What Happens If an Uber or Lyft Driver Hits Your Car in North Carolina?
If a rideshare driver hits your vehicle in North Carolina, you may wonder whether you can pursue compensation from the company that employs them. Possibly so. Uber and Lyft each carry $1 million liability insurance coverage to pay for a victim’s losses if a rideshare driver causes an auto accident while working. If the person who hit you wasn’t on duty, your injuries could be covered by the at-fault driver’s personal auto insurance. North Carolina requires vehicle owners to carry a minimum of $30,000 per person in bodily injury coverage up to $60,000 per accident and $25,000 of property damage liability coverage per accident.
Determining the car insurance coverage that applies in your case can be challenging. An experienced rideshare accident attorney can explain your rights after an Uber or Lyft crash and help you pursue compensation from all available sources. Contact The Law Offices of John Drew Warlick P.A. today for a free consultation with an experienced Uber/Lyft accident lawyer.
Contents
- What Are the Most Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents?
- What Information Should I Gather at the Scene After a Rideshare Accident?
- What Insurance Do Uber and Lyft Carry for Their Drivers?
- What Compensation Can I Recover in a North Carolina Uber/Lyft Accident Lawsuit?
- How Should I Handle a Phone Call with a Rideshare Insurance Adjuster?
- How Long Do I Have to File an Uber/Lyft Accident Lawsuit in North Carolina?
- Contact a North Carolina Uber/Lyft Accident Lawyer
Rideshare drivers must manage multiple tasks behind the wheel, including monitoring their phones for navigation, transporting passengers, and accepting ride requests. These tasks can amount to distracted driving unless the rideshare driver is careful. Drivers may also engage in negligent or reckless behavior to maximize their income. An Uber or Lyft accident may result from:
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Aggressive driving
- Road rage
- Reckless driving
- Stopping in traffic lanes or double parking, especially without using hazard lights
- Unsafe turns or lane changes
- Failure to use mirrors or turn signals
- Drowsy driving, especially at night
- Driving while intoxicated
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Disregarding traffic signs or signals
- Failure to yield the right of way
If possible, collect the following information and evidence immediately after a rideshare accident:
- The rideshare driver’s license, registration, and car insurance information
- Insurance information from any other drivers involved in the accident
- Accident scene photos or videos, particularly of any visible injuries, vehicle damage, skid marks, visual obstructions, traffic signs and signals, and environmental conditions that may have contributed to the crash
- Witness statements and contact information
If the police responded to the crash scene, request a copy of the police accident report. North Carolina law requires “reportable accident” reports to be completed within 24 hours. A reportable accident is one that resulted in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000.
What Insurance Do Uber and Lyft Carry for Their Drivers?
In North Carolina, Uber and Lyft provide insurance coverage for drivers while they are logged into the mobile application or driving to pick up or transport passengers. Insurance coverage varies depending on the driver’s status:
- Driver logged into the app, but no ride request: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage and $25,000 of property damage liability coverage, if the event the driver’s auto insurance doesn’t apply
- Driver accepted ride request or is transporting a passenger: $1 million of combined bodily injury/property damage liability coverage
If you don’t know which insurance applies in your case, a rideshare accident lawyer can ensure your claim gets filed with the right insurance company.
What Compensation Can I Recover in a North Carolina Uber/Lyft Accident Lawsuit?
A successful Uber/Lyft accident lawsuit can provide victims with compensation for a wide range of financial and non-financial losses, including:
- Vehicle repairs or reimbursement for a totaled car
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses, including hospitalization, surgeries, prescriptions, doctor’s appointments, and physical/occupational therapy
- Long-term care and support services for long-term disabilities
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity and employment benefits
- Physical pain and emotional distress
- Lost quality of life
Hiring a lawyer is not mandatory to pursue compensation. However, a rideshare accident lawyer will build a strong case on your behalf and demand a fair deal during settlement negotiations. When a claimant hires a lawyer, the insurance adjuster knows they mean business.
If possible, avoid speaking with a rideshare accident’s insurer until you consult an experienced attorney. Follow these tips if a conversation happens before you have a chance to seek legal help:
- Keep your descriptions brief – When describing the accident to the adjuster, keep your statements short and to the point. If you give wordy answers, you risk accidentally saying something that harms your case.
- Don’t speculate or exaggerate – Avoid guessing or embellishing when describing the accident or your injuries. Saying less is always better. If you can’t remember something about the accident, saying, “I don’t know” is fine.
- Avoid admitting fault – Don’t accept responsibility for the crash or say something the adjuster might interpret as an admission of fault. Even a simple “I’m sorry” could be used against you.
- Don’t sign a medical record release form – Refuse to give the insurance company a medical records release form. The insurance company will look through your entire medical history for evidence of prior injuries or pre-existing conditions they can claim caused your injuries rather than the accident.
- Decline to provide a recorded or written statement – Adjusters want your recorded statement in the hopes that you say something contradictory or that hurts your credibility.
- Never accept a quick settlement – Don’t take the adjuster’s first offer of compensation. You may not know what injuries you have suffered or your prognosis. By accepting a settlement right after a rideshare accident, you may recover less than the full extent of your losses.
Remember, the adjuster works for the insurance company, not you. Even though they may sound genuinely concerned about your welfare after a rideshare accident, their job is to do everything they can to minimize your compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File an Uber/Lyft Accident Lawsuit in North Carolina?
The North Carolina statute of limitations on rideshare accidents requires you to file your lawsuit within three years of the accident. If you file suit after the statute of limitations runs out, the court can permanently dismiss your case, and you may lose the opportunity to recover compensation for your losses. Contact a rideshare accident attorney as soon as possible after the crash to protect your Uber/Lyft accident claim.
Contact a North Carolina Uber/Lyft Accident Lawyer
At The Law Offices of John Drew Warlick, P.A., our legal team works tirelessly to recover maximum compensation for injured people. Contact us for a free consultation with a skilled Uber/Lyft accident lawyer in North Carolina.
