Columbia Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer

Fighting for Rideshare Accident Victims Through Mid-Missouri

In Missouri, victims injured in auto accidents face many challenges when it comes to holding at-fault parties accountable and recovering compensation for their losses. However, when crashes involve a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft, case complexity can increase considerably. 

If you or someone you love were injured in a motor vehicle accident involving an Uber or Lyft anywhere in Columbia or the state of Missouri, working with an experienced attorney from Aaron Sachs & Associates, P.C. can help you navigate the challenges ahead. 

Backed by 200 years of combined experience, Aaron Sachs & Associates, P.C. has earned national recognition helping victims and families after preventable accidents. We’ve recovered over $400 million in compensation in cases involving car wrecks, serious injuries, and wrongful death, and have the insight and resources to help rideshare accident victims fight for the compensation they deserve. 

Whether you were struck by a rideshare vehicle, driving one, or were injured as a passenger, our Columbia Uber and Lyft accident attorneys want to help. We serve clients across Boone County and beyond and offer FREE consultations. Call (888) 287-1046 or contact us online to request yours.

We Handle All Types of Rideshare Accident Claims

Aaron Sachs & Associates, P.C. is a Missouri-based firm with a regional reputation for success. Devoted solely to fighting for the injured, we’ve helped victims prevail in a range of personal injury claims and have cultivated considerable experience handling cases involving auto collisions and rideshare services. 

We proudly represent victims injured in rideshare accidents involving all types of circumstances, including:

• Accidents caused by Uber and Lyft drivers
• Rideshare passenger injuries
• Carpool, vanpool, and shuttle bus service accidents
• Pedestrians and bicyclists struck by rideshare vehicles
• Sexual assaults / physical assaults
• Rideshare vs. truck or commercial vehicle accidents
• Fatal accidents or wrecks resulting in catastrophic injuries

Columbia is the home to the University of Missouri, which is why there is an active rideshare industry filled with students and locals who rely on Uber and Lyft for safe and convenient rides. This area also has a surplus of Mizzou students who work as rideshare drivers for Uber, Lyft, and delivery services like DoorDash or Instacart, which give them a flexible way to earn income while attending classes. 

As a firm that’s been fighting for residents of Columbia for many years, we have extensive experience representing students and others injured in accidents involving rideshares and delivery services. 

Why Your “Role” in an Uber/Lyft Accident Matters

Who you were in an Uber or Lyft accident impacts much of the personal injury claim process. That’s not only because insurance coverage varies depending on whether you were in a rideshare vehicle at the time of the crash or were struck by one, but also because there may be potential for disputes and allegations about fault and liability. For example:

• If you were a driver of an Uber or Lyft, it may be argued that you caused a wreck, another motorist is at fault, or both you and another party share some responsibility for a crash.
• If you were in another vehicle, the Uber or Lyft driver may be at fault for a crash, or it may be argued that you (in part or in whole) caused the accident.
• If you were a passenger who paid for an Uber or Lyft ride, you generally won’t be held at fault unless you did something that arguably resulted in the collision.

Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services – and more specifically the insurance carriers that underwrite their policies – employ large in-house legal teams that deal exclusively with accidents involving their drivers. These legal teams devote extensive resources into finding ways to deny, dispute, and underpay claims and only add to the challenges that victims face when seeking justice.

At Aaron Sachs & Associates, P.C., we work to create a level playing field between our clients and the powerful corporations they face off against by thoroughly investigating accidents, gathering essential evidence, and constructing arguments that establish fault and liability.

How Insurance Coverage Workers in Rideshare Accident Claims

Available insurance coverage is a key component of any accident claim, and there must be sufficient coverage to recover for your damages, especially if any serious injuries are involved. However, due to the unique employment nature of rideshare companies, determining how insurance coverage works can be a challenge when accidents involve a rideshare driver. 

How insurance coverage works in rideshare accidents depends on several factors:

• For rideshare passengers: If you were an Uber or Lyft passenger at the time of a wreck, you will likely be covered by the company’s commercial insurance policy. Typically, these policies provide up to $1 million in liability coverage for accidents regardless of who is at fault. In cases where a victim’s damages exceed these policy limits (such as those involving catastrophic injuries or wrongful death), it may be possible to seek compensation from other liable parties, such as a private motorist who contributed to the crash, a negligent premises owner, or the manufacturer of a defective product. 
• For rideshare drivers: If you were a rideshare driver in a crash caused by another motorist, you may be covered by Uber or Lyft’s insurance policy if you were transporting a passenger at the time of the collision. In some cases, depending on whether you were “on the clock” and available on the app or on your way to pick up a passenger, you may be covered by a lower-limit insurance policy, the rideshare company’s uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage, any optional insurance coverage from Uber or Lyft, or your own auto insurance policy.
• For others injured by a rideshare vehicle. If you were injured by a rideshare vehicle as private motorist, a pedestrian, a bicyclist, or some other party, available coverage will depend on what the Uber or Lyft driver in your accident was doing at the time of the collision. For example, were they transporting a fare? (covered under commercial insurance policy), available on the app? (covered by lower-limit policy), or not using the app? (covered by driver’s personal insurance, UM / UIM coverage, or available coverage from other potentially liable parties).

What Compensation Can I Recover in a Lyft or Uber Accident Case?

Victims injured in Uber and Lyft accidents often ask how much their case is worth. As with other types of car accident claims, the answer is always: it depends. 

Factors such as the severity of your injuries, whether you have lasting disabilities, your lost income and earning potential, your age, and many others will ultimately determine the amount and type of compensation you’ll be able to pursue. Generally, victims injured in Uber and Lyft accidents can recover the following damages in civil claims:

• Past expenses for medical treatment and rehabilitation
• Future medical expenses for ongoing care or treatment
• Lost income and lost earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Disability, disfigurement, and loss of quality of life
• Lost emotional and financial support (for family members)
• Other financial and non-economic losses

At Aaron Sachs & Associates, P.C., we know financial concerns can be immense in the wake of accidents and injuries, which is why we take the time to explain how civil recoveries work and the types of compensation we can pursue on your behalf. In all matters we handle, our team lays the groundwork that positions clients for the maximum financial recovery possible.

Request a free initial consultation with a Columbia Lyft and Uber accident lawyer from our firm. Call (888) 287-1046 or contact us online today.