Rideshare accidents can happen at any time on any street. When it happens to you, and you have serious injuries resulting from it, you deserve the legal help of a rideshare accident lawyer in Hartford with the skill and resources to guide you.
At The Law Offices of James A. Welcome, you can trust in our over 40 years of legal experience to fight for your right to fair treatment. A Hartford car accident lawyer can answer your questions with insight and transparency.
Liability in a Rideshare Accident Can Be Challenging
One of the complex aspects of a rideshare accident is proving liability. One or more parties could be held accountable for your injuries. You, as the victim, must demonstrate who is at fault and why.
Determining liability requires careful consideration of who caused the accident and what service they were providing at the time of the accident. In some situations, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft could be held accountable, but that is not always the case.
Your role in the accident can also make a difference in who can seek compensation and what type of losses you can recover. Because of these challenges, we strongly encourage you to work with a Hartford rideshare accident lawyer for legal guidance.
When the Rideshare Company Is at Fault
The rideshare company is at fault in situations where the driver was actively providing services for the company because they were logged into the app and had accepted a ride.
If the rideshare driver runs a red light while providing your ride, for example, and this leads to an accident, you can hold Uber or Lyft accountable. This opens the door to potentially higher liability claims, and a Hartford personal injury lawyer can help with your case.
When the Rideshare Driver Is at Fault
There are some situations where the rideshare driver holds responsibility for the accidents, and their insurance company must pay for your losses. If the rideshare driver was logged into the app, or not logged in at all, but was not driving to a pickup and had not accepted a ride, then the rideshare company is not accountable. In these situations, holding the rideshare company accountable is challenging.
Other Drivers and Parties
There are various other situations where third parties could be accountable for your losses, including other drivers who cause the accident or the city when road conditions cause it. In these situations, you can seek legal action against the at-fault party if you can demonstrate those losses. We strongly encourage you to work with our rideshare accident attorneys in Hartford to prove who is at fault.
What Causes Rideshare Accidents
Rideshare accidents happen on an incredibly common basis throughout the city and region. These drivers may not have received any additional training and may not even know the community well. Some of the most common reasons these accidents happen include:
- Distracted driving, especially using apps and texting while behind the wheel
- Fatigue from working long shifts and driving into the late night
- Speeding and other forms of reckless driving
- Failure to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, especially in busy areas like airports
- Sudden lane changes, often due to missing an exit
- Using navigational systems instead of watching the road
- Tailgating other drivers
When rideshare drivers cause serious injuries to victims, they change the life of that person. You may be a rider in their vehicle, a pedestrian walking along the street, or someone who is in another car that is involved in a head-on collision with a distracted Uber driver.
When this happens, arm yourself with a Hartford Uber accident lawyer ready and capable of helping you fight for fair compensation.
What to Do After a Rideshare Accident
Victims involved in a rideshare accident may be unsure what steps to take to recover damages. In every case, your priority should be seeking medical care for yourself and anyone else hurt in the incident. WE encourage you to contact 911 to request both medical care and legal support. Then, follow these tips:
- Document as much as you can at the scene of the accident. This includes taking photos of your injuries, the damage to both cars, and the surrounding area.
- Get the name and contact information for all drivers. Request to take a photo of the driver’s license and insurance card.
- When police respond to the accident, provide only facts about what you experienced or saw. Do not speculate.
- Request that any witnesses provide contact information to you.
- Get medical care immediately after the accident. This helps to preserve evidence and minimizes claims against you later.
You will need to notify the insurance company of the at-fault party of your injuries. However, we do not recommend filing a claim for those losses just yet. Alert them, even through the app, and then contact our legal team for hands-on help the rest of the way. Review the FAQs from The Law Offices of James A. Welcome to learn more.
Seeking Compensation for Your Losses
You can seek compensation for any losses you have after a rideshare accident. This might include medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and mental anguish. The burden of proving who is at fault for them is on your shoulders.
There are situations where fault is shared. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h, it is possible for more than one party to be held accountable for injuries due to shared fault. This complicates the case further, and in all situations, we recommend seeking help from our legal team to pursue fair compensation.
When you turn to our lawyer, we will investigate all aspects of your case, including all injuries. We will build a strong claim based on the evidence available and then fight for you. As an experienced Hartford Lyft accident lawyer, you can expect us to go to court when necessary.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Rideshare Accident Attorney in Hartford
The Law Offices of James A. Welcome brings decades of experience to your fight against the insurance company.
We have helped recover millions of dollars in losses for our clients and have the resources to guide us. Set up some time to meet our rideshare accident lawyer in Hartford for guidance.