The seasoned legal team at Gregory S. Young Co., LPA, has protected the rights of injured persons since 1958.

Handling ridesharing accident injuries in Ohio and Kentucky

Do yourself a favor and learn how to handle the fallout of a ridesharing accident in Ohio or Kentucky before one happens. Protect your peace of mind and finances.

If you do not have your own vehicle or would rather not drive in Ohio and Kentucky, you may use ridesharing apps like Lyft and Uber to get around. While convenient, this option is not without its risk. For instance, you could sustain a serious injury as a passenger. Knowing how to handle such a situation can prove essential in making a full recovery.

Tend to your injuries

The first thing you need to do after a ridesharing accident is check to make sure you are okay. You may want to call the police or medical services, even if the driver prefers that you not do so. At this point, you have to do what is best for you. Just like you would for an accident in your own vehicle, gather the driver’s contact and insurance information, as well as the contact and insurance information of anyone else involved in the accident.

Determine insurance gaps

While the driver’s personal auto insurance may handle your injuries, her or his policy limits may not be enough to handle something as extensive as a spinal cord injury. True, ridesharing companies offer their own insurance policies for drivers “on the clock,” but those policies often come with gaps to limit companies’ overall liability. For instance, a driver can have the ridesharing app turned on, but she or he has not yet accepted a trip. That means that any injuries or property damage, or worse, that occur during that time are not ridesharing company’s responsibility. That said, the company may only offer limited coverage, such as auto liability and nothing else. Some new laws require that ridesharing companies provide coverage even if drivers have yet to accept a ride request, but those laws do not exist in every state.

Something else to think about is that ridesharing companies can adjust coverage to ensure they comply with state laws and local regulations. Also, companies may not offer their coverage policy for rides that start in specific states, such as New York.

Consider hiring a legal professional

Depending on how things go with the driver’s insurance provider and the ridesharing company, you may have no choice but to rely on the knowledge of an experienced personal injury lawyer to help make sense of your best legal option. Doing so is an especially good idea if you have extensive injuries and need to focus more on making a full recovery rather than jumping through hoops trying to get your compensation.

If you are ever injured as a passenger during a rideshare in Ohio or Kentucky, you deserve to be rightfully (and fully) compensated for your injuries and pain and suffering. Rather than take on unscrupulous companies on your own, consider turning your case over to an experienced attorney.

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