If you were recently involved in a collision with an Uber driver or suffered serious injuries as a rideshare or taxi passenger, a knowledgeable Harrison County Uber/Taxi Accident Lawyer could provide invaluable assistance. With experience handling complex car accident claims, a seasoned car accident attorney can help you explore your legal options, pursue fair compensation for your injuries, and build a strong case focused on protecting your best interests.
Rideshare and taxi cab drivers owe their passengers a duty of reasonable care to drive safely, observe all signs and signals, and be free from impairment by drugs or alcohol. Drivers who engage in careless, negligent, or dangerous behavior when behind the wheel put their passengers in danger, and also potentially endanger others on the roadway. Below are the most common contributing causes of rideshare and taxi collisions:
Individuals injured due to the negligence of an Uber, Lyft, other rideshare, or taxi driver have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim under Mississippi Code §15-1-49. Any attempt to file a lawsuit after the three-year statutory deadline may cause the court to refuse to hear the plaintiff’s case, thereby preventing him or her from claiming compensation.
Miss. Code. Ann. §11-7-15, establishes the state’s comparative fault laws with regards to personal injury claims for compensation. Under Mississippi law, a plaintiff’s damages may be reduced based on their percentage of fault, if he or she is found to be partially legally liable for the accident. A practiced Harrison County lawyer knows the specific laws that could affect an Uber/taxi wreck claim, and can help an injured victim navigate those laws.
Mississippi law requires taxi drivers to carry certain minimum insurance coverages to operate in the State. Some taxi companies may also take out public liability insurance to protect both the agency and driver in the event of a lawsuit. Common coverages include general liability, commercial auto liability, and physical damage insurance.
Uber drivers rarely purchase commercial auto insurance and instead are covered through the rideshare provider. When the app is on, and the Uber driver is waiting for a ride request, the company provides drivers with up to $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage coverage per accident. In some cases, those limits can be increased by the number of vehicles contained in the fleet.
If a driver accepts a ride request and is on their way to pick up a passenger, or the passenger is in the vehicle and headed to the destination, Uber provides up to $1 million in liability insurance, along with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, comprehensive coverage, and collision coverage. A Harrison County attorney could provide in-depth counsel to someone injured in an Uber or taxi accident and review all applicable insurance coverages.
A lawyer in Harrison County who handles Uber and taxi accident injury cases could help the plaintiff determine the value of his or her claim based on the damages and the other party’s negligence. Some examples of possible recoverable damages are: