Atlanta Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers
Companies like Uber and Lyft have launched a transportation revolution in Atlanta. In a city that already has thousands of taxis along with a fleet of MARTA buses and trains, never before has it been easier to get around the city without driving yourself. Now, hailing a ride is just a tap on your smartphone away, and a comfortable car will magically appear at your feet in minutes, ready to take you wherever you want to go.
For all their convenience, rideshare services are not without their risks. Rideshare companies have put more vehicles on the road for longer periods of time, including peak traffic hours, nights and weekends when crashes are more common. Rideshare drivers who spend a lot of time on the road are at statistically greater risk of getting into a crash with a negligent driver and injuring their passengers, or causing a crash through their own negligent or reckless behavior.
Rideshare accidents can be more complicated than other traffic crashes. If you are hurt in a crash with an Uber or Lyft, either as a paying passenger or another driver, do you have a claim against the other driver and their insurance company, or against the rideshare company itself? At Shiver Hamilton Campbell, we have the answers. Our Atlanta Uber & Lyft accident lawyers handle all types of car and truck accidents, including those involving commercial drivers, taxis, and limousines. We have the knowledge, skills and resources to take on your Uber or Lyft accident case and recover significant compensation to help you deal with the harm done to you or your family by a negligent driver.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a rideshare accident in metro Atlanta, or if you are an attorney needing co-counsel or a referral for a difficult rideshare accident case, call Shiver Hamilton Campbell for a free consultation to find out how we can help you.
Dangers Posed by Rideshare Drivers
Hopefully, rideshare drivers are taking extra care while driving for Uber or Lyft. They are using their own car or a rental that they are responsible for, they are driving to earn money and make a living, and they know they have the lives and safety of others in their hands. All of these facts should make rideshare drivers extra careful and attentive on the road. Unfortunately, other facts about rideshares can make them less safe. These include the following:
Drowsy Driving and Fatigue – Rideshare driving is “gig work.” Many rideshare drivers already have full-time jobs, and they log into their Uber or Lyft app to make some extra cash after already putting in a full day at their regular jobs. This fact can make rideshare drivers more susceptible to fatigue, inattention, and drowsy driving accidents. Similarly, drivers who choose to work for Uber or Lyft full-time put in extensive hours on the road, much of it spent “deadheading” or driving around town aimlessly while waiting to match with a customer. These drivers are vulnerable to drowsy driving accidents as well.
Distracted Driving – Experienced, professional taxi drivers often know the city like the back of their hands and have no trouble taking passengers anywhere they want to go, but rideshare drivers are less likely to be familiar with all parts of town. Atlanta is a big place, and drivers could get lost or confused easily. This can cause them to make dangerous driving errors such as unsafe lane changes or sudden turns or stops. Drivers might also rely too heavily on their car’s or phone’s navigation system, which can take their eyes and attention off the road at a critical moment, leading to a crash.
Competence – Just because a person is driving for Uber or Lyft doesn’t mean they are an exceptionally good driver. Rideshare companies don’t provide any training or impose any special requirements on their drivers, and drivers are not required to carry a commercial driver’s license or have any special endorsement on their regular license. You don’t know in advance if the driver who picks you up is a skilled and attentive driver, or if they have been paying attention to their tires, brakes and other vital parts of their car that might be receiving more wear and tear due to increased driving.
Insurance Requirements for Uber and Lyft
All drivers on Georgia roads must carry liability insurance to pay for an accident they cause through their negligence or recklessness, such as by speeding, distracted driving, or drinking and driving. The minimum amount of insurance required in Georgia is 25/50/25, meaning drivers must have an insurance policy that will pay $25,000 for bodily injury per person up to $50,000 per accident, plus $25,000 in property damage per incident. Even taxi drivers in Atlanta are subject to this 25/50/25 minimum requirement.
The requirements for rideshare drivers, however, are significantly higher. According to the Georgia Code section 33-1-24, transportation network companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft must insure their drivers with double the minimum required for other drivers. Uber and Lyft drivers must have 50/100/50 coverage that applies to an accident the driver causes while logged into the app. Drivers might have this much insurance or more on their individual policies, but if they don’t, the TNC must step in make sure this 50/100/50 requirement is met.
The 50/100/50 insurance requirement applies whenever the driver is logged into the app. Once they accept a ride request or if they are actually transporting a passenger, however, the requirement goes up significantly. While engaged in a ride or after having matched with a passenger, the TNC must cover the driver with one million dollars in liability insurance. This coverage can be a boon to accident victims who are severely injured in a crash, but it also means that the TNC will likely fight the case extra hard to avoid the large payouts their insurance could be forced to provide. Having a skilled and experienced car accident lawyer on your side can be crucial to the success of your case and getting the right amount of compensation you need and deserve.
Get the Help You Need After a Rideshare Accident From A Atlanta Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in a rideshare accident in metro Atlanta, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal crash involving a company like Uber or Lyft, call Shiver Hamilton Campbell at 404-593-0020 for a free consultation. We take on cases involving the most serious catastrophic injuries or wrongful death, and we fight to secure significant compensation for our clients who were hurt because of another’s negligence or wrongful conduct.
