A Kansas rideshare accident attorney can help people who have been injured or harmed as a result of an accident involving a rideshare driver or their vehicle. Despite the popularity of rideshare services, especially in major cities across the United States, lawsuits are being filed as a result of accidents involving rideshare company cars and drivers. People who have been injured in accidents involving a rideshare automobile could be eligible to recover compensation with the help of a Kansas rideshare accident lawyer.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Kansas 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 Kansas rideshare accident attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is a Rideshare?
Instead of hailing a cab, waiting for the bus or train, or making arrangements with coworkers to carpool, many people are using rideshare services as a way to cheaply get around town.
Popular rideshare apps include:
- Uber – Probably the most recognizable of all ridesharing services, Uber is an online transportation networking company based in San Francisco, California. To date, the service is available in over 66 countries and 500 cities worldwide.
- Lyft – Also based in San Francisco, Lyft facilitates peer-to-peer ridesharing through their smartphone application.
- Sidecar – No longer in business, Sidecar provided ridesharing services as well as business-to-business deliveries.
- Via – Via is a rideshare company based in New York City. Unlike Uber and Lyft, which base their rates on distance and location, Via allows customers to share a ride for a flat rate.
- Cabify – Cabify is an international transportation networking service that operates in Latin America, Spain and Portugal.
Most rideshare services work in a similar way. Passengers make a ride request through an app downloaded to their smartphone, and a driver located nearby is notified. If the driver accepts the passenger’s request, the driver picks them up and takes them to their destination. Fares are paid electronically through the app.
Rideshare Regulation
As the popularity of rideshare services increases across the United States, some have begun to question the legality of ridesharing services. In almost all states and cities where taxicabs are in business, those companies must adhere to strict rules and regulations regarding insurance and business operations in general. Unlike taxicab companies, ridesharing services have not faced the same amount of scrutiny and regulation. As lawsuits mount, however, many state governments are seeking to pass laws in order to keep citizens safe and rideshare companies accountable.
Car Accident Injuries
Millions of car accidents occur every year in the United States, and many people are injured or killed as a result. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a total of 355 traffic fatalities were recorded in 2015 for the state of Kansas.
In addition to death, other injuries may occur as a result of an accident involving a motor vehicle. Those injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Spine injuries
- Brain injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Whiplash
- Paralysis
Psychological injuries may result as well. People may experience emotional distress or post-traumatic stress disorder following tragic car accidents.
Rideshare Lawsuit Claims
A Kansas rideshare accident attorney notes that lawsuits have been filed against both Lyft and Uber alleging negligence on the part of the companies’ drivers. In 2014, the family of a six-year old girl filed a lawsuit against Uber and the driver of an UberX car, claiming that the driver’s use and monitoring of the Uber mobile app caused him to become distracted. Likewise, the family of a Lyft passenger who was killed in an accident claim that the driver’s negligence led to the young man’s death.
How a Kansas 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.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Kansas. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.
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.
