Yes, you should contact an attorney. The law concerning liability for ride-sharing accidents is complicated. Currently, Des Moines is the only city in Iowa to have regulations for ride-sharing companies. In 2015, the Iowa House of Representatives considered a bill that would impose greater regulations on ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft. However, the Iowa Senate did not pass the bill. It is expected that similar legislation could be considered during 2016. Such legislation could include regulating when a driver is working and, thus, is covered by the ride-sharing company’s insurance policy if an accident occurs.
What If You’re Hurt Now?
As a passenger, you did not cause the accident. However, if you fail to take action then you may be responsible for paying your own damages. Instead, you have the right to hold the party who is liable for your accident accountable and to recover fair damages for your injuries. These parties could include:
- The Uber, Lyft, or other ride-share driver.
- The rideshare company.
- Another driver who caused the accident.
Each of these parties may have insurance policies that should compensate you for your damages. Yet, each insurance company may fight to pay you as little as possible because insurance companies maximize their profits by paying out as little as possible in claims. In the case of a rideshare accidents, the parties may try to shift the blame to one another.
An experienced attorney can sort through these liability issues and fight hard to get you the recovery that you deserve from the party or parties that are legally responsible for paying you damages. To learn more, please start a live chat with us today and schedule a free consultation to discuss your rights and your potential recovery.