Filing a Claim for an Uber or Lyft Accident in Ohio

If you’ve been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Ohio, you may be eligible to file a claim and recover financial compensation for your medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other losses. This is true whether you were driving, riding as a passenger, or walking or riding your bike at the time of the accident. But, understanding your legal rights in this situation can be complicated—and protecting your legal rights can be challenging—so it is important to have an experienced Columbus personal injury attorney on your side.

In this article, we break down the process of filing a claim after an Uber or Lyft accident for rideshare drivers, rideshare passengers, other motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. Choose the relevant section below to find out what you need to know:

Filing a Claim as a Rideshare Driver

If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident as a rideshare driver, the process of filing a claim will be much the same as it would be after any other car accident. However, in this scenario, you may be entitled to coverage under Uber’s or Lyft’s insurance policy (in addition to any other claims you are eligible to file)—and this is an option you should be sure to discuss with your Columbus personal injury attorney during your free consultation.

Aside from filing a claim with Uber’s or Lyft’s insurer, your options for seeking just compensation will depend on two main factors: (i) who was at fault in your rideshare accident; and (ii) what insurance coverage you have available. Generally, the claims you may be able to file in this situation include:

• A Claim Against the At-Fault Driver – If the other driver was at fault in your rideshare accident, you can file a claim against the at-fault driver. Typically, this will involve dealing with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. All drivers (both rideshare and non-rideshare) are required to carry liability insurance under Ohio law.
• A Claim Against Another At–Fault Party – If another party is responsible for your accident-related injuries, then you may have a claim against that party instead. Some examples of potential grounds to sue another party for your car accident include vehicle defects, road defects, and employee negligence (i.e., if the at-fault driver was working at the time of the accident).
• A Claim Under Your Insurance Policy – If you have medical payments (MedPay) and/or uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage under your auto insurance policy, filing a claim with your insurance company may be an option as well. Your Columbus personal injury attorney can explain whether this is an option you should consider under the circumstances at hand.

Determining what claim (or claims) you can file will involve investigating the cause of your accident and determining what evidence is available to prove liability. To ensure that your attorney can collect any available evidence before it disappears, you should schedule your free consultation as soon as possible.

Filing a Claim as a Rideshare Passenger

If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident as a rideshare passenger, determining your legal rights will start with determining who was at fault in the accident. While you might have a claim against your rideshare driver (or against Uber or Lyft), filing a claim requires proof of liability.

Under Ohio law, rideshare drivers are subject to enhanced auto insurance requirements. Uber and Lyft also currently maintain $1 million in liability coverage for accidents in which their drivers were at fault. As a result, if you can prove that your rideshare driver was at fault in your accident, insurance coverage should be available—and seeking just compensation will most likely involve working with your Columbus personal injury attorney to pursue an insurance claim.

What if the rideshare driver wasn’t at fault?

If your Uber or Lyft driver wasn’t at fault in your rideshare accident, then seeking just compensation will most likely involve filing a claim with the other driver’s insurance company (or the insurance company of another party that is responsible for the crash). If you have an auto insurance policy with MedPay or UIM coverage, then filing a claim with your insurance company may be an option in this scenario as well.

Here too, the key to protecting your legal rights is to take action promptly. If you wait to hire an attorney and your attorney isn’t able to collect the evidence you need, your attorney won’t be able to seek the financial compensation you deserve.

Filing a Claim as Another Motorist (Driver or Passenger)

If you were injured in a collision with an Uber or Lyft vehicle while driving or riding in another vehicle, your legal rights are similar to those of a rideshare passenger. This means that if the rideshare driver was at fault in the collision, you should be able to file a claim with the driver’s (or potentially Uber’s or Lyft’s) insurance company.

This also means that if the rideshare driver wasn’t at fault, you may have a third-party claim (i.e., a claim based on a road or vehicle defect). Additionally, if you have MedPay or UIM insurance (or both), you may be able to seek coverage under your policy if necessary. As discussed above, determining your legal rights starts with determining the cause of your accident, and this means that you will want to hire an experienced Columbus personal injury attorney to investigate the accident promptly.

Filing a Claim as a Pedestrian or Cyclist

If you got hit by an Uber or Lyft driver while walking, jogging or riding your bike, there is a good chance that the Uber or Lyft driver was at fault in the collision (though it will still be necessary to conduct a thorough investigation). If the driver was at fault, you can hire an attorney to help you file a claim under the driver’s liability insurance policy, or under Uber’s or Lyft’s liability insurance policy if necessary.

From speeding and running stop signs to being distracted by the Uber or Lyft app, rideshare drivers can be held liable for collisions with pedestrians and cyclists on numerous grounds. The key is to determine the specific grounds that you need to prove in order to seek the financial compensation you deserve.

5 Important Facts for All Uber and Lyft Accident Victims in Ohio

Regardless of the circumstances of your case, there are some important facts you need to know. Here are some key pieces of information for all Uber and Lyft accident victims in Ohio:

1. It Is Important to Take Action Promptly

We have emphasized this already, but it is extremely important. If you have been seriously injured in a rideshare accident, you need to take action promptly. Collecting the available evidence will be critical for proving your legal rights, and you will also want to rely on your attorney’s advice to ensure that you avoid mistakes that could jeopardize your recovery.

2. You Can (and Should) Seek Just Compensation for Your Financial and Non-Financial Losses

If you have a personal injury claim in Ohio, you are entitled to seek just compensation for your financial and non-financial losses. Financial losses include your medical bills, other out-of-pocket expenses, and lost earnings. Non-financial losses include pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, emotional trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life.

3. You Can (and Should) Seek Just Compensation for Your Present and Future Losses

When seeking just compensation, it is important to focus not only on your losses to date, but also on your future losses. If you were seriously injured in your Uber or Lyft accident, your future financial and non-financial losses could account for the majority of the value of your personal injury claim.

4. Hiring a Columbus Personal Injury Attorney Costs Nothing Out-of-Pocket

Due to the complexity of rideshare accident cases and the challenges involved in proving your right to just compensation, it is important to have an experienced attorney on your side. In this scenario, hiring a Columbus personal injury attorney costs you nothing out of pocket. If you have a claim, your legal fees (if any) will be calculated as a percentage of your settlement or verdict if your case is successful.

5. Most Successful Rideshare Accident Claims Settle (But a Settlement is Not Guaranteed)

While going to court in your rideshare accident case is a possibility, most successful cases settle out of court (although a settlement is not guaranteed). Your attorney will negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf, and your attorney will help you decide whether to accept if a settlement is on the table.

Discuss Your Uber or Lyft Accident with a Columbus Personal Injury Attorney for Free

Do you need to know more about filing a claim for an Uber or Lyft accident in Ohio? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly. To discuss your claim with an experienced Columbus personal injury attorney at Malek & Malek Law Firm for free, call 888-444-7440 or tell us how we can get in touch online now.