Football season brings packed stadiums, crowded streets, and plenty of rideshare traffic throughout Atlanta and Athens. For many fans, calling an Uber or Lyft is an easy way to get to and from a game without worrying about parking or driving.
But what happens if your rideshare is involved in a crash?
If you are hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident in Georgia, determining who pays for your injuries can be more complicated than it is after a typical car accident. The available insurance coverage may depend on who caused the crash and exactly what the rideshare driver was doing at the time of the collision.
Which Insurance Covers an Uber or Lyft Accident in Georgia?
Rideshare accident claims can involve several different insurance policies. Depending on the circumstances, these may include the Uber or Lyft driver’s personal auto insurance, the rideshare company’s insurance, another driver’s liability insurance, or uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
One of the most important factors is the rideshare driver’s status in the app at the time of the accident.
If the driver was not logged into the rideshare app, the driver’s personal auto insurance generally applies just as it would after another Georgia car accident.
The situation changes once a driver logs into the app. Georgia law requires insurance coverage for rideshare activity, and personal auto policies may exclude coverage while a driver is providing rideshare services.
If the driver has accepted a ride and is traveling to pick up a passenger or already has a passenger in the vehicle, a higher level of rideshare-related insurance coverage may apply.
What If You Were a Passenger in an Uber or Lyft?
If you ordered a ride after a football game in Atlanta or Athens and were injured while traveling as a passenger, you may have a claim depending on who caused the accident.
The rideshare driver could be responsible if their negligence caused the crash. For example, a driver may have been speeding, following another vehicle too closely, distracted by the rideshare app, or attempting an unsafe maneuver in heavy postgame traffic.
Another motorist could also be responsible. If another driver ran a red light or rear-ended the Uber or Lyft you were riding in, that driver’s liability insurance may become an important source of compensation.
In some crashes, more than one driver may share responsibility. Identifying each potentially responsible party and every available insurance policy can be particularly important when a passenger suffers serious injuries.
What If You Were Hit by an Uber or Lyft Driver?
Rideshare accident claims are not limited to passengers.
You could be driving your own vehicle when an Uber or Lyft driver hits you. You could also be a pedestrian crossing a busy Atlanta or Athens street after a game when a rideshare driver strikes you.
In either situation, the driver’s app status can be a critical factor in determining which insurance coverage applies.
This is one reason rideshare accidents can be more complicated than they initially appear. Simply exchanging insurance information with the driver may not reveal every policy that could potentially cover the crash.
What If Another Driver Caused the Rideshare Accident?
If another motorist causes a crash involving your Uber or Lyft, that driver’s liability insurance may be responsible for your injuries.
However, problems can arise if the responsible motorist is uninsured, leaves the scene, or does not carry enough insurance to cover your losses. Depending on the circumstances and applicable policies, additional coverage may be available.
This becomes especially important when an accident results in significant medical expenses, time away from work, or injuries requiring ongoing treatment.
Why the Driver’s App Status Matters After a Crash
After a rideshare accident, evidence showing what the driver was doing at the time of the collision can have a major impact on the insurance claim.
Trip records, app data, timestamps, GPS information, police reports, photographs, witness statements, and other evidence may help establish both liability and which insurance coverage was active.
Football weekends can create heavy traffic around stadiums, restaurants, bars, hotels, and entertainment areas in Atlanta and Athens. A crash during those busy periods may also involve multiple vehicles and conflicting accounts of what happened.
If you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident in Georgia, understanding which insurance policy applies is an important first step toward protecting your rights. Van Sant Law can investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, identify available insurance coverage, and help you understand your options for pursuing compensation.