Even with some of the most recent hiccups with crime being reported for users of these services, the companies have responded promptly. They have updated their apps to ensure more safety features for riders. When you use a ride-share service you are expecting a driver who has had a background check, who has a good driving record, who knows the area for which you are traveling and you expect that you are mostly safe when you are in the backseat.
For the most part, you are fairly safe when you are in rideshare. Certainly, you are arguably just as safe as you are when you are driving yourself, driving with a friend, sitting as a passenger in a bus, or a passenger in a taxi. This means you have a relative amount of safety but nothing is one hundred percent safe. Anytime any driver goes on the road they are at some risk for an accident. You are probably familiar with what to do if you are in an accident in your car, but what happens when you are in an accident as a passenger of a rideshare driver?
What Do You Do When You Are In An Accident As A Passenger With A Ride-Share Driver?
A recent study shows that there has been an uptick of accidents as the popularity of rideshare drivers has increased. So how do you respond when you are victim to an accident in one of these cars?
Two things can happen. The first is that the driver is on the job and as such the company for which they drive for generally cover the costs associated with accidents while the driver is working. If the driver is not working, then most of these companies require that their drivers have their insurance. In this situation, you would be pursuing compensation from the driver’s personal insurance. When you are in the car during an accident it is fairly straight forward deciphering which insurance is responsible for your damages. There is no doubt that the driver is “on the job” while you are in the car and therefore the company is the most likely party that will be on the hook for your expenses.
Figuring out who is responsible for your injuries when you are not in the car becomes a bit murkier. For instance, if you are a driver of another car or a pedestrian and a rideshare driver hits you, it could be difficult to determine if they are on the job or not when the accident occurred. These jobs are highly flexible, drivers can be on the job or off at their own discretion. Additionally, there is plenty of controversy regarding if a driver is technically on the job when they are leaving a location where they completed a drop-off or during the time they are driving to meet a person at a pick-up location.
Because of this gray area, it is difficult for a victim to navigate the legal waters when it comes to accidents with rideshare drivers. This is where an experienced Beloit automobile accident attorney will highly beneficial for victims. One of these legal professionals will be able to examine the case and the details to figure out which insurance makes for the most suitable option to pursue compensation.
Why You Should Contact A Wisconsin And Illinois Personal Injury Attorney If You Are Injured By A Ride-Share Driver
Insurance companies are going to try everything to deny your claim or give you as little as possible by diverting some of the blame if not all on your shoulders. An experienced Wisconsin personal injury attorney will fight on your behalf so that the insurance companies don’t take advantage of you. Claims that involve rideshare services can be intricate and challenging to maneuver. Let the Alexander J. Smith’s Wisconsin and Illinois personal injury attorneys handle it for you. Call us today to discuss your situation during a completely free consultation at (608) 237-7035 for residents of Wisconsin or (815) 243-9686 for residents of Illinois.