Determining liability in rideshare accidents involves assessing the role fault played among the parties involved, such as drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists. If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident, contact a Salt Lake City rideshare accident lawyer to protect your rights.
Principles of Liability in Rideshare Accidents
Unlike traditional taxi services, where liability is often clear-cut due to direct employment and commercial insurance policies, how liability works in rideshare accidents depends heavily on the driver’s status during the crash. Insurance coverage further complicates matters, as personal auto policies typically exclude commercial activities like ride-hailing.
Off-Duty with App Off
If the driver’s rideshare app is turned off, they are considered a private motorist, and their personal auto insurance applies. The rideshare company typically bears no responsibility in this scenario. As a result, individual insurance will likely apply.
Available with App On
The rideshare company’s contingent liability coverage typically applies when the driver logs into the app but has not yet accepted a ride. This coverage usually provides limited third-party liability protection, although gaps may exist.
Active Ride with Passenger
Once a passenger is in the vehicle or en route to a pickup, the rideshare company’s full commercial insurance policy takes effect, often offering $1 million or more in liability coverage. Many victims of rideshare accidents are in this situation during the accident.
This phased system means that accident victims must prove which stage the driver was in to pursue the correct insurance claim. As rideshare litigation evolves, these liability principles shape legal outcomes and insurance practices.
For a free legal consultation, call (801) 266-0999
Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents and Liability Implications
Rideshare accidents often stem from preventable factors like distracted driving, unsafe pickups, fatigue, and vehicle maintenance issues. Assigning liability in rideshare accidents can depend on what caused the accident, raising important questions about who should be held responsible: the driver, the rideshare company, or sometimes even the passenger.
Common causes include:
- Distracted driving: App usage while driving leads to delayed reactions and crashes, potentially making both driver and company liable if app design encourages unsafe behavior.
- Fatigue and long hours: Exhausted drivers pose serious risks, and liability could potentially extend to companies that incentivize excessive work hours.
- Unsafe pickups: Dangerous locations requested through the app may create shared liability between drivers and rideshare platforms.
- Illegal driving: Speeding or road rage incidents typically fall on drivers, but company policies rewarding fast trips could contribute.
- Poor maintenance: Neglected vehicle upkeep is usually the driver’s responsibility, though companies face scrutiny for lax inspection standards.
Insurance companies and courts examine these factors to assign fault. Evidence like app data, traffic citations, and maintenance records becomes crucial. When considering what happens when you get in a car accident can depend heavily on the parties involved. Victims may need to pursue claims against multiple parties to recover full compensation.
The Impact of Criminal Conduct in Rideshare Accidents
The question of how liability in rideshare accidents involving criminal conduct is also more nuanced. If a rideshare driver commits a crime that causes an accident, such as DUI, reckless driving, or intentional harm, they could face both prosecution and civil liability.
While rideshare companies maintain strict policies against such conduct, victims may still pursue claims against the company under vicarious liability or negligent hiring or supervision theories. Rideshare insurance policies typically exclude coverage for intentional criminal acts, creating significant hurdles for victims seeking compensation.
While these situations present challenges, victims have multiple pathways to pursue justice and compensation. Civil litigation and state victim restitution programs are essential avenues for recourse, ensuring those harmed aren’t left without options. Though the process may require patience, these systems are designed to ultimately deliver fair outcomes.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
Key Statutes Governing Rideshare Liability
Rideshare accidents introduce legal and regulatory challenges, particularly when accidents occur. Crash liability becomes complicated because rideshare drivers are classified as independent contractors rather than employees.
Financial Responsibility of Transportation Network Companies and Drivers and Proof of Coverage
This financial responsibility statute, Idaho Code § 41-2519, sets the insurance coverage requirements for rideshare drivers at various stages of service. When a driver is logged into the app but not yet matched with a passenger, the law requires at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident in bodily injury coverage, plus $25,000 in property damage.
Once a ride is accepted or a passenger is on board, the coverage requirement increases to a minimum of $1 million in primary liability insurance. If a driver’s personal insurance is insufficient or unavailable, the transportation network company (TNC) must provide coverage from the first dollar of the claim and assume the duty to defend.
Automobile Insurance
Under Idaho Code § 41-2521, insurers are authorized to exclude coverage under personal automobile insurance policies for accidents occurring while a driver is logged into a TNC platform or transporting a passenger. These exclusions may apply to liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist, personal injury protection, and physical damage coverages.
Personal insurance policies are not obligated to cover rideshare activity unless the insurer expressly agrees to do so. The provision helps delineate the boundary between personal and commercial use of a vehicle in the context of ridesharing.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Multi-Vehicle Accidents and Shared Liability
Determining who is liable when a rideshare vehicle crashes with multiple vehicles is complicated. Unlike two-car collisions, where fault may be more easily assigned, multi-vehicle crashes often involve overlapping negligence, conflicting accounts, and several insurers. These scenarios require a careful investigation into each party’s role.
Establishing who caused what portion of the harm is essential to pursuing compensation for rideshare passengers or third-party victims. These disputes often trigger involvement from multiple insurance carriers, including the rideshare company’s commercial insurer, the personal insurers of each driver, and sometimes underinsured motorist coverage.
Dealing with these overlapping claims is difficult without experienced legal counsel. Victims may find themselves caught between companies seeking to minimize payouts, especially when the rideshare driver was only partially responsible or when multiple crash impacts occurred in sequence. Talk to a Salt Lake City personal injury lawyer today.
Let Siegfried & Jensen Fight for You
Legal teams often rely on expert testimony, dashcam footage, and traffic reports to determine liability in a rideshare accident. At Siegfried & Jensen, our attorneys know how to untangle these issues and ensure your rights are protected at every stage. We’ve recovered over $1.2 billion for clients, and we want to go to work for your compensation, too.
Contact our office for trusted guidance and a proven strategy if you’ve been injured in a complicated rideshare collision.
Call or text (801) 266-0999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
