If you live in Albuquerque, Uber and Lyft services are an efficient way to shop in Old Town or work downtown. They are faster than public transportation and cheaper than taxis. The downside is if you are involved in an accident while a passenger. Who pays your medical bills and lost wages if you cannot work while you recuperate?
Rideshare drivers are independent contractors and not employees. If a driver is negligent, companies traditionally have disavowed responsibility for compensating injured passengers. If you are hurt in Uber/Lyft/rideshare accidents in Albuquerque, our skilled attorneys can help you navigate the uncertainty of what to do next.
Rideshare companies have unique policies and insurance structures that may apply depending on whether a driver was waiting for a ride, en route to pick up a passenger, or actively transporting someone. You may find that working with New Mexico Accident Firm (NMAF) offers a more personalized approach, with attorneys who understand the local roads, traffic patterns, and legal landscape. Taking early action could help you better position your claim and avoid unnecessary complications.
Ridesharing companies, through websites and apps, allow people requesting transportation to be matched with automobile drivers for hire. The drivers cannot be hailed from the street like taxis, which makes the process safer because the company collects and retains passengers’ and drivers’ personal information.
Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) TNCs perform background checks on drivers before hiring them. When a prospective passenger requests transportation, Uber or Lyft alerts drivers in the vicinity, who can take the fare or decline it. The TNC collects the fare via credit card or a passenger account, and then allocates drivers their portion. Companies that once tried to skirt liability now carry insurance when passengers are injured in rideshare crashes in Albuquerque. Our attorneys are excellent advocates for our clients who are hurt as passengers. We know money matters when negotiating for an insurance settlement, and we are not timid about taking on large insurance companies.
If you were involved in a crash while using a rideshare service, you may be dealing with confusion about insurance coverage, liability, and your legal rights. Navigating these situations can feel overwhelming, especially when multiple parties are involved.
A person injured in a rideshare collision could take several steps to protect their health and potential claim. You should seek immediate medical attention, even if your injuries seem minor at first. Medical documentation could play a key role in connecting your injuries to the accident.
You may also want to report the accident through the rideshare app and gather relevant information at the scene. This could include driver details, insurance information, and contact information for witnesses. Taking photos and documenting the conditions surrounding the crash may also help preserve important evidence.
Following the accident, you could benefit from speaking with an attorney before engaging with insurance companies. Rideshare claims often involve layered coverage, and early statements could impact your ability to recover compensation. Legal guidance may help ensure your claim is handled carefully from the start. Working with an experienced attorney could help you understand how rideshare accident claims differ from standard motor vehicle cases and what options may be available to you after a rideshare accident in Albuquerque.
A person involved in an Uber or Lyft crash may find that several factors contributed to the incident. Rideshare drivers often rely on navigation apps, which may lead to distracted driving. Frequent stops, unfamiliar routes, and pressure to complete rides quickly could also increase the risk of accidents.
You may also encounter issues related to driver fatigue or inexperience. Many rideshare drivers work long hours or drive in areas they do not know well. Additionally, standard traffic hazards such as speeding, failure to yield, and impaired driving may still play a role in these collisions.
A person injured in a rideshare accident could experience a wide range of injuries depending on the severity of the crash. These may include whiplash, broken bones, head injuries, or back and spinal trauma. Even lower-speed collisions may result in soft tissue injuries that require ongoing care.
You may also be able to pursue compensation for various damages. Economic damages could include medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost income. Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering or reduced quality of life, may also be considered when evaluating your claim.
State law requires TNCs to provide insurance coverage for their drivers while they are engaged in waiting for or transporting passengers. While drivers are tuned in to the app waiting for a passenger to request a ride, Uber and Lyft must cover them for primary liability at a minimum of $50,000 per person for bodily injury or death, $100,000 per incident, and $25,000 in property damage.
Once the driver accepts a fare and travels to pick up the passenger or is transporting the passenger, the required coverage minimums increase to at least $1 million for primary liability coverage for bodily injury, death, and property damage. Comprehensive and collision coverage is also required. Our attorneys are highly skilled at negotiating Uber negligence claims in Albuquerque.
In some cases, an at-fault motorist smashes into a rideshare driver. We negotiate with at-fault drivers’ insurers, whether it is the TNC driver or someone else. We strive to get our clients compensated for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, long-term care, emotional stress, and the loss of consortium and enjoyment of life. If a settlement offer is unacceptable, we file successful lawsuits based on negligence, in which the driver has a duty to proceed safely, does not, and causes an accident with injuries. Injuries in a Lyft accident can be devastating, and our Albuquerque attorneys are here to ensure our clients get the best outcome.
Uber and Lyft have changed the way Americans travel locally, and the way these TNCs protect passengers has evolved for the best, too, with mandatory insurance coverage required by the state. However, insurers look for profits, and we look out for you.
Our attorneys are lifelong Albuquerque residents who love our community and neighbors and dedicate our practice to helping both. We guide our clients through the negotiation and litigation process to ensure they are well taken care of because we would want the same for our family. After Uber/Lyft/rideshare accidents in Albuquerque, call us.
