Ordering up an Uber or Lyft in Atlanta may provide the quickest way to get home on any given day or night. Popular ridesharing services are not immune from car accidents.
What happens when a ride home ends in a ride to the hospital? A rideshare driver under Georgia law is anyone who uses a personal vehicle to transport others via an electronic network such as Uber or Lyft. Figuring out liability is the first step in getting compensated for a crash in a rideshare vehicle.
Who was at fault for the crash?
Georgia is an at-fault state. This means that one driver is responsible for the crash allowing the others involved to seek and recover damages. If the rideshare vehicle is at fault for the crash while a passenger is present, that driver’s insurance may need to pick up the tab for medical bills. On the other hand, if the rideshare driver is innocent, the driver who caused the accident is on the hook.
What kind of compensation does the company provide?
Ridesharing companies make it clear that drivers are contractors. This absconds Uber or Lyft from financial responsibility for damages and places it squarely in the laps of the drivers. When signing up to provide rideshare services, the umbrella company asks for proof of insurance and policy limits. In many instances, rideshare companies require drivers to carry more than the minimum amount of insurance the state dictates. Even so, if a rideshare driver causes a crash, the umbrella company has a liability policy that kicks in to cover up to a million dollars in damages.
Regardless of fault, a person who faces medical care due to a crash should receive just compensation. If the damage to the body is extensive, the recovery period may prove lengthy and life-changing.
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