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Ridesharing services such as Lyft and Uber, also known as Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), have taken over a large percentage of the transportation sector. If you’re injured in an accident while using Uber or Lyft services, what are your rights? Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC can help you navigate the process and will pursue the maximum possible compensation for you. Call our Portland ridesharing injury lawyer today for assistance.
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At Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC, we have extensive experience with serious collisions and fatal car accidents and can help you today. Why should you choose us to represent you?
At Paulson Coletti, “liberty and justice for all” is more than just a phrase – it is our mandate. Our team of trial lawyers is driven to pursue justice for the injured, ensuring that the responsible parties are held accountable. With a high success rate both in and out of the courtroom, you can trust our Oregon personal injury lawyers to be the legal advocates you need so your voice can be heard.
If we want to examine some of the most common causes of Uber or Lyft accidents in the Portland area, we can really look at the overall vehicle accident and statistics for the state of Oregon. During the most recent reporting gear of data on file, the top 10 driver errors that led to vehicle accidents included the following:
Uber and Lyft drivers are just like anyone else on the roadway. These are individuals who likely do not have any type of additional driver training for commercial purposes. The only real requirements for working with Uber and Lyft as contract drivers include being 21 years old, having a valid driver’s license, and passing a vehicle inspection.
However, there are a few factors that are more likely to contribute to an Uber or Lyft driver being involved in an accident, particularly distracted driving and fatigued driving. Rideshare drivers have to rely on company apps for every aspect of the operation of the rideshare service. This includes obtaining information about fares as well as following the GPS route provided by the rideshare company.
Additionally, many rideshare drivers choose this as a side income job, which means drivers may be fatigued behind the wheel after working their regular job. Our rideshare and truck accident attorneys in Portland note that driver fatigue is a major problem on the roadways.
In Washington state, the transportation services company is required to provide insurance that is in effect when a driver is logged into the TNCs digital network or is transporting passengers. Oregon law is similar, with the exception that TNCs are prohibited from encouraging drivers to secure their own coverage.
The main route for recovering compensation after an Uber or Lyft accident in Portland will be through an insurance claim. Now, a claim may very well be against a non-rideshare driver if another driver caused the incident. However, most rideshare passengers will end up filing a claim with the rideshare driver’s insurance (which will most likely be the insurance provided by Uber or Lyft).
The insurance policies for a rideshare driver can be complicated to understand because there are different tiers involved. These tears will depend on the actions of the driver at the time the incident occurred. For the purposes of this explanation, let us assume that the rideshare driver is at fault for the incident in question:
Simply spelling out these insurance tiers on paper does not necessarily mean the process of recovering compensation will be easy. Just because an individual is covered by an insurance policy does not mean that the insurance carrier will willingly pay over what they should. In fact, insurance carriers are notorious for offering incredibly low settlement amounts. We encourage you to work with a skilled Uber and Lyft accident attorney in Portland who can help guide you through this process and stand up to the insurance carriers.
“Most cases settle, but each of our cases is prepared as if it’s going to trial. The insurance companies know it and so do the defense lawyers defending them. That’s why we get such great results for our clients.”
At Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC, we work diligently to recover various types of compensation on behalf of all clients who have been injured due to the negligent actions of others. Our team enlists assistance from trusted economic and medical professionals who can examine the victim involved as well as all documents obtained to come up with the correct value of economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages after a rideshare accident occurs in Portland revolve around calculable expenses victims will likely endure. We can gather receipts and bills to help add up the following:
Non-economic damages revolve around losses that are not as easy to calculate as the economic costs just mentioned. After any type of major injury occurs, individuals are likely to endure various types of “unseen” costs associated with the injuries, the medical care, and the recovery process. The goal of recovering non-economic damages is to help adequately compensate an individual for their physical pain and suffering, emotional or psychological distress, as well as loss of enjoyment of life caused by any disability.
There may be various parties that could be held liable for an Uber or Lyft accident in the Portland area. Just like any other vehicle accident that occurs, there will need to be an extensive investigation into a crash involving a rideshare vehicle. This investigation should uncover enough evidence to prove liability, which may or may not point to the Uber or Lyft driver.
