Fort Collins Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers
Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft have become an ordinary part of getting around Fort Collins and Northern Colorado. But when a rideshare vehicle is involved in an accident, determining which insurance company is responsible can be considerably more complicated than it is after a typical car crash.
At VanMeveren Law Group, we represent people injured in Uber, Lyft and other rideshare accidents. Whether you were a passenger, another driver, a pedestrian or a cyclist, we can investigate the accident, determine which insurance policies may apply and pursue compensation for your injuries.
Why Are Uber and Lyft Accident Claims Different?
The person driving an Uber or Lyft vehicle generally has personal auto insurance, but rideshare companies also provide insurance coverage under certain circumstances.
Which coverage applies can depend on exactly what the rideshare driver was doing when the accident occurred.
Was the driver offline and using the vehicle personally? Was the driver logged into the app and waiting for a ride request? Had the driver accepted a passenger? Was a passenger already in the vehicle?
Those distinctions can affect which insurance policies are available and how a claim should be handled.
That is one reason it is important to preserve information about the driver’s rideshare status as part of the investigation rather than treating the crash like an ordinary two-car accident.
What If I Was Injured While Riding in an Uber or Lyft?
If you were a rideshare passenger when another vehicle caused an accident, there may be multiple potential sources of insurance coverage.
The at-fault driver’s insurance is generally an important starting point. Depending on the circumstances, insurance associated with the rideshare trip may also become important, particularly when the responsible driver is uninsured or does not have enough insurance to cover a serious injury.
Passengers generally have little control over the circumstances that caused the crash. You hired someone else to get you safely to your destination. You should not have to sort through competing insurance companies on your own after being injured.
What If an Uber or Lyft Driver Hit My Car?
You do not need to be a rideshare passenger to have a rideshare insurance issue.
If an Uber or Lyft driver causes a collision with your vehicle, one of the first questions should be whether the driver was using the rideshare app at the time of the accident.
The answer may affect which insurance coverage applies.
Screenshots, electronic records, trip information, witness statements and communications with the rideshare company can therefore become important evidence. Determining the driver’s status early can help prevent confusion later about which insurer is responsible for the claim.
What If an Uber or Lyft Driver Hits a Pedestrian or Cyclist?
Rideshare drivers spend substantial amounts of time navigating traffic, watching for passengers, locating pickup locations and interacting with an app. A collision involving a pedestrian or cyclist can result in devastating injuries.
These cases require the same careful investigation of the driver’s rideshare status and available insurance coverage.
A pedestrian or cyclist injured by a rideshare vehicle may have claims against the negligent driver and potentially access to additional insurance coverage associated with the driver’s rideshare activity.
What Insurance Applies During a Rideshare Trip?
Colorado law imposes specific insurance requirements on transportation network companies.
The available coverage can depend on the driver’s status at the time of the collision. Different rules may apply when a driver is simply logged into the rideshare network than when the driver has accepted a ride and is transporting a passenger.
Colorado also requires uninsured motorist protection for rideshare drivers and passengers during prearranged rides. That coverage can become particularly important when another driver causes the collision but has no insurance or insufficient resources to compensate someone who has been seriously injured.
Because the insurance structure can be complicated, injured people should be cautious about assuming that the first insurance company they speak with represents the only available source of compensation.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Rideshare Accident?
Compensation depends upon the circumstances and severity of the injuries, but a claim may include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent impairment or disability
- Other losses caused by the accident
For someone who has suffered a traumatic brain injury, spinal injury or another catastrophic injury, determining the available insurance coverage can be particularly important because the long-term losses may greatly exceed the immediate medical bills.
Does Uber or Lyft Automatically Pay When Its Driver Causes an Accident?
No. The fact that a vehicle was being used for Uber or Lyft does not mean that the rideshare company simply pays an injured person’s claim.
Liability must still be established, the driver’s status must be determined and the applicable insurance coverage must be identified.
Insurance companies may also dispute the severity of an injury, whether particular treatment was necessary or whether all of a person’s symptoms were caused by the collision.
An experienced personal injury attorney can investigate those issues and deal directly with the insurers involved.
Experience Dealing With Insurance Companies
Before representing injured people, attorney Bryan VanMeveren represented insurance companies. That experience gives him insight into how insurers investigate accidents, evaluate injuries and defend claims.
VanMeveren Law Group now uses that knowledge to represent people who have been injured because of someone else’s negligence.
Our goal is not simply to identify an insurance policy. It is to understand how the accident has affected your life and pursue compensation that reflects the full extent of your injuries and losses.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado Uber and Lyft Accidents
Whose insurance pays if my Uber or Lyft driver causes an accident?
It depends in part on what the driver was doing at the time of the crash. Insurance coverage can differ depending on whether the driver was offline, logged into the rideshare app and waiting for a request, or engaged in a prearranged ride.
What if another driver hits the Uber I’m riding in?
You may have a claim against the driver who caused the accident. Additional insurance associated with the rideshare trip may also become relevant, particularly if the responsible driver is uninsured or does not have sufficient coverage.
Does Colorado require uninsured motorist coverage for Uber and Lyft passengers?
Colorado law requires transportation network companies or their drivers to maintain uninsured motorist protection for drivers and riders during prearranged rides. The available coverage and application to a particular accident should be evaluated based on the circumstances of the claim.
Can I bring a claim if I was injured as a pedestrian or cyclist by an Uber driver?
Yes. Rideshare accident claims are not limited to passengers. Drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and others injured because of a rideshare driver’s negligence may be able to pursue compensation.
What if I don’t know whether the Uber or Lyft driver had a passenger?
That information can be investigated. The driver’s app status and trip records can be important evidence because insurance coverage may depend on whether the driver was waiting for a request, traveling to pick someone up or transporting a passenger.
Should I report the accident through the Uber or Lyft app?
The rideshare company should generally be notified of an accident involving one of its trips, but an injured person should be careful about providing detailed recorded statements or agreeing to a settlement before understanding the extent of the injuries and available insurance coverage.
Can I recover compensation if I was visiting Fort Collins when the accident happened?
Potentially, yes. You do not have to live in Colorado to pursue a claim arising from an accident that occurred here. An attorney in Colorado can help determine how Colorado law applies and handle the claim while you return home.
How long do I have to bring an Uber or Lyft accident claim in Colorado?
Deadlines depend on the circumstances of the accident and the parties involved. Because evidence such as electronic trip records can also become important in a rideshare case, it is generally better to contact an experienced injury attorney promptly rather than waiting until a legal deadline approaches.
Injured in an Uber or Lyft Accident in Fort Collins?
A rideshare accident can involve the driver, a rideshare company and multiple insurance policies. You should not have to determine on your own which company is responsible for paying your claim.
VanMeveren Law Group represents people injured in Uber, Lyft and other motor vehicle accidents throughout Fort Collins and Northern Colorado.
Call 970-792-2103 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.