San Bernardino Ridesharing Accident Lawyer

You’ve Been Hurt in a Ridesharing Accident. How Should You Proceed?

The ridesharing industry was created in California, and people in San Bernardino were early adopters of services such as Uber and Lyft. In little more than a decade, ridesharing has gone from a fringe concept to a routine part of daily life.

The ridesharing industry is now worth more than $60 billion, and 25-percent of Americans use ridesharing apps at least once per month — a figure that’s expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

Yet this wide adoption comes at a cost: sharply increasing numbers of ridesharing accidents. Because the laws and regulations governing ridesharing are so new, these accidents have different legal implications compared to standard truck and car collisions — a fact that can be confusing for those who have been injured.

Fortunately, an experienced San Bernardino ridesharing accident attorney can help you understand the situation and seek compensation for any injuries or losses you have suffered.

The Facts About San Bernardino Ridesharing Accidents

Ridesharing accidents include several scenarios:

• You may be injured while riding as a customer in a ridesharing vehicle, and that injury may be caused by the rideshare driver or a secondary driver.
• You may be injured after your vehicle is in a collision with a ridesharing vehicle, or a ridesharing vehicle causes a multi-car collision that impacts you.
• You may be a pedestrian struck and injured by a ridesharing vehicle, or by a vehicle involved in a multi-car accident caused by a ridesharing vehicle.

In San Bernardino, a victim can sue the driver, or the ridesharing company, if they are injured due to the negligence of the ridesharing driver. Ridesharing companies will sometimes contest liability on the grounds that they classify drivers as independent contractors.

If you’re a ridesharing passenger injured by the driver of a second, non-ridesharing vehicle, you can file a lawsuit or insurance claim against the second driver. Typically, ridesharing companies will have uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance policies to cover these scenarios.

If you are driving, and you are injured due to the negligence of a ridesharing driver, then you can pursue a legal claim against the driver and the ridesharing company.

In the case of a pedestrian or bystander, one key factor is whether the ridesharing driver is working when the accident occurs. If the driver is not working, some states indemnify the ridesharing company. In California, you can file a claim or a lawsuit if a passenger is in the ridesharing car, or if the driver is logged in to a ridesharing app and waiting for a pick-up.

Finding the Right San Bernardino Ridesharing Attorney

Ridesharing laws and litigation can be more complex and confusing than standard auto and truck accident laws and litigation. Additionally, ridesharing laws are still evolving, and ridesharing companies have substantial resources at their disposal to fight claims.

Given this, it is important to work with an experienced ridesharing accident attorney who can help balance the scales for you in San Bernardino. Working with an attorney can help ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses.