For commuters unwilling to deal with traffic, travelers unfamiliar with an area, or partiers in need of a designated driver to make it home safely, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft offer a convenient and efficient method of transportation. The ability to call an affordable private ride from anywhere in a major city has alleviated our dependence on public transportation—but this increase in demand has also resulted in an increase in rideshare accidents. 

Savannah, in particular, has seen more than its fair share of Uber and Lyft collisions and injuries. If you or a loved one has been in an accident involving a rideshare vehicle and need to cover your resulting injuries or property damage, Kicklighter Law will have your back. 

What Should You Do Immediately After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Savannah?

Though you likely feel overwhelmed in the aftermath of a car accident, you should first ensure that everyone is off the road and out of immediate danger. Then, call 911 to report the accident to the authorities and request medical attention. 

This call will help you for several reasons: First, Georgia code requires that you report any car accident involving injury, death, or property damage above $500, so doing so will help you stay in compliance with the law. 

Second, even if you do not see any visible injuries on yourself or any victims, some injuries—like nerve damage and whiplash—can take days to show visible symptoms. A prompt medical examination will help you catch these injuries early and prevent complications. 

Third, if you plan to file an insurance claim to recover any monetary compensation, the police report and medical record generated from your call will help establish the facts of the case and move your claim along. 

Once you have reported the accident, gather contact details from all other involved parties and any eyewitnesses, record your memories of the accident on a notepad or in a voice memo, and report the incident on your rideshare app. 

Who Is Liable in an Uber or Lyft Accident?

In a typical two-car incident, liability will usually fall on one party or the other, depending on the circumstances. However, in a collision involving an Uber or Lyft driver, the picture becomes much hazier: generally speaking, the rideshare driver will bear the brunt of liability since rideshare companies employ them as independent contractors rather than as employees. 

In some rare instances, the court could hold Uber and Lyft responsible for an accident. For instance, if a seasoned lawyer proves that the rideshare company ran inadequate background checks, ignored multiple safety concerns from passengers, or broke local or state regulations. 

And because Georgia law follows a rule called “modified comparative negligence,” if a court finds that another driver was more than 51% responsible for an accident involving your rideshare, you could look to that driver’s insurance to compensate you financially. 

What Compensation Can You Seek After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Savannah?

You can claim compensation for various economic damages after your rideshare accident, including medical expenses, current and potential lost wages, and property damage. You can also recoup costs for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. While intangible, these latter injuries significantly impact your quality of life—and the point of an insurance claim is to restore your life to its state before your accident as much as possible.

The exact dollar figure will depend heavily on the severity of the injuries, the extent of the damage, and the circumstances of the accident. This is another reason why a prompt medical examination and a police report will help your case.

If you or your attorney decide to hold your rideshare driver liable, Uber and Lyft provide varying levels of coverage, depending on the driver’s activity at the time. When the rideshare app is off, for instance, Uber or Lyft do not provide any coverage—the driver’s personal insurance will need to cover any accident. When waiting for a ride request, the driver can look to Uber or Lyft for partial coverage to cover collisions or injuries that happen during that waiting period. 

However, if the accident happens in the middle of a ride or while actively picking up a passenger, Uber and Lyft provide at least $1,000,000 for property damage and personal injury. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for Savannah Car Accidents? 

After your rideshare accident, if you want to recover monetary compensation for your injuries and damages, you should do so as soon as possible. Under Georgia law, you generally have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury claim. 

In addition to this hard-and-fast deadline, if you plan to hire a car accident lawyer to protect your interests, you should do so as closely to the date of the collision as possible. This gives your lawyer the best possible chance of collecting relevant evidence, interviewing important witnesses, and establishing the extent of your damages as accurately as possible. 

Why Choose Kicklighter Law for Your Rideshare Accident Case?

Unfortunately, a number of obstacles can get in the way when you try to recover monetary compensation for your rideshare accident. For instance, the other parties in the collision could dispute your version of the facts. Or the insurance company could try to lowball your settlement offer to save money. 

Choose the Savannah Uber and Lyft accident lawyers at Kicklighter Law to work on your case. We have helped numerous clients just like you recover the maximum possible compensation for their damages. 

The Savannah Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers at Kicklighter Law Will Help You After a Wreck

You need a seasoned lawyer on your side to protect your rights and give yourself the best shot at claiming compensation. To learn more, contact the Savannah Uber and Lyft accident lawyers at Kicklighter Law. Call 912-754-6003 today or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation. Located in Springfield, Georgia, we serve clients in Effingham County, Savannah, and the surrounding areas.