Have you ever seen a horrific traffic accident and wondered what happened afterward? This is the story of a real rideshare accident where the team at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers helped a California traffic accident survivor claim the compensation they deserved.
An environmental planner was a passenger in a rideshare vehicle traveling near Portola Drive and San Pablo Avenue in San Francisco. This busy intersection is the crossroads of a two-lane divided road and an angled cross-street into a residential area with crosswalks in both directions.
The driver of the rideshare was speeding through the intersection when another vehicle was attempting to make a left turn. Both drivers jointly caused a severe accident and instantly injured our client. The rideshare passenger suffered a manubrial and sternal body fracture with retrosternal hematoma, which means they had a chest fracture with internal bleeding. Other injuries included rib and vertebrae fractures, a collapsed lung, and foot injuries.
Injured and Overwhelmed After a Rideshare Crash
An injured rideshare passenger is no match for the complicated rideshare accident compensation process. Rideshare accidents come with multiple layers of complexity, including rideshare companies and insurance providers that try to avoid responsibility.
By bringing Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers on board, the injured environmental planner took the legal frustration out of their situation and trusted us to navigate the personal injury claims process on their behalf. This allowed them to focus on their healing and recovery.
Our team has decades of combined experience handling cases like these, so we know how to successfully resolve rideshare claims with liability disputes. We always work to maximize the value of a case to increase our client’s overall settlement. In the case of this rideshare passenger, we also prioritized urgent medical bills to prevent our client from facing action from bill collectors.
In the end, we secured far more money than our client was expecting, creating a positive outcome at a challenging time in their life. The total settlement of $600,000 put more than $313,000 in our client’s pocket at the conclusion of the case.
Is a Left-Turn Driver Always Liable for an Accident?
After a left-turn accident, most people assume that a left-turning vehicle is always at fault. This isn’t necessarily the case. The driver turning left is often at fault, but not always.
The police and insurance company will look at numerous factors to determine who may hold partial or total responsibility for the crash. Consider whether any of these factors are relevant to your accident:
- Where is the stop line and did a driver roll past it?
- Did someone “cut the corner” by making a sharp left turn?
- Was there a failure to signal before a turn or lane change?
- Did one of the drivers fail to look both ways before crossing/turning?
- Is there a traffic sign or signal and did someone disobey it?
- Was any driver speeding or driving aggressively?
- Did distracted driving play a role in the accident?
These crashes often involve complex factors that aren’t apparent at first. For example, the left-turning vehicle’s rideshare driver might be in a rush and trying to beat the oncoming traffic before a red light. Your rideshare accident lawyer can help you get to the bottom of what happened in your accident.
What Happens After a Rideshare Accident?
Rideshare accidents are different from other California traffic accidents because rideshare drivers are independent contractors providing a service through apps like Uber and Lyft. When a rideshare driver is involved in an accident, this triggers an elaborate and exhausting process where the injured person is forced to track down the responsible party, provide precisely the right proof and documentation, then hope for the best in terms of compensation.
It’s hard to say who will pay for your losses until there is a thorough investigation. The rideshare company, the rideshare driver, and the insurance company may try to shift responsibility to avoid making an expensive payment, which is why it’s so helpful to hire a rideshare accident lawyer.
Here are some things you should know about rideshare periods and insurance coverage.
Off Duty: Not Covered
Rideshare drivers who are not logged into their rideshare app are considered off the job and don’t have rideshare insurance during this period. Any coverage will have to come from the driver’s personal auto insurance as if they were any other driver on the road.
Period 1: Waiting for a Passenger
If the rideshare driver was actively using the app and waiting for a passenger, rideshare car accident coverage should kick in to cover an accident. It’s typically 50/100/25 liability coverage with a limit of $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
Period 2: Driving to Pick Up
If the rideshare driver was using the app and was on their way to pick up a passenger, $1 million in liability coverage is typically in effect. This includes uninsured and underinsured coverage and may include contingent comprehensive and collision coverage beyond a personal auto insurance policy.
Period 3: To the Destination
After the rideshare driver picks up their passenger and heads to the destination, $1 million liability coverage is in effect, plus uninsured and underinsured coverage, plus contingent comprehensive and collision coverage. These coverages are mandated under California law.
Why Do So Many Rideshare Accidents Happen?
Rideshare accidents happen for many of the same reasons other accidents happen, like drivers ignoring the rules of the road, running red lights, misjudging traffic, and speeding. Certain types of crashes are even more common among rideshare drivers than other drivers due to the nature of their work, such as:
- Crashes due to navigational errors and bad directions from the rideshare app
- Distracted driving due to looking for rideshare passengers
- Suddenly pulling over to the side of the road for a passenger
- Looking into the back seat, rather than focusing on the road
- Becoming overtired from driving too long without breaks
- Rideshare passengers shouting, pointing, and creating distractions
While these might be explanations for rideshare accidents, they’re not excuses that eliminate liability. You can take action and pursue a claim that fully compensates you for the full value of your losses due to the crash.
You Deserve Maximum Compensation for Your Accident
After a severe rideshare left-turn accident, you’re injured and in a vulnerable position. Don’t give in to pressure from the rideshare driver, the rideshare company, or the insurance company. Before saying a word to them, contact the team at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers.
Unlike everyone else in this scenario, we’re on your side. We’ll assertively demand full and fair compensation for your losses so you can focus on your recovery. We can help you cover your medical bills and more. Call 877-380-8852 today and request a free case evaluation.
