Baltimore, MD Rideshare Accident Lawyers

Attorneys for Accidents Involving Uber or Lyft Drivers in Baltimore, Maryland

Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are used by many people in Baltimore. As the number of rideshare vehicles on the road increases, so does the number of accidents involving rideshare drivers. When an Uber or Lyft driver causes a crash, the legal issues and overlapping insurance coverage can be difficult to unravel. Because these cases can be more complex than other types of car accidents, legal assistance is essential for victims who are looking to recover compensation for their injuries.

At Silverman Thompson, we help people who have been injured in rideshare accidents address issues related to insurance coverage and liability while fighting to secure the full compensation they deserve. Our attorneys have decades of experience in personal injury cases, and we have helped clients obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for their damages. With our record of success representing clients in trials and negotiating settlements, we know how to maximize the compensation that injury victims can receive.

How Rideshare Accidents Happen

Rideshare drivers are required to follow the same traffic laws as every other driver on the road, but the nature of their work can lead them to act negligently, increasing the chances that they will become involved in accidents. The issues that can affect rideshare drivers include:

Distraction From Rideshare Apps

Every active rideshare driver will use a smartphone app to receive ride requests, navigate to pick up locations and destinations, communicate with passengers, and handle other tasks. The constant interaction with a screen while operating a vehicle can be a serious distraction. A driver who interacts with an app to accept a new request, confirm a drop-off location, or check their rating may take their eyes off the road at the wrong moment. They may fail to notice important details, and they may be unable to avoid colliding with another vehicle or a pedestrian.

Unfamiliarity With Routes and Locations

Unlike taxi drivers, who often develop a deep familiarity with a city's streets over years of driving, rideshare drivers may be relatively new to an area, or they may travel through unfamiliar neighborhoods. Heavy reliance on GPS navigation, combined with pressure to arrive quickly and maintain high ratings, can lead rideshare drivers to take abrupt turns, make sudden stops, or engage in other erratic driving behaviors that could lead to accidents.

Driver Fatigue

Many Uber or Lyft drivers work long hours, and they may combine rideshare driving with other jobs or work late into the night to maximize their earnings. A driver who has been behind the wheel for many hours or who is tired when driving at night or early in the morning may experience impairments to their ability to operate their vehicle safely. They may struggle to notice and respond to conditions on the road, or they may even fall asleep while driving, which can lead to devastating accidents.

Speeding and Aggressive Driving

Rideshare drivers face pressure to complete as many trips as possible within a limited time period. Drivers may exceed speed limits as they rush between pickups and drop-offs, they may follow too closely behind other vehicles, or they may make aggressive lane changes to try to get to destinations more quickly. These forms of unsafe driving can increase the risks of collisions.

How Independent Contractor Status Affects Rideshare Accidents

One issue that can lead to complications in rideshare accident cases is the employment classification that Uber, Lyft, and similar companies use for their drivers. These platforms attempt to classify drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, a distinction that may have significant consequences for injury victims.

A company can be held responsible for negligent acts committed by its employees in the course of their work. By attempting to classify drivers as independent contractors, rideshare companies may try to distance themselves from this form of liability. They may argue that rideshare drivers are not their employees, and therefore, they are not responsible for accidents and injuries caused by these drivers.

This argument is not always as strong as these companies make it sound. Because rideshare platforms have control over drivers due to app-based monitoring, ratings systems, and other requirements, the question of whether drivers truly are independent may be raised in these cases. Our attorneys can review the specific facts of each case to determine whether a rideshare company may be held liable for a victim's injuries, and we will take steps to determine what other avenues of recovery may be available.

Navigating the Claims Process After a Rideshare Crash

As with other types of car accident cases, victims will typically be eligible for insurance coverage. However, determining what coverage may apply can be a complex matter. Both Uber and Lyft maintain insurance policies that provide coverage for rideshare passengers, people in other vehicles who are injured in collisions, or anyone else who may be affected. However, the specific coverage may depend on what a rideshare driver was doing at the time of the crash, including whether they were transporting passengers or waiting for a ride request. A conflict often arises between the insurance coverage provided by the rideshare app and the insurance coverage personally purchased by the rideshare driver.

Our attorneys can help injury victims determine what coverage will apply after a rideshare accident, and we will take steps to ensure that insurance companies do not use coverage gaps to avoid paying what an injured person is owed. Insurance adjusters for large rideshare companies are experienced at handling these claims, and they will take steps to minimize payments made in response to legitimate claims. We will work to resolve disputes over which policy may apply, and we will negotiate settlements that fairly compensate a victim for their injuries.

Contact Our Baltimore Rideshare Accident Attorneys

Rideshare accident cases can be complex, and legal representation can be crucial to ensure that a victim will be able to sort out insurance coverage issues and receive the compensation they deserve. At Silverman Thompson, our attorneys can help people who have been injured while riding in rideshare vehicles or in collisions with rideshare drivers. Contact our Baltimore, MD Uber/Lyft accident lawyers at 410-385-2225 to set up a free consultation.

Meet Our Rideshare Accident Lawyers

Andrew G. Slutkin, Senior Partner

Steven D. Silverman, Managing Partner

Ethan S. Nochumowitz, Partner

Jason T. Wasserman, Partner

Laura A. Simmons, Partner

Kurt E. Nachtman, Partner