Ride-Sharing Accidents And Personal Injury Claims

Ride-sharing is on the rise. Across Ontario, services such as Uber and Lyft complete thousands of passenger pickups and dropoffs every day. Alongside the convenience and flexibility of ride-sharing, though, there are various complexities and risks, and these can include accidents.

If you have experienced a ride-sharing accident, you are going to need to understand the legal considerations that ensue as a result, such as ride-sharing injury claims and processes. Ristich Law’s team of personal injury lawyers has experience in handling ride-sharing injury claims, and in today’s article, we will explore insights and guidance into your legal rights and the steps you will need to take.

What Ride-Sharing Accidents Involve

Ride-sharing accidents can involve multiple parties such as the rideshare company, passengers, the driver, or others. They can involve collisions with pedestrians, other drivers, and several other types of incidents.

Distracted driving and fatigue are just a couple of causes of ride-sharing accidents. But it can also happen as a result of driver negligence or severe weather conditions.

Ride-Sharing Accident Actions to Take

Now, following a ride-sharing accident, specific immediate actions, such as documenting the scene, and getting the contact details of the Uber driver, are fundamental to the legal process. But there are additional actions you must take, such as reporting the accident to the police, seeking medical attention, and contacting a personal injury lawyer for support.

• Documenting the scene: Where possible, ensure you take photographs of the accident scene and gather statements from witnesses. We highly recommend that you preserve this evidence, as it can aid in building your personal injury case.
• Reporting the accident to the police: As you report the accident to the police, they will create an official record. This step is important, as it provides additional documentation that is ideal for making an insurance claim.
• Seeking medical attention: No matter how minor the injuries may be, we strongly advise that you should seek medical attention straight away. This action can ensure you have accurate medical records that can support your case and the insurance claim.
• Contacting a personal injury lawyer: With experienced lawyers who have handled rideshare accident cases, you can gain the right insights into the legal process. We highly recommend that you contact a personal injury lawyer such as the Ristich Law team, for the right guidance through the claims process.

Navigating Legal Aspects in Ride-Sharing Cases

In terms of legal aspects and laws governing ridesharing companies, a few crucial regulations for drivers apply. For instance, under the vehicle for hire by law, drivers of public transportation companies like Uber or Lyft need to provide the brokerage with an Ontario driver’s licence. They cannot carry out the vehicle-for-hire business without the corresponding licence.

They must also have the vehicle inspected when required by the licence manager or enforcement officer. They need to also keep a record of all collisions involving the vehicle, including the date and time of the collision and the location.

Alongside these regulations, drivers must have insurance coverage, such as personal insurance and rideshare insurance, which we will look at in more detail just below:

• Personal insurance and rideshare insurance: While the personal insurance of the rideshare driver is for incidents that take place when the driver uses the vehicle for personal reasons, the rideshare company’s insurance, or commercial insurance, tends to be the primary coverage, covering risks linked with commercial activities.
• Third-party insurance: Third-party insurance can apply in situations when a separate driver bears the fault. It means that accident victims can claim compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance, which can typically take place through a tort claim – a civil claim for compensation for the wrongful act or accident.
• Passenger coverage: Passenger coverage is an additional insurance type, with which injured parties can seek compensation from the company running the rideshare activity. This type of insurance is mandatory for rideshare companies, covering passengers during each ride.

The complexity of making a claim, however, lies in the multiple insurance policies, challenges in determining fault especially when there is shared responsibility, limits to insurance policy compensation amounts, and even disputes that occur between yourself and the insurance company. For these reasons, seeking legal representation is crucial.

Why Select Ristich Law for Legal Support?

At Ristich Law, our experienced personal injury lawyers can handle complex ride-sharing accident cases. Our 25 30 years of experience means that we can help you through this challenging period. From the first free consultation, we get to know our clients thoroughly and offer a personalized approach throughout the personal injury case.

Our legal team has supported a range of clients who have provided positive testimonials about our personal injury law firm, with many stating that Ristich Law addresses all questions and concerns, and stays responsive to all unique client needs. We have advocated for clients and achieved successful outcomes for a range of car accident cases; our team is ready to support you in your case as well.

Compensation Types Available in Ride-Sharing Cases

With the right legal support, clients may find it easier to get various types of compensation, such as loss of income, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and others following the ridesharing motor vehicle accident.

The compensation depends on the insurance type the injured party is pursuing, which can include no-fault insurance or accident benefits insurance, which pay out for the treatment and income replacement. There are also tort benefits and compensation types. Here, we will look at examples of these compensation types:

• General Damage claims: In tort claims, this refers to monetary compensation awarded for losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Loss of income compensation: In tort claims, individuals may seek damages worth greater amounts than the insurance policy coverage of the ride-sharing company. Victims of the accident may pursue compensation for loss of income for future losses.
• Medical expenses compensation: Clients can claim for long-term medical expenses, such as physical rehabilitation, physiotherapy, hospital bills, or chiropractic treatment. In tort claims, individuals can claim benefits to cover future treatment needs and can also receive compensation for pain and suffering.

Ristich Law can ensure you receive the maximum possible compensation for your case. We achieve this by evaluating your case, advocating on your behalf, and then negotiating with insurance companies, who may attempt to dismiss your injuries. We can calculate the exact compensation you are owed and consider the current and future effects of your loss of income to handle these negotiations.

Final Thoughts on Ride-Sharing Accidents and Personal Injury Claims

There are a few complexities related to ride-sharing accidents and personal injury claims, such as proving liability and negotiating with insurance companies. But with the support of expert car accident lawyers and experienced ride-sharing accident lawyers, you can navigate your case more easily.

Ristich Law is available to provide the legal assistance required if you have experienced an accident with a ride-sharing service. Contact the Ristich Law team today. Let us assist you and advocate for you to get the right settlement for your case.