Atlanta Uber & Lyft Accident Attorneys

Rideshare Accident Liability Coverage: Uber and Lyft Insurance

Understanding liability coverage is crucial if you're involved in an accident with a rideshare vehicle. Uber and Lyft require drivers to maintain personal automobile insurance at the state-mandated minimum levels. However, coverage shifts depending on the driver’s status at the time of the accident — whether offline, available for a trip, or actively transporting a passenger. 

Uber’s and Lyft’s insurance coverages work as follows in different scenarios:

• Offline. If Uber or Lyft drivers are offline and are not using the rideshare app, their auto insurance is responsible for covering accident-related damages or injuries. The rideshare company’s coverage does not apply in this situation.
• Online and available for a trip. When the driver is online and waiting for a ride request, Uber’s or Lyft’s third-party liability insurance comes into play if the driver’s insurance doesn’t cover the accident. This coverage includes:
  • $50,000 per person for bodily injury
  • $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
  • $25,000 per accident for property damage
• En route or on a trip. Uber and Lyft offer increased liability coverage after a driver has accepted a ride and is either on their way to pick up a passenger or actively transporting them. This coverage provides up to $1,000,000 for injuries and property damage affecting passengers and third parties involved in the accident.

Comparative Fault for GA Rideshare Accidents

Georgia follows a rule of modified comparative negligence. You can seek damages after an Uber accident, even if you were partly to blame. However, the court will reduce your damages by an amount proportionate to your fault, and you can be barred from recovery altogether if you were 50% or more at fault. The jury will evaluate all the evidence, determine the damages, and assign percentages of fault.

Several defendants may share fault in an accident involving a rideshare. 

Potential defendants could include:

• An Uber or Lyft driver
• Other drivers
• Other entities

For example, let’s say your rideshare driver was 25% at fault, a driver of another car was 50% at fault, and a manufacturer of a defective part in one of the vehicles was 25% at fault. The damages were $1 million. Your Atlanta Uber and Lyft accident attorney can seek to recover $250,000 from your Uber driver, $500,000 from the other driver, and $250,000 from the manufacturer.

Statute of Limitations for Rideshare Accidents in Georgia

Georgia’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including those related to rideshare accidents, is two years. If you are injured in an accident involving Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare service, you typically have two years from the incident date to file a lawsuit.

Filing a claim after the two-year deadline can result in the court dismissing your case, which means you will lose the chance to pursue compensation for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and other accident-related damages.

Damages in Rideshare Accidents

If you've been injured in a rideshare accident, the physical, emotional, and financial toll can be overwhelming. Whether you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft, a driver in another vehicle, or a pedestrian, understanding the types of compensation available is critical to seeking financial recovery for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.

Types of damages available in rideshare accident cases include:

• Medical expenses. Compensation can cover the costs of emergency care, surgery, hospital stays, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medications, and other healthcare expenses.
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity. If your injuries prevent you from working, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages during your recovery period. For more severe injuries affecting your ability to return to work or limit your future earning potential, you may also be compensated for loss of earning capacity.
• Pain and suffering. This compensation addresses the physical pain, emotional distress, and overall reduction in your quality of life resulting from the accident. It accounts for the toll the accident has taken on your day-to-day activities and emotional well-being.
• Property damage. You can seek compensation for repairs or replacement of your personal property. This relief is particularly important if you were driving your vehicle or if your items in the rideshare vehicle were damaged in the collision.
• Punitive damage (if applicable). In cases where the rideshare driver’s actions were particularly reckless or involved misconduct, punitive damages may be awarded. The court typically grants these in cases of extreme negligence, such as driving under the influence or willful disregard for safety.

Several factors, including the severity of your injuries, the cost of medical treatment, and the long-term impact of the accident on your life, determine the compensation you may receive.

Call us at (800) 234-9556 or use our online form to reach an Uber and Lyft accident lawyer in Atlanta or the surrounding areas.