dormer Harpring are:

• Focused on providing personalized, responsive services to every client
• Caring and supportive, ensuring clients have access to needed medical and accident support
• Courageous and unafraid to take on large corporations and difficult cases, other firms turn down

At Dormer Harpring, we tailor our representation to fit you. You are unique, and so is your claim. Call us today to schedule your free consultation and learn what makes Dormer Harpring different from other law firms.

Why You Need a Denver Rideshare Accident Attorney

There are many reasons to hire an experienced rideshare accident attorney, including the following:

• A skilled rideshare attorney will help to maximize the amount you recover for your injury claim
• They take the stress of a legal case off of your shoulders so that you can focus on your physical, mental, and emotional well-being
• A lawyer knows the laws, regulations, and procedures surrounding rideshare claims and litigation
• A car accident attorney has the necessary resources to pursue large insurance companies for injury compensation
• A rideshare lawyer can evaluate your damages and calculate an amount of compensation covering both current and future accident-related needs to meet your expenses

Rideshare accidents are more complicated than other car accidents. Liability for these crashes is often confusing, and insurance companies will attempt to deny or devalue your injury claim. Dormer Harpring’s rideshare attorneys can identify any liable parties for your crash and gather the necessary evidence to determine who is most responsible for paying your damages.

When you need a Denver rideshare accident attorney, call Dormer Harpring. Our lawyers care about you and your recovery. Dormer Harpring has an excellent trial record and represents clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning we charge no fees unless we win.

Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents

Rideshare drivers are like any other motorists. They receive no special training or education before transporting passengers. Uber/Lyft drivers are everyday drivers who, unfortunately, may not have the skills necessary to get passengers safely to their next destination.

Rideshare accidents share many of the same causes as other car accidents, including:

• Distracted driving. Some drivers may use their phones behind the wheel, or they may eat or let their minds wander.
• Fatigued driving. Rideshare drivers may ferry passengers around for a living. As such, some drivers may suffer fatigue while driving. This increases the risk of an accident.
• Speeding. Unfortunately, there is an incentive for rideshare drivers to speed between trips. The faster they pick up and drop off customers, the more money they make. Passengers can suffer injuries or even die as a result.
• Poor vehicle maintenance. Rideshare drivers may not take care the best care of their vehicles, which increases the risk of an accident that could injure or kill passengers.
• Impaired driving. As in any industry, there are substance abuse issues among rideshare drivers. Some drivers may operate their vehicles while impaired by alcohol or drugs, increasing the risk of an accident.
• Unsafe driving. In addition to speeding, drivers may run lights or make dangerous lane changes to get to their next destination quickly.
• Inexperienced driving. Many rideshare drivers commute to the area they work in and are unfamiliar with basic landmarks, main streets, and roads under construction. This can lead to accidents as the driver searches for signs, correct routes, lane marking, traffic signals, or things other than the road.

There are some causes of accidents more specific to rideshare drivers, including:

• Distracted driving while using the rideshare app
• Looking for passengers instead of watching traffic
• Sudden stops and starts to load and unload passengers
• Stopping in prohibited zones

Rideshare Accident Injuries

As a backseat passenger, a rideshare accident victim may not realize an accident is about to occur or have time to brace themselves for an impact. Many backseat passengers of rideshare vehicles also fail to wear seatbelts and do not have an airbag. This can cause rideshare accident victims to incur more severe injuries than other car accident victims.

Common accident injuries include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lacerations and bruising
• Broken bones and fractures
• Sprains, strains, and soft tissue injuries
• Crushing injuries
• Head and brain injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Eye injuries
• Chest and rib injuries
• Whiplash
• Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis and fractured vertebrae
• Wrongful death

It is imperative to receive medical care immediately following an accident as not all conditions are readily apparent at an accident scene. Some car accident injuries take days or even weeks before they are noticeable to injured victims.

Compensation for Rideshare Accidents

Compensation in a rideshare accident is complicated. Recovery depends on the rideshare company’s insurance policy and the status of the driver at the time of the accident. In Colorado, there are three different levels of liability for an Uber accident.

1. Uber and Lyft’s liability coverage applies to victims who were passengers at the time of the accident. Potential compensation under this policy is divisible among the passengers who suffered injuries. Uber provides “at least $1,000,000 in coverage.” On the other hand, Lyft generally has a $1,000,000 limit on its liability coverage in these cases.
2. If the driver was logged in and waiting for a passenger, then Uber provides $50,000 per bodily injury and $100,000 total for all injured parties. Also, Uber covers $25,000 in property damage per accident during this period.
3. If the driver was off-duty during the accident, then a claim is filed with the driver’s personal insurance policy. No compensation is available through Uber or Lyft.

The same limitations for bodily injury and property damage listed above apply if the driver is on duty and waiting for a pickup. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists can recover compensation from the rideshare company’s liability policy as long as the rideshare driver is transporting or picking up passengers at the time of the accident.

There is coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers who cause passenger injuries, and rideshare drivers can also obtain compensation through Uber and Lyft’s liability coverage policies. To learn more about coverage in particular circumstances, contact an experienced rideshare accident attorney.

Compensation awards in a rideshare accident vary according to a victim’s severity of injury and prognosis for recovery. Generally, rideshare damages cover the following economic and non-economic losses:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Lost income
• Loss of earning potential
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional trauma
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death expenses

No one can predict the exact amount of damages a victim will receive for a rideshare accident. However, any accident settlement needs careful review to ensure current and needs to include future accident-related expenses.

Protecting Your Rights After a Rideshare Accident

A victim must protect both their legal and physical well-being after a rideshare accident. The following steps can help ensure a victim receives the maximum compensation available for their injuries and make a full recovery:

• Seek medical treatment. Get medical assistance immediately or as soon as possible after an accident.
• Call the police and ask for an accident report. An accident report can establish and provide details of a rideshare accident.
• Take a screenshot of the rideshare app on your phone. This will support a claim for compensation by proving there was an active rideshare at the time of the accident.
• Notify your insurance company. Let them know that you were a passenger in a rideshare vehicle.
• Contact a rideshare accident attorney. A lawyer will assist in filing your claim and manage all contact with the insurance companies to ensure fair treatment.

At Dormer Harpring, our Denver car accident attorneys will stand beside you throughout the accident claims process and keep informed of any progress in your case. Our lawyers will promptly respond to your phone calls, emails, and text messages.

Reach Out to a Denver Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Call (303) 747-4404 or email us via the contact form on this page to find out more about our commitment to providing legal representation to Coloradans from all walks of life. Dormer Harpring never charges for a consultation, and our legal fees are contingent, meaning you pay based on the amount we recover.