Spokane Rideshare Accident Lawyers

35 Years of Experience in Representing Spokane Accident Victims

Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft have grown increasingly popular for individuals and groups over the last few years. These services bring convenience and comparative safety to those who wish to leave the driving to others. Students, seniors, party-goers, and individuals temporarily without transportation often rely on rideshare companies whose phone apps make their services handy and easy to use. However, as in all other forms of travel, transportation by rideshare can lead to accidents, especially on the busy streets and roadways of major cities like Spokane.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a rideshare accident due to the negligence of another party, it can be a confusing issue in terms of making a personal injury claim. The aftermath of an injury accident is already a time of confusion that can be difficult to manage due to trauma. However, rideshare accidents can often be even more overwhelming in terms of fault and whom you can hold accountable when seeking compensation. That is why it is important to seek the help of an experienced attorney in these matters. At Sweetser Law Office, you can depend on a team that is experienced, skilled, and dedicated to providing the tenacious legal representation you need.

Injured in a rideshare accident? Contact Sweetser Law Office online or at (509) 444-4444 to discuss your case in a free consultation. 

Effects of Passenger Rideshare Accidents in Spokane

Rideshare accidents can occur through the same causes as any other car accident. Inattention, distracted driving, failure to follow traffic safety laws, texting, speeding, and drunk driving are common causes of such accidents. They can also result in injuries ranging from lacerations, concussions, and whiplash to traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, internal injuries, and amputations. Any traffic accident can leave you seriously physically hurt, emotionally traumatized, hospitalized, and facing outrageous medical bills, loss of wages or income, and other-out-pocket expenses. Seeking compensation for these damages becomes vital to your recovery and can only be done through holding the responsible party or parties liable through your personal injury claim.

However, determining who to hold responsible through their insurance company can be difficult in rideshare accidents. If another driver struck your rideshare vehicle and that driver was at fault, the process for seeking compensation may be like any other accident. The at-fault driver and/or his or her insurer may be held liable. But, in other scenarios, the process can be more complicated.

Complications in Rideshare Accidents

Rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft carry insurance to cover accidents caused by their drivers. This insurance will kick in when the driver is “on the clock” such as responding to the app in picking up a customer and driving the customer to the appointed destination. At other times, the rideshare driver’s own personal insurance policy will kick in. This can make personal injury cases challenging because of the various insurance agencies that can be involved in a rideshare accident. This is especially true when more than one party contributed to the accident under Washington’s comparative negligence law. When multiple parties share the blame in an accident, they can each be held responsible.

Thus, more than one insurance company may be involved in a rideshare accident depending on the circumstances, such as:

• The rideshare company’s insurer
• The rideshare driver’s insurer
• The insurer of any other driver that was involved

This can make it difficult for you as the injured party when having to deal with multiple insurers. Additionally, they may all try to deny liability or otherwise reduce their payout to you by making lowball settlements that put you at a disadvantage. That is why it is more important than ever to seek the help of a personal injury law firm that understands insurance company tactics and how to fight for accident victims.

Understanding Insurance Coverage for Rideshare Accidents

When you are involved in a rideshare accident, navigating insurance coverage can be complex. Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have their own insurance policies, but coverage can vary depending on the circumstances of the accident. Our experienced Spokane rideshare accident attorneys can help you understand your rights and options when it comes to insurance coverage.

Key points to consider:

• Uber and Lyft provide different levels of coverage based on whether the driver was on the app, en route to pick up a passenger, or actively transporting a passenger.
• Your personal auto insurance policy may also come into play depending on the situation.
• Determining liability in rideshare accidents can be challenging, but our legal team has the expertise to investigate and build a strong case on your behalf.

Other Victims in Rideshare Accidents

Our firm also represents others who are injured in rideshare accidents besides rideshare customers. These include rideshare drivers who are injured by other negligent drivers. It also includes the drivers and passengers of other vehicles who are harmed by negligent rideshare drivers whether they are “on the clock” or in between customers. In all cases, fault must be determined and claims made to the appropriate insurers in seeking compensation.

Learn more about how we can help by contacting us online or at (509) 444-4444 today.