Uber and Lyft are the most common forms of common carriers in our city. Though these rideshare services are easy to use, they can come with reckless or distracted drivers that cause collisions. Employees, employers, independent contractors, and motorists alike could be brought into court to answer for their incautious and harmful conduct.
If you or someone you love has injuries from a rideshare incident, a Gainesville Uber/Lyft/rideshare accident lawyer could get the compensatory damages you deserve.
Rideshare services are similar to taxis; however, residents and visitors in Gainesville do not have to wait in the street to flag one down. Rideshares are generally more secure than a standard taxi because a rider receives the driver’s vehicle information and a driver rating, which they can share with friends or family for safety purposes.
The easy access to driver information and lower fares make rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft popular throughout the United States. Be that as it may, just as any common carrier, rideshare services are prone to incidents resulting from the actions of a negligent rideshare operator or standard motorist on the road. Common examples of driver negligence are:
A driver of an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare vehicle is particularly susceptible to fatigue. Some individuals who drive rideshare vehicles do not take the company-mandated breaks between rides. For example, a driver of a Lyft could violate the company’s internal policy requiring a service vehicle operator to take a six-hour consecutive break after every twelve hours of driving. Such a violation could result in the rideshare operator getting in an accident and passengers being hurt.
In these circumstances, the passenger could have a legal claim to sue the Lyft driver for negligence. If the company ignored a driver’s consistent violations of these safety policies, a hurt passenger could also sue the company for negligence, regardless of whether the common carrier operator has the employment classification of independent contractor. A person hurt in a rideshare accident should meet with a Gainesville attorney to determine whether someone’s negligence was the cause.
The legal standard for liability in an automobile accident is found under Georgia Code § 51-12-33. Per this statute, the person bringing a lawsuit—typically through legal representation—must prove the person on the receiving end of the claim for damages was over 50 percent responsible for the accident.
Damages are types of financial payments that those injured in automobile crashes can demand from the person who is majority at fault for the accident. Generally, injured passengers ask for damages to cover medical bills, emotional distress, and property damage.
Rideshare accident cases can result in a settlement agreement for damages, or a jury could determine the overall damage amount by assigning a percentage of accident liability to each person in the collision. Challenges can arise in the either of these legal processes. Someone hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident should work with a Gainesville injury lawyer who has experience with both settlement negotiations and presenting compelling legal arguments to jurors.
While rideshare services may dispute their liability, you deserve accountability and compensation for what has happened to you. A Gainesville Uber/Lyft/Rideshare accident attorney could handle the legal work while you focus on medical treatment and recovering around friends and family. Contact Smith Hulsey Law via message or phone call to schedule a meeting.
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