A Virginia 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 some rideshare services have attempted to distance themselves from accidents involving their services and drivers, lawsuits have been filed claiming that driver negligence led to the death of a pedestrian and passenger. People who have been injured in accidents involving a rideshare automobile could be eligible to recover compensation with the help of a Virginia rideshare accident lawyer.
For more information, contact the Attorney Group for Virginia 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 Virginia rideshare accident attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Ridesharing?
Rideshare companies, also known as ride-sourcing, ride-hailing, or ride-booking services, offer a service connecting passengers and drivers with the use of a smartphone app. Although ridesharing services such as Lyft and Uber do not offer a “pure” ridesharing service, some companies offer a carpool version of the app for passengers in some locations. Instead, passengers may use their smartphones to request rides from drivers nearby. Rideshare services are widely available across the United States and throughout the world.
Virginia Rideshare Regulation
As the popularity of rideshare services increases across the United States, some local and state officials 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 ordinances and city laws 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, including the government in Virginia, are seeking to pass laws in order to keep citizens safe and rideshare companies accountable.
After months of working to implement rideshare legislation into law, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, lawmakers, and Lyft and Uber came to a tentative agreement in 2015 regarding regulatory framework for the app-based transportation companies. Now Virginia law, the regulations require rideshare services to adhere to a number of rules, including:
- Pay $100,000 for a license to operate in Virginia
- Drivers must be 21-years old
- Drivers must undergo comprehensive background check
- Company or driver must have insurance that covers up to $1 million in accident damage
Rideshare Lawsuit Claims
A Virginia rideshare accident attorney notes that, in 2014, a passenger died in a car accident involving the company and one of its drivers. The family of the man killed have filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the service, claiming that the driver was negligent. According to a report published in The San Francisco Chronicle, authorities have already concluded that the Lyft driver was at fault. Although Lyft has not denied liability, it hasn’t yet offered compensation to the victim’s surviving loved ones.
How a Virginia 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 the Attorney Group for Virginia. 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.
