If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident, such as with an Uber or Lyft vehicle, a Cleveland rideshare accident lawyer from our law firm can provide legal representation to pursue compensation and protect your rights.
In this Article
What Is Ridesharing in Ohio?
Rideshare services are called Transportation Network Companies. They connect passengers with independent contractor drivers via digital applications. Under Ohio law (Chapter 4925), these platforms are regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), which enforces strict safety, background check, and operational compliance standards statewide.
How Can a Cleveland Rideshare Accident Lawyer Help Me?
Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents
Rideshare vehicle accidents can happen for various driver-caused reasons, such as distracted driving (like taking phone calls or texting), fatigued driving, reckless driving, or poor vehicle maintenance.
Types of Rideshare Accidents
Uber and Lyft vehicle accidents can result in serious bodily injury, including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, or pain and suffering (including emotional distress like post-traumatic stress disorder). Tragically, some accidents may lead to wrongful death.
Common types of these accidents include rear-end collisions, side-impact collisions (T-bone accident), and auto accidents involving pedestrians or cyclists.
What Should I Do Following a Rideshare Accident?
After your accident, first, seek medical attention for your injuries. Call the police to report the accident immediately, take photos of the accident scene and vehicle damage, take a screenshot of your trip details in the rideshare app, and collect names and insurance information from all drivers and witnesses.
Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance adjusters before consulting with a lawyer who can review your circumstances and determine if you have a valid case.
Legal Considerations for a Cleveland, Ohio, Uber and Lyft Accident
If you’ve been involved in an Uber or Lyft crash, there are legal factors to consider that could impact your rideshare accident claim:
- Rideshare insurance coverage: Rideshare companies provide Uber or Lyft insurance for their ridesharing drivers and Uber and Lyft passengers. However, coverage depends on the driver’s app status at the time of the accident—whether the at-fault driver was logged into the app, en route to the pick-up, or transporting passengers.
- Liability: Determining fault in an Uber or Lyft accident claim can be tricky, as multiple parties may be involved. At-fault parties can include the Uber/Lyft driver, the rideshare company (for negligent hiring), or other motorists.
- According to the Ohio statute of limitations, rideshare accident victims generally have two years from the date the accident happened to file a personal injury claim, though exceptions may apply. Consulting an Uber or Lyft accident lawyer is essential to ensure you meet the deadline.
Types of Compensation for Serious Crash Injuries in Cleveland
Do I Need a Cleveland Rideshare Accident Attorney?
Yes! Rideshare accident cases present unique legal challenges since multiple insurance policies—including the other driver’s insurance company—may be involved.
A Cleveland Uber accident lawyer from our personal injury law firm can guide you through the insurance claim process and help you recover fair compensation. We’ll investigate the car crash, establish liability, examine your own insurance policy, and hold at-fault parties accountable for your injuries.
Our experienced Lyft accident attorneys will gather evidence like police reports, witness statements, medical bills, and input from accident reconstruction specialists to build your case.
We’ll evaluate your medical expenses for past and future medical treatment, lost income and future lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage to determine its value.
In fatal rideshare collisions, we pursue wrongful death damages for surviving family members.
How Do Ridesharing Services’ Insurance Policies Work?
Ohio law requires rideshare companies to carry minimum insurance. Insurance companies provide essential coverage for Uber or Lyft drivers, as well as for their rideshare passengers’ injuries, in the event of an accident. Lyft’s insurance coverage is similar to Uber’s in structure: Uber and Lyft both provide $1 million in third-party liability coverage during rides depending on the rideshare driver’s status. Beyond that, the driver’s personal policy may take effect.
- Phase 1: the rideshare driver is logged into the app but hasn’t accepted a ride request.
- Phase 2: the driver accepted a ride request, and they’re en route to pick up the passenger(s).
- Phase 3: passenger(s) are in the vehicle and are being taken to their destination.
Ridesharing companies provide different contingent liability coverage:
- Phase 1 typically offers up to $50,000 per person and $100,000 total.
- Phases 2 and 3 normally offer $1 million for injury and property damages.
Rideshare accident coverage depends on the car insurance provider, the driver’s app status, the location where the collision occurred, and whether the Lyft or Uber driver’s personal insurance applies.
Contact Our Cleveland Lyft and Uber Accident Lawyers
If you’ve been in an accident involving Uber or Lyft, seek medical attention and report the accident immediately. Then, call one of our experienced attorneys to discuss how you can seek compensation with a personal injury case.
Call for a Free Consultation Today
We offer accident victims a free consultation; a member of our legal team will review the critical evidence of your rideshare-car accident case (like your medical records or evidence of the other driver’s negligence), outline the options to hold the at-fault party accountable, and answer your questions about pursuing maximum compensation.
Our law firm handles the entire legal process on a contingency fee basis—no legal fees unless we win financial recovery for you!
(312) 223-1700