The rideshare industry is growing, with the two main services being Uber and Lyft. Taxis are still in use in Michigan, often for pickups from the airport, but Uber and Lyft are growing as the most popular options for rides. In fact, 36% of Americans have used a rideshare service at least once, and 26% of app users say they use ridesharing at least once a month.
With rideshares being a very popular transportation method for people in medium and large cities, including Flint, MI, it is no surprise that the number of accidents caused by or involving rideshare vehicles is increasing. Your chances of getting into any type of motor vehicle crash are 1 in 366 per every 1,000 miles driven, and these numbers have increased since rideshare services became prominent. Plus, one in four motor vehicle accidents overall is caused by rideshare service drivers, making it somewhat likely that you or someone close to you will experience a Flint rideshare accident once in your lives.
Any type of automobile accident can result in serious injuries, towering medical bills, emotional trauma, and more. If you or your loved one were injured in a Flint rideshare accident due to a negligent driver, you are likely eligible to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, medical bills, and other damages.
Our experienced car accident lawyers at Christopher Trainor & Associates invite you to request a free consultation. We have decades of experience with Michigan car accident cases, and we know how to make sure you do not fall victim to shady insurance company tactics for paying you less than you truly need to move forward in your life.
Like other motor vehicle collisions, the number one cause of rideshare accidents is distracted driving. Rideshare drivers often have to use their smartphones and look at their GPS systems while driving, meaning a car accident can happen in the blink of an eye. After all, a fast-moving vehicle can drive the length of a football field in the time it takes an Uber driver to glance at the Uber driver app on their phone.
Furthermore, many Uber and Lyft drivers have full-time first or second jobs, making them more likely to be stressed, sleepy, or fatigued and less vigilant than they should be. Diving fatigue, speeding, reckless driving, other traffic violations, hazardous driving in poor weather, and drunk driving are other common reasons for rideshare accidents.
If you need to file a personal injury claim for a Flint rideshare accident, you need a Michigan car accident lawyer who is knowledgeable not just about the local laws but also specifically about rideshare accidents since they often involve complexities not seen in ordinary car accident cases.
Many people who’ve had rideshare accidents walk away with a few bruises or bumps. Sometimes, however, they may experience more serious injuries. Here are some of the most commonlyms, seen injuries in car accident claims, including rideshares.
All Flint rideshare accidents, like other auto accidents in Michigan, are handled in accordance with Michigan no fault laws. These laws essentially say that car accident claims do not need to establish fault, even a car accident involving a rideshare driver. Instead, it goes through Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance first, which provides benefits to the insured regardless of fault.
There may be additional insurance coverage you can access in the case of a rideshare accident when the driver of the Uber or Lyft can be established as at fault for the accident. In certain cases, Uber’s larger policy will cover your damages. It is best to seek the help of a Flint rideshare lawyer to make sure you seek the maximum possible compensation from all potential sources.
To recover timely and fair compensation for all of these, it’s best to consult a car accident lawyer in Flint at Christopher Trainor and Associates. You’ll definitely want to have a lawyer representing you if you wish to seek non-economic damages from the negligent driver. These can include pain and suffering compensation for physical pain, suffering, and anguish, known by Michigan state law as noneconomic loss. Your case then becomes a personal injury lawsuit, allowing you to sue the at-fault driver and their insurance company.
Injured victims in Michigan rideshare accidents do not have to first resort to their own PIP insurance coverage from their car insurance company. This is partly because some rideshare users do not have cars or drive at all, so they may not have their own PIP coverage to tap into. No fault insurance benefits come from the rideshare driver’s insurance since they become responsible for driving their passengers safely to their destination.
The Personal Injury Protection insurance coverage options are:
There is also Property Protection for property damage the insured’s car causes to someone else’s property or properly parked vehicle.
It’s best to consult a lawyer in this situation, because depending on the exact moment the accident happened, the rideshare driver who caused the accident may be covered through Uber or Lyft’s policy, which can allow you to access more funds for compensation. Only after meeting with one of our attorneys for a free case review can you know for sure what your options are based on the unique circumstances of your case.
The first thing you should do is seek medical care. You should always put your physical wellbeing above all else in the case of a car accident, so the best way to ensure you are in stable condition is to visit the closest emergency room. This serves a dual purpose: first, you will make sure you are not experiencing any injuries that are not immediately detectable to you due to the pain masking properties of adrenaline, and second, it will create a medical record establishing a link between your injuries and the rideshare accident.
You may not need to get an attorney if there hasn’t been a wrongful death and you did not sustain serious injury from the Flint rideshare accident unless the insurance company is delaying your No-Fault PIP benefits. If the car crash wasn’t your fault and you seek non-economic damages such as pain and suffering compensation or a wrongful death claim for one of your family members, a personal injury attorney can be a vital tool when it comes to recovering fair compensation.
You must file your personal injury claim for the Flint rideshare accident you were in within two years from the date of the car crash. If you consult with a personal injury lawyer from our law firm during this period, we can make sure it’s filed on time. Don’t wait until the last minute to consult an attorney, though. We will need time to investigate your case, collect all relevant evidence and file your claim.
Like with other cases involving motor vehicle crashes, a settlement for a rideshare crash can take up to one year to settle prior to trial. If a favorable settlement cannot be reached and a trial is necessary, it could be a long and drawn-out process that takes multiple years to complete. Most of these types of cases settle before ever going to trial, as it is usually in the best interest of all parties involved to settle for an amount everyone can agree to.
Your right to seek maximum compensation for your Flint rideshare accident injury deserves the legal representation you need to win. Get a free consultation from an experienced lawyer from our personal injury law firm in Flint, Christopher Trainor & Associates, by calling us today at (248) 886-8650. Don’t go through this alone when you can have a team of seasoned and passionate attorneys representing you.
