Lexington Uber Accident Lawyer

Taking an Uber or Lyft is a convenient way to travel around Lexington. But when you enter a rideshare vehicle, you have no choice but to place your safety in the hands of a total stranger. Unfortunately, Ubers and Lyfts are not immune to accidents, and when they do happen, they can lead to significant injuries for all parties involved. 

At Regard Law Group, PLLC, we help rideshare accident victims protect their rights and start moving forward. Our Lexington Uber accident lawyers are well-versed in the relevant laws and policies surrounding rideshare accidents.

Call us at 859-281-1318 so we can guide you through the compensation and settlement process while you focus on recovering from injuries. 

Common Causes of Uber Accidents

Uber and Lyft accidents happen across Lexington virtually every day, like traditional car accidents. However, these rideshare vehicles and their drivers may be at a higher risk of accidents for several reasons. 

• Distracted drivers: Drivers may be distracted by their GPS instructions or notifications from the Uber app, taking their attention off the road. If they are picking up a passenger in a busy area, such as outside a football game or concert, they may be distracted by the happenings around them and inadvertently strike another vehicle. 
• Unfamiliar navigation: Rideshare drivers often accept rides in areas they have never driven. This may lead them to misread traffic signs or misunderstand navigation instructions, increasing the likelihood of causing an accident. 
• Speeding: Rideshare drivers receive payment for every ride they complete, not necessarily for the amount of time they spend transporting a passenger. The faster they can complete a ride, the more rides they can accept in one day, increasing their income. This leads some drivers to speed. 
• Boisterous passengers: People often take Ubers to travel from bar to brewery in Lexington during a night out drinking. This may lead them to be loud or boisterous, distracting the driver. 

The above factors make it more likely for a rideshare driver to be involved in an accident. Unfortunately, because these drivers typically have passengers, accidents involving them often have a wider-reaching impact than the average fender bender. 

If you were a passenger in such an accident, our Lexington Uber accident lawyers can help you understand your rights. 

Kentucky’s Choice No-Fault Insurance Statute

Kentucky is considered a “choice no-fault” state for car insurance. This may impact your compensation process. 

Typically, Kentucky drivers purchase personal injury protection (PIP) insurance that would cover them in the event of an accident. When they are involved in accidents, they put their medical expenses and injury-related costs on their own insurance, even if another driver was at fault. 

However, because the state has a “choice” no-fault policy, drivers have the option to reject PIP coverage. They would have to file a Kentucky No-Fault Rejection Form with the Department of Insurance if they wanted to do so. 

There is a good chance that your rideshare driver had PIP insurance. If so, you may be able to use this coverage for medical expenses. 

Who Is Responsible for Paying for an Uber Accident? 

Determining how to seek compensation after an Uber accident can sometimes feel murky. In certain cases, Uber’s insurance pays for accident damage. In others, the driver is responsible for putting the claim on their own insurance policy, or a non-Uber driver who caused the crash is responsible instead. 

Uber’s Insurance 

Uber covers certain accidents that occur when a driver is in the process of traveling to or actively transporting a passenger. If you were an Uber passenger at the time of the incident, the company would typically extend its $1,000,000 third-party liability policy to your crash. This would cover property damage and injuries to riders and third parties when the rideshare driver is at fault.

In some cases, Uber also extends personal injury protection for drivers and their passengers, no matter who was at fault, along with coverage for accidents caused by uninsured and underinsured drivers. 

Our Lexington Uber accident lawyers may start by contacting Uber to determine whether you can file a rideshare accident claim with the company. 

Your Driver’s Insurance

If Uber does not cover your accident or the company’s policy limits do not adequately pay for your medical expenses, you may need to file a claim through your driver’s personal injury protection insurance. This could happen if the rideshare driver was not actually logged into the Uber app when they were transporting you or if you hired them through some other means. 

Kentucky’s PIP insurance provides up to $10,000 per person per accident to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and related costs. 

The At-Fault Driver’s Insurance

Because Kentucky primarily follows a no-fault system for car accidents, the first step would be to seek an insurance claim through Uber or the driver, even if another driver was technically at fault. However, one may have the right to file a claim with the other driver’s insurance if the injuries meet a certain threshold. In Kentucky, that threshold is:

• At least $1,000 in medical expenses,
• Permanent disfigurement,
• A broken bone, or
• Death

Let us help you explore all of your options for compensation and seek to maximize your payout. 

What Compensation Can You Seek After an Uber Accident? 

After a rideshare accident in which you are a passenger, you may have the right to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage, if applicable. Our personal injury attorneys can help you file claims with the relevant insurance companies under PIP and liability coverage. 

If your claim leads to an insurance dispute or does not adequately cover your expenses, we can explore the possibility of legal action. A personal injury lawsuit would enable you to claim non-economic damages as well, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Loss of quality of life
• Emotional distress 

Let Our Lexington Uber Accident Lawyers Fight for Your Rights

Being involved in a rideshare accident is a traumatic experience. Let our compassionate Lexington Uber accident lawyers take the stress off your shoulders by handling the insurance claim and legal process on your behalf.

Contact Regard Law Group, PLLC, today at 859-281-1318 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation.