Proving Liability in a Georgia Rideshare Accident
While rideshare services like Lyft and Uber have made it a lot easier to get around, their use doesn’t come without its own set of risks. Rideshare accidents can and do happen in Georgia and unfortunately, resolving those kinds of cases tends to be a bit complicated, especially when it comes to establishing liability for the crash. Below, we explain a few of the things you’ll want to know about proving liability if you are involved in a rideshare accident in Georgia.
Rideshare Company Liability Insurance
Georgia is an at-fault state when it comes to accident liability, which means that the person who causes an accident can be held responsible for the resulting damages. This makes determining who was at fault for an accident of particular importance. Fortunately, Georgia law requires rideshare companies to carry liability insurance coverage of up to $1 million. This coverage, however, will only kick in when a person can prove that the rideshare driver or his or her employer were at fault for a crash.
Gathering Evidence
In order to recover damages for an accident, injured parties will need to prove that the rideshare driver or the company itself was at fault for the crash. This in turn, will require strong evidence of fault, including:
- Photographs of the accident scene from various angles and showing all vehicle damage and physical injuries;
- Footage from security and dashboard cameras that captured the accident;
- Police reports, which provide an official account of the accident, notes about any traffic violations, witness statements, and in some cases, an assessment of fault;
- Eyewitness accounts, which provide an unbiased view of the crash and can help determine liability;
- Accident reconstruction models provided by specialists who can provide expert testimony as to the cause of a crash.
All of this evidence can help prove that a rideshare driver was at fault for a crash. However, some of the most critical proof in these cases comes from the electronic records of the rideshare applications themselves. These apps track things like pick-up and drop-off locations, as well as routes, and the duration of the ride, all of which can help establish how fast a driver was going at the time of the accident.
Do You Need Help with Your Uber or Lyft Accident Claim?
If you were involved in a rideshare accident, either as a passenger or as another driver, you could be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. However, in order to recover that compensation, you’ll need to prove that the rideshare driver was at fault for the crash. This can be complicated, so if you have questions about the kinds of proof you’ll need for your own case, please call Shiver Hamilton Campbell at 404-593-0020 and one of our experienced Marietta Uber and Lyft accident lawyers will assess your case today. You can also connect with us online to set up a free consultation.
Sources:
uber.com/drive/insurance/
forbes.com/advisor/legal/auto-accident/georgia-car-accident/