In most situations, vehicle accidents are caused by the careless or negligent actions of one or more drivers on the roadway. Uber and Lyft drivers are just like everyone else. They typically have no additional driver training aside from obtaining their driver’s licenses. Conducting a full investigation into a crash involving a rideshare vehicle is the only way to ensure fairness and to help injury and property damage victims recover the compensation they need.
If an investigation uncovers that a driver aside from an Uber or Lyft driver caused the incident, then victims will pursue compensation against that party. If the Uber or Lyft driver was found to be responsible, then injury and property damage victims will seek compensation through the rideshare driver’s insurance policy.
There is certainly a possibility that an outside third party aside from any drivers caused the incident. For example, if there was a vehicle malfunction or if the incident was caused by roadway issues, then a company or manufacturer, or even a government entity could be responsible for the incident.
If an investigation performed by Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC reveals that the TNC did not perform due diligence on the driver, the service may be liable. This could include employing a driver who does not meet state eligibility standards, for reasons including any of the following issues:
Many individuals think that they make a claim directly against Uber or Lyft after an accident occurs. The reality is that the insurance carriers are not the same thing as the rideshare company. Both of these red share companies operate in a similar manner, meaning they use drivers as independent contractors and not as employees. In personal injury law, most companies are held vicariously responsible for the actions of their employees so long as the employee was carrying out work-related duties when the injury occurred.
Because rideshare drivers are considered independent contractors, this essentially cuts the responsibility cord for the rideshare company after a crash occurs. It is usually not possible to directly file a lawsuit against Uber or Lyft after an accident. There may be very specific circumstances that allow a third-party personal injury lawsuit against the rideshare company, but only if it can be shown that the company was negligent in some way. This can include the company failing to address safety concerns about a particular driver or failing to adequately check the background of a rideshare driver.
The details of a ridesharing accident will vary widely. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, or while a passenger, it is imperative that you are represented by an experienced Portland personal injury attorney from Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC. Our experience at trial, understanding of the complex issues in ridesharing accidents, and dedication to the people we represent can help you achieve justice and full compensation.
No Fees Unless We Win
If you or a loved one was injured in a ridesharing accident, contact Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC. for a free and confidential case evaluation.
At Paulson Coletti, a local firm based in Oregon, justice is our mission. As experienced trial attorneys, we fight for injury victims across Oregon and Washington, holding negligent parties accountable. With a proven track record in and out of the courtroom, we are dedicated to securing fair compensation for our clients. We take a client-centered approach, focusing on cases we believe in and delivering results that matter. No fees unless we win-because justice should never come with financial risk.
Client Reviews
John and Lisa were extremely helpful with my family as we navigated damages sustained in a tragic car accident. They were very knowledgeable throughout the entire process. Their communication and empathy to our situation was greatly appreciated.
I can’t imagine working our way through the tragedy without them by our side. I would highly recommend Paulson and Coletti!
Working with John was an excellent experience from start to finish. He fought long and hard to secure a fair and just settlement in our case, and his dedication never wavered. John and his staff were consistently considerate, helpful, and communicative throughout the entire process, always taking the time to answer our questions and keep us informed. Given the complicated and sensitive nature of our case, I’m truly grateful we had John in our corner. Thanks to his hard work and expertise, we achieved a better outcome than we could have hoped for.
I had an excellent experience working with Jane and her team on my accident case. From start to finish, their team was professional, responsive, and genuinely cared about getting the best possible outcome for me.
I highly recommend Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys to anyone who needs legal representation. They made a stressful situation much easier to navigate, and I’m extremely grateful for everything they did for me.
I recently engaged John Coletti to represent me in a challenging legal matter, and I cannot recommend him highly enough. From our initial consultation, it was evident that John possessed an exceptional depth of knowledge, strategic acumen, and unwavering dedication to his clients. He took the time to thoroughly understand the nuances of our case, explaining complex legal concepts in clear, accessible terms while always keeping me informed and involved throughout the process.
John not only delivered outstanding results but also provided compassionate support during what could have been an overwhelming stressful time.
If you’re seeking an attorney who combines professionalism, integrity, and proven success, look no further than John Coletti.
My family is profoundly grateful for his representation.
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This page has been written, edited, and fact-checked by our team of legal writers in accordance with our editorial guidelines. It has been approved by partners Jane Paulson and John Coletti—respected trial attorneys with decades of experience representing personal injury victims.
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