Virginia Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Virginia Rideshare Accident Attorney

Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft are popular throughout the state. However, it is important for everyone who uses these services to understand they face the same risk of experiencing an accident in a rideshare driver’s vehicle as they would in any other vehicle, but the process of resolving a rideshare accident is much more challenging. A Virginia rideshare accident lawyer can help you make sense of your situation after such an incident.

Representing Rideshare Accident Victims in Virginia

Whitlock Law, LLC, can provide compassionate legal counsel when you need it most in the aftermath of a rideshare accident. The right Virginia personal injury lawyer is a key asset when it comes to proving liability for any motor vehicle accident and holding the at-fault driver accountable for the harm they have caused. Rideshare accidents are particularly challenging to resolve compared to most other motor vehicle accident claims.

After most accidents in the state, the at-fault driver’s auto insurance will pay for the damages they caused to others. Proving fault is a necessary first step before an injured driver can recover any compensation from auto insurance and/or a personal injury suit, but rideshare accident cases include an additional layer of complexity. Depending on the timing of the accident, the rideshare company’s insurance may come into play.

Your Virginia rideshare accident lawyer can help you assess your recovery options following a rideshare accident and determine the optimal path for recovering the compensation you need to recover from your damages. Your case is likely to require confronting one or more major insurance carriers, and this will be very challenging without legal counsel you can trust on your side. Our team knows how to navigate these difficult cases on behalf of our clients.

Proving Liability for a Rideshare Accident in Virginia

Rideshare accidents happen for the same reasons that all other motor vehicle accidents happen in the state. Various forms of driver negligence, such as distracted driving, speeding, and moving violations, are among the most commonly cited causes, as are illegal acts such as reckless or intoxicated driving. Fault for your accident may fall to the driver of your rideshare vehicle and/or another driver who hit your rideshare driver’s vehicle.

If you were riding as a passenger, it is highly unlikely you will be found at fault for the accident unless you somehow interfered with the driver’s ability to control their vehicle. Your Virginia rideshare accident lawyer can help you gather the evidence needed to prove exactly how the accident happened. This evidence may include traffic camera recordings, drivers’ cell phone records, rideshare driver app data, and witness testimony.

Once you have evidence to show how the accident happened, you can proceed with claiming compensation for the damages you suffered. You must not only identify the party or parties responsible for causing the accident but also prove exactly how they caused it and prove that the defendant’s actions directly resulted in your claimed damages. This process will be easier to complete when you have an experienced attorney handling your case.

Recovering Compensation for a Virginia Rideshare Accident

Rideshare drivers must have auto insurance that meets the state’s minimum coverage requirements, and all rideshare companies verify that their drivers have appropriate coverage. However, rideshare companies are also required to have additional insurance that applies in different ways based on the timing of an accident involving one of their drivers. Your attorney can help you understand how rideshare company insurance may apply in your case in Virginia.

When a rideshare driver is using their vehicle for personal reasons, and they are not logged into their driver app, their own insurance applies if they cause an accident. Once they have logged in, the first level of the rideshare company’s insurance will apply until they pick up a passenger. After picking up a passenger, the second level of the rideshare company’s insurance applies until the driver delivers the passenger to their destination.

Your Virginia rideshare accident lawyer can explain how insurance applies to your case based on the timing of the accident and whether you were riding as a passenger in a rideshare driver’s vehicle or if you were operating your own vehicle when a rideshare driver hit you. Dealing with insurance companies can be very challenging as they will look for any reasons they can find to justify denying your claim or offering the lowest possible settlement.

When an insurance company sees that a claimant has legal representation, they are more likely to process the claim quickly and in good faith. Once you receive a settlement offer, your attorney can determine whether it is fair, and they can also determine whether you have any grounds to pursue additional legal recourse. If insurance will not cover your losses, a personal injury claim may be your optimal path to recovering compensation for your damages.

In a personal injury case, the injured plaintiff must prove the defendant is directly responsible for causing the claimed damages. It’s possible for the plaintiff to recover compensation for economic damages like property losses, medical expenses, and lost income, and they also have the right to pursue monetary compensation for the pain and suffering they experienced. Your Virginia rideshare accident lawyer can assess the full potential value of such a claim.

How Your Rideshare Accident Lawyer Can Help?

Whether your case requires navigating a complex auto insurance claim filing process and addressing disputes with an insurance carrier or building a personal injury suit against another party, an experienced Virginia rideshare accident lawyer can assist you in building a comprehensive plan to recover maximum compensation for your losses. You have a limited time to pursue your recovery, so it’s vital to connect with an attorney right away.

Whitlock Law, LLC, has helped many rideshare accident victims in the state recover their damages, and we are confident in our ability to address the unique legal issues you face in your rideshare accident case. Our firm can assist you in proving liability for your accident and determining the optimal path to recovering compensation through available insurance, and we can build a personal injury suit if insurance will not fully cover your damages.

Virginia Rideshare Accident FAQs

Q: Is Virginia a No-Fault State for Car Accidents?

A: No, it is not a no-fault state for car accidents. The fault rule applies, meaning fault needs to be established before an injured driver can claim any compensation for their damages. An experienced Virginia rideshare accident lawyer can help their client gather evidence needed to prove fault for a crash, such as drivers’ cell phone records, traffic camera footage, if available, and testimony from witnesses who saw the accident happen.

Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Rideshare Accident in Virginia?

A: The compensation you could claim for a rideshare accident will largely depend on the overall severity of your damages. If you can prove another party is directly responsible for injuring you, you have the right to seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages if you are unable to work while you recover, and compensation for your pain and suffering. Your Virginia rideshare accident lawyer can estimate the full potential value of your claim.

Q: Do I Have to Report a Rideshare Accident to the Police?

A: Yes, you need to report a rideshare accident or any other vehicle accident to the police in Virginia state if the accident results in significant property damage, injury, or death. Failure to report an accident as required by law can lead to serious penalties that increase depending on the severity of the resulting damages. Reporting the accident to the police will also ensure first responders can arrive as quickly as possible and that a police report will be created.

Q: Why Should I Hire a Virginia Rideshare Accident Lawyer?

A: You should hire a Virginia rideshare accident lawyer because this type of vehicle accident case is likely to be far more challenging to resolve than a standard car accident case in Virginia. Navigating the insurance claim process will be very difficult without an experienced attorney’s guidance, and you may need to file a personal injury case in order to secure full compensation for your damages. You have the greatest chance of maximizing your recovery with an attorney’s help.

Q: What Will It Cost to Hire a Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Virginia?

A: The cost to hire a Virginia rideshare accident lawyer will amount to a percentage of your final settlement or verdict when you hire Whitlock Law, LLC, to represent you. We take personal injury cases on contingency, meaning our client does not pay upfront attorneys’ fees and will only pay a fee if and when we win their case. We charge our client a percentage of the total compensation we recover on their behalf at the conclusion of their case.

The right attorney can help you navigate the legal aftermath of a rideshare accident in the state more efficiently and with better results than you could likely manage on your own. Whitlock Law, LLC, has years of experience handling these difficult cases, and we are ready to help you maximize your recovery. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation with an experienced Virginia rideshare accident lawyer you can trust with your case.