Staying in the Know: What Happens if You’re Involved in an Accident While Using a Car Share Service

The United States has over 225 million drivers on the roads. Even though we’ve only required driving licenses for under 100 years in most states, everybody knows what the procedures and requirements for driving are. Have a valid license and registration, plus insurance, and you’re good to go. Driving laws have been implemented and tested over many, many years to get where they are now. There is a new kid on the block who changes the situation though.

Car Sharing

Car share services have gotten really popular over the last few years, and there are even different types of car shares already. You can even share the hiring of a car now, using it only for the hours you need to and sharing with other renters. Then there are ‘for hire’ car share services, such as Uber and Lyft. The reason these can complicate the driving rules is that they don’t fall into the same category as taxi cabs or public transport, but they also don’t fall into the regular rules for your own car.

If you get into an accident while using a car share, the process is a little different to being in your own car – you can’t just get the Uber accident details and pass them off to the insurer to deal with.

Liability

The first thing to clear up is a liability. When you use an Uber, your driver is not technically an employee of the company – they’re an independent contractor. This is an important distinction because it protects Uber from any liability. The same is true for many other car shares or rideshare services.

What to Do

If you are unlucky enough to be involved in an accident, the first thing to do is get medical attention. This creates an indisputable record of your injuries and any treatment. It’s a good idea to get proof of any other evidence as well, like witness details or pictures of any damage. This isn’t relevant to your injuries but it can help to establish the level of impact in the accident.

From there you should get some legal representation because a legal professional has the knowledge to give you solid advice on how to proceed. They will know the legal requirements for your specific case and can advise you based on that. They will also be able to tell you who is liable since Uber will usually try to deny responsibility and direct you to the driver – while the driver’s insurance might do the same thing and direct you to Uber.

An experienced lawyer is able to figure out who is liable and why. They are best positioned to get you some compensation and reimbursement for your medical costs. Once you have discussed your case with a lawyer, leave the rest with them. Your representatives will keep you informed through the process and will notify you if anything else is needed.

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