Experienced Rideshare Accident Attorney In Phoenix
A crash involving an Uber or Lyft in Phoenix can create insurance and liability questions that do not arise in every car accident. Getting compensation may depend on several insurance and liability issues that do not arise in every car accident. Coverage may depend on whether the rideshare driver was waiting for a trip, traveling to pick up a passenger or carrying a passenger. App records, different insurance policies and corporate legal teams can also affect how you pursue a claim.
As a Phoenix personal injury attorney, Matthew L. McClellan of The McClellan Law Firm, PLC, helps clients sort through these details and pursue the compensation Arizona law allows.
What Makes Rideshare Accident Cases More Complex
Rideshare accident injury claims can involve more issues than a typical car accident. A driver may have personal auto insurance, while rideshare companies may provide coverage based on the driver’s app status. Knowing which policy applies can affect how you pursue a claim.
Rideshare companies also have legal teams and insurers that may dispute liability. Key evidence can include app records, GPS data, trip details, driver logs and vehicle camera footage.
Multiple parties – such as the rideshare driver, another driver involved, the rideshare company or a vehicle manufacturer – may also share liability. Attorney McClellan will review the available evidence, insurance coverage and potential sources of liability.
Uber And Lyft Insurance Coverage Explained
Coverage depends heavily on what the driver’s app was doing at the moment of the crash. Arizona rideshare claims typically fall into one of three periods.
- Period 0, app turned off: The driver’s own auto insurance generally provides coverage because the rideshare company’s coverage has not been triggered.
- Period 1, app active, awaiting a trip request: Uber or Lyft generally provides potential liability coverage during this time. The available coverage may reach $50,000 for any injured person and $100,000 for total bodily injury liability per accident, plus $25,000 for damage to property.
- Period 2 and 3, ride accepted or passenger aboard: Once a trip is accepted, Arizona law requires primary commercial liability coverage of at least $250,000 per incident, which increases to $1,000,000 once the passenger enters the vehicle. Coverage may also apply if the at-fault driver has no insurance or does not have enough insurance.
Attorney McClellan will confirm what period applies to a crash early on helps set realistic expectations for the compensation that may be available.
Steps To Take After A Rideshare Accident In Phoenix
The choices made in the hours and days after a motor vehicle accident can shape a claim later on. A few steps tend to matter most:
Seek medical attention, even if injuries seem minor at first
- Report the crash to the local police and request a copy of the report
- Take photos of the vehicles, the crash scene and any visible injuries
- Save the rideshare app trip receipt and screenshots of the driver profile
- Talk with a lawyer before giving a statement to any insurer
Taking these steps helps preserve evidence while it remains available, since records and memories can change.
Call The McClellan Law Firm, PLC, About Your Phoenix Rideshare Accident
Attorney McClellan offers a free consultation to Phoenix riders and drivers who want to review their options with a rideshare accident lawyer. Call The McClellan Law Firm, PLC, today at 602-922-2529 or fill out a contact form to discuss the crash and the coverage that may legally apply.