Not that many years ago, ridesharing meant carpooling. Now, with the advent of ridesharing services, made possible by GPS devices, a new mode of transportation has entered the world. Many people find ridesharing cheaper and more convenient than taxi cab service since the driver picks you up within minutes of your request to take you to your destination and no cash changes hands. Of course, with more and more rideshare drivers on the road, streets are more congested and the odds of being in a ridesharing accident are increasingly a problem.
If you have been seriously injured in an accident involving a negligent ridesharing driver, whether you were a passenger in his or her vehicle, the driver or passenger of another car, or a bicyclist or pedestrian, you need a well-informed, skilled personal injury attorney to help you navigate the legal system. While there may be complications in dealing with any personal injury claim resulting from a car accident, ridesharing accidents are especially complex. Compass Law Group, LLP, a prominent personal injury practice serving well-satisfied clients throughout the state of California, has a well-earned reputation for providing thorough, efficient, compassionate legal counsel.
Los Angeles Ridesaring Accident Lawyer
At Compass Law Group we also provide legal representation to you if you are a rideshare driver who has suffered personal injuries through no fault of your own. Whether or not you were behind the wheel of the rideshare vehicle, Compass Law attorneys are here to protect your interests and see that you receive the damages to which you are entitled.
Why Our Ridesharing Attorney Is Your Best Choice
Many factors determine the excellence of a personal injury law firm: outstanding credentials, admiration by peers, a strong skill set, and, most of all, a track record of success. Our ridesharing accident attorneys meet all of these qualifications and then some. We have in-depth, comprehensive knowledge of applicable insurance laws and the California Vehicle code as well as a history of winning substantial compensation for our clients. When you come to us for help after the trauma of a serious accident, you can count on receiving the powerful advocacy you need and the personal concern you deserve. And we will never charge you any attorneys’ fees until we win your case.
What makes a ridesharing accident more complex than other traffic accidents?
When a driver’s negligence, recklessness, or even malice results in a serious injury, insurance coverage is an important part of the equation. As the victim, you will need medical attention, possible rehabilitation and perhaps even long-term care. In order to receive the money you require to cover your costs, particularly because you are unlikely to be able to work for a significant period of time, the court must not only determine liability for your injury, but who is going to pay your bills. Most rideshare companies carry $1 million of liability insurance for drivers who are “on the app.” In fact, those who receive injuries in rideshare cars, depending on the specific circumstances, may be entitled to even more than the one million dollars rideshare companies claim to be insured for.
Nonetheless, in ridesharing accidents, financial responsibility has not been as clear-cut as in other accidents, since the person driving the car has not, until recently, been designated as an employee of the company at the helm, but rather an independent contractor. With the passage of California Assembly Bill 5 or AB 5, however, most rideshare drivers have now been reclassified as employees of the companies they work for as of January 1, 2020.
This means that rideshare companies will have to take more responsibility for injuries caused by their drivers. Due to the fact that, during any given day, rideshare drivers may either be actually engaged in their occupation or merely waiting for a text requesting their services, the law governing personal vs company responsibility can be cloudy. The amount of liability coverage the ridesharing company provides may vary widely depending on whether the driver has or has not accepted a trip and is on the way to a pick-up, is carrying a rideshare passenger, or is simply waiting for a call. For this reason, it is essential for you to have a sharp ridesharing accident lawyer who keeps current with variations in ridesharing law.
How Ridesharing Services Work
Rideshare services use smartphone apps and satellite technology to connect passengers with rideshare drivers. Passengers must have previously downloaded the appropriate app and supplied their credit card information in order to request a ride. Once the customer puts in the request for a particular trip, a rideshare driver in the area is notified. Using GPS navigation, he or she picks up the passenger and takes the individual to the desired destination.
Are rideshares riskier than other modes of transportation?
Although rideshare drivers are minimally vetted — they must have a driver’s license for a certain period of time, a lack of moving violations, and a clean criminal record — they are not interviewed nor specifically trained. This makes slippage all too common.
Also, eager to earn as much money as possible, many rideshare drivers finagle to work more than the permitted 12 hours daily (already a very long time) and so can become dangerously drowsy on the road. Add to this the fact that rideshare drivers are likely to be more distracted by electronic devices, and eating and drinking, than others on the road, and the risk to passengers and others increases.
There are presently a great many complaints of poor or reckless driving, irresponsibility, rude or even dangerous behavior on the part of rideshare drivers being processed in California. While the majority of people doing ridesharing work are safe drivers and keep their cars clean and in good repair, there are no guarantees. Passengers do, however, rate each trip, so the company does have some means of evaluating drivers’ skills and behavior.
Steps Compass Law Group Will Take To Protect Your Rights
In addition to investigating the details of your accident and ascertaining whether the rideshare driver who caused your injury was “on the app” at the time, our legal team will examine police and medical records, interview witnesses, and consult with relevant experts (e.g. medical specialists or automotive engineers) who can potentially support our claims in court. We will carefully craft a strategy and aggressively fight for your right to fair compensation
At Compass Law Group, we understand the trauma you have undergone and the far-reaching consequences — physical, emotional, and financial — associated with it. Laser-focused on holding the party who has harmed you accountable, we will work hard and long to bring you a renewed sense of justice.
Contact us as soon as possible so that we can begin standing up for you while you rest and recover. We will work tirelessly to obtain damages to pay your medical and rehabilitation costs and to compensate you for your pain and suffering.
This list isn’t all-inclusive many personal injury suits have been raised based on different factors that aren’t included above. Our team of Los Angeles car accident attorneys can work on cases without anything out of pocket.
We’re old enough to have the necessary experience, yet young enough to use the most cutting-edge technology and tactics, and are determined enough to fight and outsmart the other side, every time.
