Escondido Rideshare Accident Attorney

Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are extremely popular throughout California, and thousands of people in the Escondido area rely on these services every day. However, it is vital to understand that you have the same risk of experiencing an accident in a rideshare as you would in any other vehicle, but resolving this type of car accident can be very difficult. An Escondido rideshare accident lawyer is an invaluable asset for any such case.

Representing Victims of Rideshare Accidents in Escondido, CA

Perry Personal Injury Lawyers has years of professional experience representing all types of personal injury cases for clients in Escondido and surrounding areas, including rideshare accident cases. If you need a trustworthy injury attorney, our team is confident we can provide an unmatched level of personal attention and diligent representation in all stages of your case.

Our goal is to help you maximize your recovery in the shortest timeframe possible. After a rideshare accident, it will mean proving liability for the accident, assessing the extent of your damages, and determining what insurance coverage is available that may compensate you for your losses. In some cases, insurance will not fully cover a victim’s losses, so they will need to file a personal injury suit in order to secure appropriate compensation.

We know that no two cases are exactly alike, and every injured plaintiff will have unique needs and concerns about their legal situation. Perry Personal Injury Lawyers can handle building your claim while you focus on your recovery, and our team can provide consistent updates as your case unfolds. Whether you can settle your case privately or you must take it to litigation, trust our firm to represent you through every step of the recovery process.

Proving Liability for a Rideshare Accident in Escondido

The state enforces the fault system for all vehicle accidents. This means that a driver at fault for an accident absorbs liability for the damages they caused to others, and a victim of an accident must prove fault before they can recover any compensation for their damages. Rideshare accidents happen in many of the same ways as all other vehicle accidents, such as:

• Distracted driving. This is one of the most commonly cited causes of vehicle accidents in the state each year. Whenever a driver is not paying full attention to operating their vehicle or fails to maintain awareness of their surroundings, they put themselves and other drivers around them at risk. Texting while driving and other cell phone use behind the wheel consistently rank as the most common types of distracted driving.
• Speeding. Whenever a driver exceeds the speed limit, they reduce the time and distance they have to react to changes on the road. Speeding can not only increase the chance of an accident happening, but also the severity of resulting injuries and property damage. Excessive speeding could also lead to reckless driving charges for an at-fault driver if they cause an accident.
• Intoxicated driving. It is illegal for anyone to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Penalties for intoxicated driving can include fines, jail time, driver’s license suspension, and liability for any damages caused to others. Penalties increase significantly if the driver causes great bodily harm or death.
• Traffic violations. When drivers fail to pay attention to traffic signals or disregard these signals, they can disrupt the flow of traffic in dangerous ways. Running red lights or stop signs, performing illegal turns, or failing to yield the right-of-way are just a few examples of traffic violations that can easily cause serious accidents.

Liability for a rideshare accident may fall to the driver of the rideshare vehicle or the driver of another vehicle. It is also possible for multiple parties to share fault for the accident if both are proven to have been negligent in the situation. If you were riding as a passenger in a rideshare, it is unlikely that you will be deemed at fault unless you somehow directly interfered with your driver’s ability to maintain control of their vehicle.

However, if you were driving your own vehicle when a rideshare driver crashed into you, it is possible that they could assess comparative fault, claiming that you contributed to causing the accident. California is a pure comparative negligence state, meaning if a plaintiff bears partial liability for their personal injury, they can still recover compensation, but they will lose a percentage equal to their percentage of fault for causing the accident.

Your Escondido rideshare accident lawyer can be invaluable when it comes to helping you gather the evidence you will need to prove fault for your recent rideshare accident. They can secure footage from any nearby traffic cameras around the scene of the crash, testimony from witnesses who saw it happen, and digital evidence like cell phone records and vehicle computer data.

Filing an Auto Insurance Claim for a Rideshare Accident

State law requires every driver to have auto insurance that meets basic coverage requirements for bodily injury liability and property damage liability. When a driver causes an accident, their insurance will pay for the damages they caused. Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft require their drivers to have personal auto insurance, but these companies are also required to have additional coverage that can apply to an accident in various ways.

If a rideshare driver is not logged into their driver app and they are driving their vehicle for personal reasons, their own insurance will apply if they cause an accident. However, once they log into their driver app and mark themselves as available for a passenger, the rideshare company’s first tier of insurance can apply if they have an accident. This insurance may pay for damages to the rideshare driver’s vehicle under certain conditions or damages to another driver.

Once the rideshare driver picks up a passenger, the second level of the rideshare company’s insurance will take effect until the driver delivers their passenger to their destination. This coverage can act as third-party coverage if the at-fault driver’s insurance cannot fully cover all the damages in the accident.

