What If I Was Hurt in a Parked Rideshare?
Many use Uber and Lyft to get to work or travel to social events. While most trips occur without incident, accidents are possible, both when a vehicle is moving and when it is not. Whether you’re a passenger, a pedestrian, or even another driver, injuries can happen in or around a parked rideshare vehicle. When these accidents happen, they can be just as painful, costly, and legally actionable as those in moving accidents.
A Nashville personal injury lawyer can help you understand your rights and fight for fair compensation, no matter how the injury occurred. If you’ve been hurt in or around a parked Uber or Lyft, you may have more recovery options than you think.
Stationary Cars and Injury Risks
Even a stationary rideshare vehicle can be the scene of dangerous (and avoidable) incidents.
- Falling when entering or exiting a vehicle. Getting in or out of a rideshare vehicle can be risky, especially in poorly lit areas, uneven parking lots, or during bad weather. If a rideshare driver drops you off in a hazardous location, such as on a sloped curb, in the middle of traffic, or near ice or spilled liquids, you could suffer a serious fall. Drivers have a responsibility to drop off and pick up passengers in reasonably safe areas.
- Unexpected door closures. If a driver shuts the door too quickly while you’re entering or exiting, or if the automatic door mechanism malfunctions, it can result in hand injuries, bruises, or worse. These cases may seem minor but can lead to fractures, nerve damage, or chronic pain.
- Rear-end accidents. Even if your Uber or Lyft isn’t moving, it can still be hit by another vehicle. Parked or stopped rideshare vehicles are frequent targets for rear-end collisions. As a passenger in a rideshare, you can suffer whiplash, head injuries, or back injuries, even if your rideshare driver was following all the rules of the road.
Being injured in a parked rideshare can be confusing. You may wonder who’s responsible, what insurance applies, and whether your case is worth pursuing.
Why You May Still Have a Case
You don’t need to be in a high-speed crash to have a valid personal injury claim. Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft carry liability insurance that can cover passengers injured in a variety of situations, even if the car wasn’t moving at the time.
If the rideshare driver was negligent, by choosing an unsafe location, failing to maintain the vehicle, or acting carelessly, a Nashville personal injury lawyer can assist you in pursuing compensation. Additionally, if another driver caused the incident (such as a rear-end crash), their insurance may also be responsible for your damages.
Should you talk to a lawyer? After being injured in a rideshare vehicle, whether it was moving or not, the lawyers at Calhoun Law, PLC are available to review your case. It’s important to have fault fully assessed, there may be more than one insurance policy that needs to be accessed in order for you to be made whole. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation.
