After a rideshare accident, who pays for your injuries, the rideshare company or the rideshare driver? That not only depends on the accident’s circumstances but also on how much compensation you need.
A rideshare company’s insurance covers victims’ injuries when drivers are working. The most you can get from rideshare liability insurance is $1 million, and that is only for riders or those injured when drivers are on the way to pick up a passenger. Lawsuits filed for compensation are brought against at-fault drivers, not rideshare companies. In addition to your injuries, you can get lost wages and non-economic damages covered.
Call the Columbia, SC Uber and Lyft accident attorneys of Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers at (803) 451-4000 for help with your case.
When Do Rideshare Companies Pay for Injuries in South Carolina?
Rideshare companies only sometimes pay for victims’ injuries. If the driver was not online when they hit you, their own liability insurance from their personal auto insurance would apply, not the rideshare company’s.
The top rideshare companies, Uber and Lyft, also maintain insurance. It covers accidents their drivers cause when they are online.
If you were hurt as a passenger, do not automatically assume the rideshare driver is liable. Another driver involved in the crash might be at fault, in which case they may pay for your injuries. Rideshare companies also maintain uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for passengers in South Carolina up to $1 million, which helps if the at-fault driver’s insurance isn’t enough.
What Do Rideshare Companies Pay for Injuries in South Carolina?
Rideshare insurance pays different amounts for different accident scenarios. We can pinpoint coverage limits for your accident and compare them to your total damages.
Suppose drivers cause accidents when online and available for rides. First, victims file claims with the at-fault driver’s commercial/rideshare insurance. Rideshare companies might also supplement this insurance with a policy of their own.
Rideshare companies may pay up to $1 million for injuries and property damage when drivers cause accidents while en route to pick up a ride or while a rider is in their car.
Car accidents cause traumatic brain injuries, disfiguring facial injuries, hard-to-heal displaced fractures, and paralyzing spinal cord injuries. Medical bills grow fast, and you might be unable to work as you recover, leading to lost wages.
Furthermore, you must consider other out-of-pocket expenses and non-economic damages, like physical pain and mental suffering. When added together, your total damages may exceed coverage limits.
Who Pays for Rideshare Accident Injuries in a South Carolina Lawsuit?
Victims can file lawsuits against negligent drivers in South Carolina. Suing Uber and Lyft directly is challenging because they hire independent contractors, but they may bear liability for some accidents.
Before we can file, we must determine liability. Suppose you were a passenger during the accident. In that case, either the rideshare driver or the other driver might have been negligent.
We can determine which driver is liable after speaking with you, reading the police accident report, reviewing photos, and interviewing eyewitnesses.
Our South Carolina Uber and Lyft accident attorneys can also preserve evidence like security camera footage and involve accident reconstruction experts.
Damages You Can Get Payment for After a South Carolina Rideshare Accident
You can seek compensation for all losses in a South Carolina rideshare accident lawsuit, whether economic, like medical bills, property damage, and lost wages, or non-economic, like physical pain and mental suffering.
Medical Damages
Medical damages start with ambulance rides to hospitals and emergency room treatment. We will organize bills from extended hospital stays, surgeries, referrals to specialists, and follow-up appointments.
You can get paid for future medical damages as well, like upcoming physical therapy sessions or surgeries.
Ending treatment plans early and against doctors’ advice complicates lawsuits. Prioritize your physical recovery and attend all necessary appointments.
Property Damage
If a rideshare driver hits your car, you can recover property damage costs in a lawsuit. Passengers whose phones or other personal items get damaged in accidents can get compensation, too.
Lost Wages
If injuries affect your income, we can quantify your lost wages. We use tax returns, pay stubs, and employer information for this. Permanent injuries that lower victims’ earning capacities entitle them to future lost wages as well. We can have experts assess your reduced earning capacity and testify at trial.
Miscellaneous Expenses
Many expenses come from car accidents. Some victims may need transportation accommodations to and from doctor visits. Others might incur childcare costs because of their injuries. Others still may have to modify their homes to accommodate wheelchairs.
We can keep receipts and bills that prove all miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses so your lawsuit covers them.
Non-Economic Damages
We also calculate non-economic damages before filing. Disfiguring injuries might cause embarrassment and distress. Limb loss might cause serious physical pain and mental suffering. Less severe injuries also cause non-economic damages, so do not underestimate yours.
Talking to therapists helps victims work through emotional distress or depression. It also leads to expert witness testimony. Therapists can confirm your non-economic damages.
If you need ongoing mental health support, we can seek payment for current and future therapy sessions.
How Do You Know if a Rideshare Accident Settlement Pays Enough?
Letting our lawyers tally your damages from the get-go lets you appreciate your claim’s value before you file. Victims who think they deserve less might accept settlements that do not pay for all their damages.
When you get offers, we will review them. If they do not pay enough, we will reject offers and respond with counters. We can point to evidence showing why you deserve more. Statements from treating physicians explaining upcoming care can support counters.
Accepting a settlement means ending your case. If a settlement is not enough, we can go to trial, which might evoke a better offer from the other side.
Call Our South Carolina Attorneys for Help Now
Call our Orangeburg, SC Uber and Lyft accident attorneys at (803) 451-4000 for a free case assessment from Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers.
