A report by Uber showed that around 4.98 billion rides were taken during 2020. With rideshare companies continuing to be a popular method of transportation (Uber and Lyft make up 99% of the US ride-sharing market), the odds of being involved in a rideshare accident increases. When it comes to rideshare accidents, the liability and legalities of the accident differ from those of a typical car accident.
Overview of Accident
Will Good, a Boston musician and restaurant cook, ordered an Uber on his way home from work in April 2021. His driver lost control of the steering wheel during the trip, crashing the car into a parked vehicle. Good was thrown against the headrest in front of him, ultimately paralyzing him.
Who is to Blame?
Determining liability in rideshare accidents when the driver is at-fault is not the same as standard passenger vehicle accidents. Because the driver was working at the time of the crash, the company will most likely cover the expenses in case of victim damages.
In Good’s case, because his driver was working at the time of the accident, Uber would pay for his medical expenses. His injuries, however, were so severe that he then filed a lawsuit against Uber and the driver, alleging negligence. According to the lawsuit:
“Given [the driver’s] lengthy driving history and the need for him to undergo driver re-training, under no circumstances should [the driver] have been hired as a professional driver by the Defendant UBER as he posed an unreasonable danger to the residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including cyclists, pedestrians and all of the people he transported on behalf of Defendant UBER, including the Plaintiff Mr. Good.”
Per the lawsuit and Good’s lawyers, the Uber driver had an extensive history of dangerous driving, dating all the way back to 1996. The lawsuit alleges that Uber did not perform its due diligence in vetting the driver and doing an adequate background check, allowing him to work as a professional driver.
Good’s lawsuit seeks $63 million in damages, including physical, emotional and mental injuries, pain and suffering and permanent disability.
Holding Rideshare Companies Accountable
Far too often, big corporations like Uber or Lyft attempt to avoid being held accountable for their drivers by unfairly arguing who was to blame or by downplaying damages. For over 70 years and with millions of dollars in successful verdicts, the rideshare accident attorneys at Schlesinger Law Offices, P.A. have been advocating for their clients’ rights and helping them receive their deserved compensation. If you have been involved in a rideshare accident and are seeking additional compensation, call today or fill out a form online for a free initial consultation.
Call us today at (954) 467-8800 or schedule a consultation online to meet with our Ft. Lauderdale car accident attorneys.
