{"id":2404,"date":"2022-10-31T10:04:53","date_gmt":"2022-10-31T18:04:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sharmin.com\/rideshare\/?p=2404"},"modified":"2022-11-01T08:48:03","modified_gmt":"2022-11-01T16:48:03","slug":"individual-and-class-action-lawsuits-against-lyft-and-uber","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sharmin.com\/rideshare\/individual-and-class-action-lawsuits-against-lyft-and-uber\/","title":{"rendered":"Individual and Class Action Lawsuits Against Lyft and Uber"},"content":{"rendered":"

The meteoric rise of rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft has provided many benefits for society, including an additional option to public transportation or expensive taxi services, a safer alternative to driving while impaired, and a versatile means of earning full or part-time income for many people. But with rideshare apps comes an overall rise in vehicles on the roads as those who might formerly have used public transportation now prefer the convenience of ordering a rideshare transport from one location to another with just a couple of taps of a smartphone. The popularity of rideshares also means rideshare drivers crowd the roads while cruising around waiting for customers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to a study by the University of Chicago\u2019s Booth School of Business<\/a>, the rise of rideshares has led to a 3% increase in traffic accidents resulting in fatalities and a rise in the total number of yearly accidents. This as well as sexual assault cases involving Lyft and Uber drivers and questionable business policies have led to many individual accident claims as well as class action lawsuits against these rideshare companies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Complexities in Accident Claims Against Rideshares<\/span><\/h2>\n

Although determining who is at fault in rideshare accidents works very much like any other car accident, the fact that rideshare accidents also involve an additional entity in the company itself throws a third party into the liability mix. However, unlike truck companies who remain liable for claims in any accident involving their employee drivers, Lyft and Uber function as a marketplace aimed at connecting customers with drivers who are not employees but individual operators working as contractors. This necessarily prevents the rideshare companies from being liable. Fortunately, these companies do offer some protection for accident victims by maintaining liability coverage for each driver with up to $1 million dollars in coverage. The policies work on a scale depending on the status of the driver at the time of the accident with the categories as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n