Partner at Charbonnet Law Firm LLC
Practice Areas: Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking
Rideshare services have forever changed how we travel, not only in New Orleans but around the country. No longer do individuals need their own cars to get around, get to work or travel in different cities. Rather, with a press of a button, they can have a ride, ready to pick them up and get them to where they need to go in minutes. Yet, even though rideshare services can provide people in New Orleans with endless benefits, they are not without their issues. In truth, ridesharing services have been linked to a rise in traffic accidents and death across the United States.
That is why if you or a family member has been harmed in a New Orleans rideshare accident, you need experienced legal assistance to get you the compensation and justice you deserve. For these reasons, we have prepared the following blog post. In it, we will discuss more about these rideshare accidents and the actions you need to take after you have been harmed in this horrifying collision.
Rideshare companies, also referred to as transportation network companies or ride-hailing companies, provide driver-for-hire services through freelance motorists who use their personal vehicles to transport their customers.
Typically, these services operate through an app on a person’s smartphone, where they will enter information regarding how many passengers they have, where they are currently at, and where they want to get to. Once they arrive at the destination, the credit card that the rideshare company has on file will be charged automatically.
Rideshare accidents can occur for various reasons. However, some of the more common causes of this devastating collision include the following:
Unfortunately, following many of these rideshare accidents, it can be challenging to determine the exact reason for the collision. That is why, in these situations, you need to work with an experienced rideshare accident attorney who can investigate what happened and help you determine who was responsible for the crash.
Generally, determining liability in a New Orleans rideshare accident will be figured out like any other type of car accident. This means that to prove that someone was at fault for your rideshare accident, you need to show that someone was negligent by establishing the following:
If you believe you were injured in a New Orleans rideshare accident because of another person’s negligent actions, you should reach out to a skilled rideshare accident attorney that can gather the evidence needed to prove negligence and go after the money you need.
Most motorists in New Orleans are covered by their own car insurance policy. This means that if you are involved in an automobile collision, you will file a claim with the liable driver’s insurance and get reimbursed for your damages and medical expenses.
However, this personal auto insurance does include certain exclusions. Specifically, if drivers use their motor vehicle for business pursuits, their own coverage does not apply if they are involved in an accident. Consequently, if a rideshare driver picks up a customer, they will not have liability insurance through their own car insurance policy.
So what does this mean for you if you get hit by a rideshare driver? Rideshare services will often provide $1 million in liability coverage for their drivers. However, this coverage will depend on what “period” the driver is in when the accident occurs. For instance, let’s take a look at Uber’s insurance policy:
Yet, since rideshare laws are constantly evolving, it is important to reach out to a skilled New Orleans rideshare attorney as soon as you can following your rideshare incident. These lawyers can go over your claim, help you figure out what legal options you can pursue, and assist you as you go after the money you need.
If you have been harmed in a New Orleans rideshare accident, the scene can get quite chaotic. However, even amongst the commotion and stress, you still need to understand that the actions you take after this dreadful ordeal are not only necessary in keeping you safe but protecting your legal rights. That is why following a rideshare accident, you need to do the following:
Following a rideshare accident, you need to contact 911 immediately. This is the quickest way to get your accident on record and notify emergency medical services that you need medical help.
Once the police arrive, they can investigate the accident and jot down their findings in their police report. If you decide to pursue an injury claim, this report can provide you with valuable evidence regarding what happened.
Make sure you get information from everyone involved in the rideshare accident. This should include names, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, and insurance information.
If there were people at the scene who saw what happened, get their names and contact information. These witness statements can help provide you with valuable details regarding what happened and also corroborate your claim.
If you can, you need to gather as much evidence from the crash scene as possible, including pictures and videos of your visible injuries, the placement of the vehicles on the road, any skid marks, weather conditions at the time of the incident, any traffic signs near the accident scene, and any other evidence that can help show what happened.
If you have been in a New Orleans rideshare accident, you need to reach out to an experienced rideshare accident attorney as soon as possible. These lawyers can:
If you or a loved one has been injured in a New Orleans rideshare accident, do not wait any longer. Contact Charbonnet Law Firm, LLC today or call our offices at (504) 294-5075 for a free case consultation and let our legal team show you how we can fight for you and your rights.
We have a proven track record, with great results for clients represented in car accident cases. Our clients vouch for our work in their testimonials, and we aim to deliver the best service to you.
Within the personal injury and car accident domains, our attorneys handle a variety of cases, and if you can’t find the right answer in this blog, check out the other practice area-related details on our website and read more in the FAQs section. Book a free consultation today without delay to find the right legal solution!
With over 50 years of legal experience serving families in the New Orleans area and surrounding Louisiana communities, our firm takes pride in providing clients with personalized legal services tailored to individual needs.