Whether you’re taking a Lyft to the Charleston airport or while touring the suburbs, rideshare crashes trigger overly complex personal injury liability laws. Rideshare drivers are not employees of Lyft, nor do they operate corporate vehicles. This makes it challenging to recover the necessary financial compensation from negligent drivers without the help of the experienced injury attorneys at Gil Gatch Law in Summerville, SC.
Common Causes of Lyft Crashes in the Tri-County Area
On the surface, rideshare accidents appear to be no different from traditional car accidents. Every day, drivers use their own vehicles to transport passengers to Charleston-area tourist destinations the same way you’d drop off a friend. However, rideshare drivers can only provide services through a transportation network company (TNC), such as Lyft.
The necessary link to the Lyft app while driving, plus the nature of providing late-night services with unruly passengers, makes rideshare drivers more prone to the following accident triggers:
- Fatigued driving
- Texting/GPS
- Distraction
- Speeding
- Unlawful turns
Rushing to accept rides before other drivers, increasing speed to pick up additional business, and making dangerous turns to drop off/pick up curbside passengers all contribute to Lyft crashes in Summerville. The necessary use of cell phones to accept, track, and end rideshares also causes significant distraction and contributes to accidents involving TNCs.
Recovering Damages Under the SC Transportation Network Company Act (TNC Act)
Rideshare drivers are independent contractors (1099s) and not Lyft employees. This protects Lyft from employer liability. Further, personal auto insurance coverage specifically excludes coverage for accidents occurring when vehicles are used for commercial ‘taxi’ purposes. For this reason, you must work with our dedicated Lyft crash lawyers to demand compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering under the South Carolina TNC Act as follows:
Actively Providing Rideshare Services
From the time a Lyft driver accepts a ride request until the passengers are dropped off, Lyft must provide $1,000,000 in personal injury liability and uninsured motorist coverage. This insurance covers rideshare passengers, third-party vehicle occupants, and pedestrians who are injured as a result of the Lyft driver’s negligent conduct. It also covers Lyft drivers injured in Summerville hit-and-run crashes.
Waiting for Summerville Ride Requests
Most Lyft drivers circle the airport or popular tourist destinations waiting for ride requests. If they are logged into the app, waiting for a request but not actively providing services, they still need to be covered. Lyft must cover the vehicle with commercial insurance at the state minimum level ($25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident).
Not Active/Logged In
If the driver was not actively providing rideshare services or logged into the Lyft app at the time of the crash, traditional car accident liability laws apply. Our car accident lawyers can still help you recover damages directly from the driver’s private auto insurance policy in such cases.
Our Lyft Accident Lawyers Can Help
If a Lyft driver caused an accident during a rideshare, you need the dedicated Summerville Lyft liability attorneys at Gil Gatch Law. We understand the complex laws applicable to rideshare crashes in South Carolina and can help our clients obtain the financial compensation they need. Call (843) 800-2020 or connect with our personal injury team online to schedule a free and confidential consultation.