A Colorado rideshare accident attorney can help individuals who have been injured or harmed as a result of an accident involving a rideshare driver or their vehicle. Although ridesharing has become a popular form of transportation, lawsuits are being filed by those injured as a result of potential distracted driving and driver negligence. People who have been injured in accidents involving a rideshare automobile could be eligible to recover compensation with the help of a Colorado rideshare accident lawyer.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Colorado today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated Colorado rideshare accident attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Ridesharing?
Ridesharing, a type of carpooling, is the practice of sharing an automobile to use available space in passenger cars. The service allows people with newer model cars to earn money while transporting passenger to their destination of choice. Ridesharing services such as Lyft and Uber have become popular and viable forms of transportation for many cities in the United States and throughout the world.
How Does the Service Work?
Unlike traditional carpooling arrangements and taxicabs, rideshare services rely on smartphone technology and GPS navigation. Coordinated through a network service, rideshare services are capable of handling passenger requests as well as payments. When a passenger wants a ride, they make a request using an app on their smartphone. A nearby driver, who works for the rideshare company, accepts the request and takes the passenger to their destination. Once the trip is complete, the passenger pays their fare using an automated system set up within their account.
Rideshare Lawsuit Claims
Rideshare lawsuits allege that some drivers were negligent in accidents that occurred while drivers working for rideshare service companies Lyft and Uber. Because many drivers who work for rideshare companies are considered to be users of the application platform and not employees, those who have been injured in accidents involving Lyft and Uber drivers may have trouble determining who is legally responsible should an accident occur. With the help of a rideshare accident attorney, people who are injured as a result of a car accident involving a rideshare driver may be eligible to file a lawsuit and seek compensation for their injuries.
Car Accident Injuries
According to statistics compiled by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), millions of accidents involving motor vehicles occur every year in the United States. In 2015, there were a total of 546 traffic fatalities in the state of Colorado. Of those, 346 were passengers.
Common injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents include:
- Head injuries
- Spine damage
- Back injuries
- Whiplash
- Facial injuries
- Internal injuries, including injuries to the kidneys, spleen, liver, lungs and heart
In addition to physical injuries that drivers and passengers may receive as a result of a car accident, some people may suffer short or long-term psychological injuries, including emotional distress, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.
How a Colorado Rideshare Accident Attorney Can Help
Rideshare companies and their drivers have a duty to provide a safe environment for its passengers, drivers, other commuters, and pedestrians. If there are risks of harm associated with rideshare company drivers, the company must also provide adequate warnings and safeguards. If a driver fails to fulfill this duty, they, as well as the company, could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured as a result of a car accident involving a rideshare car through no fault of their own may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died in car accidents may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Colorado. After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
