Uber/Lyft/Rideshare Accidents in Colorado Springs

Uber and Lyft have operated in Colorado Springs since 2014. These ridesharing services may be popular – especially among young people who are enjoying a night on the town – but they are not 100 percent safe. You can get hurt in an Uber/Lyft/Rideshare accident in Colorado Springs, just like you could if you were riding in any other vehicle. However, after an Uber or Lyft accident, you may find yourself dealing with insurance issues that are more challenging to navigate than in other types of crashes.

If you were harmed due to someone else’s negligence while you were riding in an Uber or Lyft, or if a rideshare service driver hit you while you were driving, walking, or cycling, the caring and experienced attorneys of The Wilhite Law Firm can help you to overcome those complex insurance issues. We will pursue all compensation that you are due after your rideshare accident. Our car accident lawyers have helped auto accident victims get through challenging times since 1977. We are here to provide a free consultation about your case today.

What Are Your Options If an Uber Or Lyft Driver Causes Your Accident?

Uber and Lyft drivers are people who drive their own cars. They are not specially trained drivers who operate commercial vehicles. Like anyone else on the road, they can make careless and reckless decisions while driving and cause serious accidents and injuries.

If you suffered injury due to the negligence of Uber drivers or Lyft drivers in Colorado Springs – whether as a passenger, driver, pedestrian, bicyclist or motorcyclist – your options for seeking compensation will depend on which one of the following three stages the driver was in at the time of the crash:

Not Logged Into the App

If a rideshare driver is not logged into the Uber or Lyft app and using his or her car for personal purposes, your primary option would be to file a claim through the driver’s personal liability auto insurance. Neither Uber nor Lyft provides drivers with any insurance coverage during this stage. Colorado requires drivers to carry the following minimum amounts of liability insurance:

• $25,000 per person for bodily injury
• $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
• $15,000 per accident for property damage.

If the rideshare driver lacks any auto insurance or has insurance that fails to fully cover your losses, you may also be eligible to file a claim through your own uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist policy (UM/UIM). The Wilhite Law Firm can review your insurance policy to see what it covers.

Logged Into the App, Waiting for a Ride Request

Both Uber and Lyft provide virtually identical “contingent” liability coverage for their drivers if they cause an accident while they are in “driver mode” and waiting to get a new request for a ride. Both companies insure their drivers up to:

• $50,000 per person for bodily injury
• $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
• $25,000 per accident for property damage.

This insurance kicks in if the rideshare driver causes the crash, and the driver’s own insurance either fails to respond or fails to cover all of a victim’s losses.

Picking up or Carrying a Passenger

Uber and Lyft provide up to $1 million in liability coverage which covers any bodily injury or property damage which their drivers cause. This insurance kicks in from the moment a driver accepts a ride request until the driver drops off the passenger.

When you work with The Wilhite Law Firm, we will review the facts of your case and explore all options available to you for seeking compensation. As you can see, those options may include multiple insurance policies. No matter how many policies are involved in your case, our goal will be to secure the maximum amount for you.

What Are Your Options If Another Party Causes Your Uber or Lyft Crash?

Of course, not every rideshare service accident in Colorado Springs occurs due to the negligence of Uber or Lyft drivers. You may have been a passenger in one of these cars when another driver did something careless or reckless to cause your crash and injuries. If this occurs, your primary option would be to seek compensation through that driver’s liability auto insurance. If the driver has no insurance coverage or insufficient insurance coverage, you may also be able to file a claim through the UM/UIM coverage that both Uber and Lyft provide. For instance, Uber provides a minimum of $250,000 in UM/UIM, which covers passenger injuries.

What Should You Do After An Uber or Lyft Accident?

You can take steps on your own in the aftermath of an Uber or Lyft accident that will help you to protect your right to recover full and fair compensation. Those steps include:

• Get Medical Attention – You should see a doctor as soon as possible if you are not immediately taken to an emergency room. The timely documentation of your injuries will play an important role in your case.
• Report Your Accident To The Rideshare Company – You should also notify the rideshare company. You can use the Uber or Lyft websites or the rideshare app to file your report.
• Get A Copy Of The Police Crash Report – Typically, you can get a copy of the crash report within a few days after it happens. You can go directly to the local law enforcement agency such as the Colorado Springs Police Department or El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, or you can go through the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles.
• Keep Everything – Hold on to all of your medical bills and other receipts from other accident-related expenses. You should also keep all photos and witness contact information that you got from the scene of the crash. Additionally, keep everything on your phone related to your Uber or Lyft ride. Do not delete the rideshare app.
• Get Help From A Lawyer – The Wilhite Law Firm can provide a free consultation and get to know more about your case. If we work together, you can count on our team to handle all aspects of your case right from the start.

Get Help From Our Colorado Springs Uber and Lyft Accident Attorneys Today

If you suffered injury in an Uber/Lyft/rideshare accident in Colorado Springs, The Wilhite Law Firm will immediately investigate your case to determine who was responsible. We will identify all sources of compensation available to you and explore all of your legal options. Ultimately, we can demand a settlement from the insurance company (or companies) involved in your case and, if necessary, go to trial in order to pursue the compensation that you deserve.

Throughout your case, our attorneys will never stray from our 12 Core Values. We believe those values make a difference for those we serve. To learn more about how we help injury victims of Lyft and Uber accidents, contact us today.