Uber/Lyft/Rideshare Accidents in Palm Springs
Whether you are a tourist or a local, hitching a ride around Palm Springs in a rideshare vehicle operated through platforms like Uber or Lyft can be much more convenient than taking public transit or driving your own car. Unfortunately, not every person who works as a contractor for one of these apps is as careful and considerate behind the wheel as they should be.
If you have been hurt in an Uber/Lyft/rideshare accident in Palm Springs, you have help available from Walter Clark Legal Group with pursuing financial restitution for your losses. No matter how the wreck or what path you take toward recovery, guidance from a skilled auto accident attorney will make the case process go much more smoothly for you and improve your chances of getting a positive final result.
Are Rideshare Companies Liable for Their Drivers’ Negligence?
The basic rules governing claims over rideshare accidents in Palm Springs are the same as those governing all other types of auto collision claims. Someone who violates their duty of care to act responsibly behind the wheel and causes injury as a direct result is negligent. Establishing negligence on the part of the defendant being sued is the crux of every successful lawsuit or settlement demand over this sort of incident.
One thing worth noting about rideshare crashes in particular, though, is that rideshare companies rarely hold legal liability for the actions of their drivers. This is because those drivers are classified as “independent contractors” rather than “employees.” However, both Uber and Lyft maintain extensive liability insurance policies that can provide up to $1 million in total compensation to people involved in a wreck with a rideshare driver, even if that driver is not the one to blame for causing the wreck in the first place.
Recovering for Short- and Long-Term Losses
Insurance alone cannot always cover every form of harm that a high-speed car accident in Palm Springs can cause, especially one caused by a negligent Uber or Lyft driver with one or more passengers in the car. In this kind of scenario, it may be important to file a civil suit directly against the person at fault for the incident, which can allow recovery for damages like:
- Medical bills and car repair costs not already covered by insurance
- Other expenses related to personal property damage—for instance, the cost of replacing a cracked phone screen
- Lost work income, benefits, or future working capacity
- Disability-related expenses for things like wheelchairs and home/vehicle modifications
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Mental anguish and trauma
- Lost overall quality of life
Support from qualified legal counsel can be essential to identifying the losses a specific person needs to recover for and assigning a fair financial value to them during settlement negotiations or a civil court trial.
Get in Touch With a Palm Springs Attorney After an Uber/Lyft/Rideshare Accident
Even if you know who is to blame for your Uber/Lyft/rideshare accident in Palm Springs, you may still have a long way to go before you can hold them financially accountable for the harm you have suffered. If you pursue litigation over your accident alone, you are more likely to wind up with no compensation at all than you are to get paid fairly for all your compensable damages.
Fortunately, the dedicated team at Walter Clark Legal Group is ready to help you understand and enforce your rights as effectively as possible. Call today for a consultation.