Having an experienced attorney in Escondido, California, will make dealing with insurance companies much easier after a rideshare accident. You may need to file a claim against an at-fault driver’s policy and/or the rideshare company’s insurance policy, and insurance companies will typically push back against claims for coverage in whatever way they can. Some will even engage in unethical tactics in their efforts to take advantage of unwary injured claimants.

Building a Personal Injury Suit After a Rideshare Accident in Escondido

The right attorney can make dealing with insurance carriers much easier after a rideshare accident, but insurance alone may still be insufficient to fully cover your damages. In this situation, a personal injury suit is likely to be your most viable recovery option, and an experienced Escondido rideshare accident lawyer can help you build a compelling claim that seeks maximum compensation for your damages.

California’s personal injury laws enable an injured plaintiff to seek full compensation for any economic damages they suffered. These are usually proven with the appropriate documentation to show they directly resulted from the incident and may include property damage, medical expenses, and lost income. The injured plaintiff can also seek compensation for projected future medical expenses and lost earning power if they have been permanently disabled.

In addition to these economic damages, an injured plaintiff also has the right to claim pain and suffering compensation from the defendant who injured them. The state does not set limits on pain and suffering compensation for most personal injury cases, nor is a plaintiff required to use a specific formula to calculate how much they claim from the defendant. Your attorney can help you determine a reasonable figure that reflects the severity of your experience.

Find Trusted Legal Counsel in Escondido

Ultimately, a rideshare accident case can be one of the most challenging vehicle accident cases you can face in the state. Dealing with insurance companies is rarely easy or pleasant, but having the right attorney on your side will make these interactions much more manageable and more likely to yield positive results. Additionally, if you must file a personal injury suit, you’re more likely to win when you have experienced legal representation advising you.

Perry Personal Injury Lawyers has years of professional experience representing clients in all types of complex vehicle accident cases, including rideshare accident cases. We know how challenging it can be to face this type of legal situation while struggling with the injuries and other effects of the accident, and we are ready to provide reassurance and peace of mind in this difficult scenario.

Our team will help you gather the evidence needed to firmly establish fault for your accident, guide you through the insurance claim filing process, and assist you in building a comprehensive personal injury suit if necessary to ensure your recovery. It’s important that you start building your case right away to ensure the greatest chance of success, so you should connect with an Escondido rideshare accident lawyer at Perry Personal Injury Lawyers right away.

FAQs

Q: Why Should I Hire an Escondido Rideshare Accident Lawyer?

A: You should hire an Escondido rideshare accident lawyer because resolving a rideshare accident claim is typically more challenging than resolving most other types of vehicle accident claims. Your attorney can make proving fault for the accident much easier and can more accurately direct your recovery efforts. They can also assist you in navigating complex insurance claim filing and resolving disputes you encounter with insurance carriers.

Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Rideshare Accident in Escondido?

A: The amount of compensation you can claim for a rideshare accident in Escondido will depend on the extent and severity of your damages. If you can prove another party is directly responsible for causing your accident, it is possible to hold them accountable for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and your pain and suffering. Your Escondido rideshare accident lawyer can provide an estimate of the total potential value of your case.

Q: Is the Rideshare Company Liable for My Recent Accident?

A: It is possible for the rideshare company to be liable for your recent accident under certain conditions. If they enabled the accident to happen by failing to perform a proper background check on their driver, they may face vicarious liability for the driver’s actions. Your attorney can assist you in determining fault for your accident and will guide you through the process of holding all liable parties accountable.

Q: How Long Will It Take to Resolve a Rideshare Accident Case in Escondido?

A: The time required to resolve a rideshare accident case in Escondido varies from case to case based on multiple factors. If you are able to resolve your case with just an auto insurance claim, it may only take a few weeks for you to receive your insurance claim settlement. If you must file a personal injury suit and take the case to court, it will likely take much longer to resolve, sometimes several months to more than a year in some cases.

Q: What Does It Cost to Hire an Escondido Rideshare Accident Lawyer?

A: The cost to hire your Escondido rideshare accident lawyer is no cause for concern if you choose Perry Personal Injury Lawyers to represent you. We take all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning our client only pays a percentage of their final verdict or settlement as our fee if and when we win their case. If we are unable to secure compensation for the client, there is no fee.

The team at Perry Personal Injury Lawyers has successfully resolved many rideshare accident claims for clients in the Escondido area, and we can leverage this experience for you. If you believe you have grounds to file a rideshare accident claim, we can help. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation with an experienced Escondido rideshare accident lawyer about your recovery.