Atlanta Uber Accident Attorney

You may not choose to own a car, or you may own one, but prefer not to have to drive at times, especially if you plan to have a few drinks when you go out for an evening. In these cases, you will probably rely on a taxi or ride-sharing service, such as Uber or Lyft, to get you to and from your destination. A taxi is strictly a commercial vehicle, whereas a rideshare is a privately owned car operated by its owner, who is not a rideshare company employee. The driver is an independent contractor who operates the car both as a personal vehicle and a means to earn money, using a Smartphone equipped with the rideshare company’s mobile app.

As a passenger in either a rideshare or taxi, if you suffer a serious injury in a crash, you have the right to claim compensation for your medical and other expenses related to the accident, as well as your pain, suffering, and losses to your quality of life. The responsible party could be your driver, another driver, or the government entity or contractor responsible for maintaining the roads in a safe condition. It could also be the manufacturer of the vehicle or one of its parts, if a defect caused the crash.

After a Ridesharing or Taxi Accident Who Will Pay for Your Damages?

Georgia’s insurance laws are designed to ensure that every vehicle on the state’s roads carries a policy that will cover victims’ economic and non-economic damages in accidents for which the car’s owner can be held liable.

Here’s where there are differences between taxis and rideshare services. Taxis are required to carry the same minimum coverage that any privately owned car must have: $25,000 for a single injured individual or $50,000 for all victims of the crash. Georgia recently enacted a new law that requires rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft to carry much larger liability policies of $1 million when passengers are in the vehicle and the driver is using the app, or $300,000 between fares. This is an excellent incentive for you to choose rideshares over commercial cabs, since the coverage is more likely to be sufficient to cover very serious or catastrophic injuries. If, however, the driver did not book your fare using the rideshare app, the only insurance will be the driver’s personal liability coverage.

Just because a car carries a substantial insurance policy, however, is no guarantee that your claim will be paid. Insurance companies are profit-driven corporations and seldom pay out claims without a fight. They employ adjusters and legal teams who are thoroughly trained and experienced in using various tactics to try to avoid paying claims.

Quality Legal Representation Makes a Difference

If you or a member of your family has been injured in an accident involving one of these types of vehicle, you will need to hire an experienced auto accident attorney to represent you. Make your choice carefully. A good attorney who practices personal injury law exclusively and has a track record of bringing in large settlements and verdicts will help level the playing field between large, rich insurance companies and the injured individual who usually has little experience dealing with the legal system.

In Atlanta and the surrounding area, you will find the experienced, skilled, and dedicated legal representation that you need by calling the law firm of Butler Prather LLP to arrange for a free consultation. Our firm has obtained multi-million dollar recoveries for our most severely injured clients, and has brought in more verdicts in excess of $10,000 than any other firm in the state. We are committed to justice and fight aggressively for every client we represent.

Call our team of experienced Georgia accident attorneys today to arrange a time to consult with one of our knowledgeable and experienced personal injury lawyers to learn about your legal rights following a serious accident injury. You don’t pay us anything unless we win money for you.

Call us in Atlanta at (404) 321-1700 or toll-free at 800-242-2962 today!