With any accident claim, the settlement process often involves a great deal of hurry up and wait. If you were involved in an accident with a rideshare driver — you should not expect things to be too different. In fact, there are sometimes additional steps that must be followed before these types of claims can be resolved. To ensure you understand what is going on and what to expect, learn more about some of these steps. 

Verification of Status

Rideshare companies provide insurance coverage for their drivers that is based on the driver's status. These companies typically offer the highest level of liability coverage when the driver has a passenger in their car, followed by the status when the driver is active but has not yet picked up the passenger.

Before these companies agree to pay any victim damages, they will first verify the drivers' status at the time of the collision. If at the time of the accident, the driver that hit you was not active or did not have a passenger in the vehicle, you may not be able to file a claim against the rideshare insurance policy. Instead, you may need to file a claim against the driver's private policy. 

Presumed Liability

Even when the driver's status at the time of the accident has been verified, the rideshare companies' team of attorneys will perform an investigation to determine who is at fault for the accident. This step may involve speaking to witnesses, tracking GPS information available through the rideshare app, and looking at the police report.

Similar to verifying user status, the rideshare company will not agree to pay for any damages until they have verified that the driver is responsible. If you are found liable, the settlement process will not move forward. Also, even if you are found only partially liable, if you live in a state with shared responsibility, you may be required to cover a portion of the damages. 

Settlement Negotiations

Once this information has been established, the settlement negation process moves forward in the same manner that an accident claim does with another non-commercial vehicle. You will need to sit down with your attorney and provide documentation of your injuries, damages, and any additional expenses, such as lost income, to come up with a settlement amount that is appropriate. 

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident with an Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare provider, speak with a rideshare accident lawyer to ensure you are moving your claim in the right direction.  

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