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With ridesharing becoming more popular and easier to use, more people are using ridesharing vehicles like Uber and Lyft to transport them around Virginia and the surrounding areas. Although Uber and Lyft operate in similar ways to taxis–they pick passengers up and drop them off–the rules regarding Uber and Lyft aren’t necessarily the same as taxis. The laws and insurance policies that govern ridesharing companies are complicated, which is why you need an experienced Virginia personal injury attorney to help you with your claim.
As convenient as Uber and Lyft rides are, they still come with risks. You are in a vehicle you don’t own and can not control with a driver you don’t know. There is a chance of an Uber crash or a Lyft crash in Virginia, and if that happens, there is a risk of serious injury to you.
What we often see with Uber or Lyft accidents is that the injured passengers are often left out of the exchange of information regarding the involved drivers, the auto insurance policies, and even the police investigation. If that happens, you’ll have to deal with recovering from your injury and trauma while fighting for compensation and determining which insurance companies or defendants to file claims against. You’ll also have to battle against allegations that you were in some way responsible for the injuries you suffered–or that you didn’t suffer injuries at all.
If you’re injured in a rideshare accident, it is important to understand your rights. At Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC, our experienced Northern Virginia rideshare accident attorneys can help you manage the aftermath of a rideshare accident and evaluate the possible avenues for compensation. Our team of Northern Virginia personal injury attorneys stands ready to assist in negotiating with insurance or rideshare companies and fighting for your rights in court, if necessary.
Contact us today at (571) 532-9070 for a free consultation.
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Jennifer is incredibly knowledgeable and patient. In a time that was confusing and scary to us, she talked us through our options with expertise and calm. I recommend her to literally everyone I know, without reservat…Read Full Google Review
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Jennifer and her team have been nothing but supportive, attentive and professional when it came to handling my case. She worked diligently to make sure that everything was done in a timely manner and also communicated…Read Full Google Review
Melanie Joy Pierce
Upon meeting Jennifer, I was immediately put at ease by her compassionate and empathetic nature. She took the time to listen attentively to my concerns and thoroughly understand the details of my accident. Her ability…Read Full Google Review
Amber Audi
Jennifer Porter has handled my case with the utmost professionalism, grace and effectiveness. During the entire process I have never had to worry about her having my best interest at heart. She kept me informed of how…Read Full Google Review
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Jennifer was thorough, made recommendations for needs outside of her scope of practice, stayed on top of everything, gave support and guidance freely. If you are looking for empathetic, transparent legal advocacy and…Read Full Google Review
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Jennifer Porter
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Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft can be held liable for accidents in Virginia if the driver was logged into the app and working at the time. Liability depends on driver status: offline drivers are personally liable, while active drivers trigger the company’s insurance coverage under Virginia law.
Our role as your attorney is to fight on your behalf, so you can spend your time and energy on healing following your Virginia rideshare accident. At Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC, we have decades of experience in fighting for the rights of our clients. We stand as advocates against insurance companies claiming that the injured party lied about their injuries and that they were responsible for the damage done to them.
We know how insurance companies think, and we can help you avoid the missteps that harm your claim.
Here are some other important things to keep in mind following an Uber accident or Lyft accident in Virginia.
Regardless of whether you are a driver or a passenger in a car accident, it is always important to call the police so they can secure the scene, investigate the accident, and prepare a report. This can help strengthen your case and establish that you were involved in a rideshare at the time of the crash.
If your driver refuses to stop at the scene or prevents you from calling the police, you can find their information in the rideshare app. However, it is crucial to take a screenshot or save the app data immediately. You will want to be able to show the details of when and where the ride originated, the destination, the driver’s name and vehicle information, and your proof of payment. This information will be very important for your lawyer’s use in protecting your claim.
You will also see in the rideshare app that you can contact the rideshare company directly to report the accident and your problems with the driver.
Whether your driver stops at the accident scene or not, try to take note of any relevant information you can easily observe: your location (street name, intersection, city/county), the make and model of the other vehicle involved in the collision, and the license plate of that other vehicle.
If you are able, it is also important to also record the contact information of any potential witnesses who can also verify what happened.
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This is vital. If at all possible, immediately following your Uber/Lyft accident in Virginia, take a screenshot of the trip details in the app itself. This verifies that you were indeed in the vehicle when you said you were, shows who your driver was, and establishes your route details. You will want to be able to show the details of when and where the ride originated, the destination, the driver’s name and vehicle information, and your proof of payment.
If you don’t do this, you may lose that information, which makes your claim harder to prove. Take for example the situation one of our previous clients faced: One of our clients was involved in a rideshare accident and called the rideshare customer service for a second driver to pick her up. When the rideshare company sent the second driver, they did not charge for the first trip and as a result of that no-charge action, details from the first trip were wiped from the app.
If you can get yourself out of the vehicle and take photos of the scene safely, it’s a good idea to do so. This further establishes that an accident occurred and that you were in the vehicle when it happened. Photos taken by police, if any, may be difficult to obtain–if you aren’t the driver of any involved vehicle police may not automatically share information with you, so the more evidence you have of the Lyft accident or Uber accident scene, the better for your claim.
That said, your safety is the most important concern. If you’re injured or if it’s unsafe to take photos, do not put yourself in harm’s way to do so.
| What to do | Why it matters | How to do it |
|---|---|---|
| Call the police | Creates an official report and helps establish responsibility | Call 911 and request officers at the scene |
| Save rideshare trip details | Confirms you were in a rideshare during the accident | Take screenshots of the app showing ride time and driver info |
| Record location and vehicle info | Identifies where the accident happened and who was involved | Note street names, car models, and license plates |
| Report to the rideshare company | Alerts the company to the incident and driver behavior | Use the support feature in the app |
| Get witness contact information | Provides additional support for your account of the accident | Ask witnesses for their names and phone numbers |
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Jennifer took the time to review my case and explain everything thoroughly. She gave me legal advice and showed empathy for what I am going through regardless of whether or not we were to work together. She was knowle…Read Full Google Review
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Jennifer is incredibly knowledgeable and patient. In a time that was confusing and scary to us, she talked us through our options with expertise and calm. I recommend her to literally everyone I know, without reservat…Read Full Google Review
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Virginia’s contributory negligence law bars compensation in rideshare accident claims if the injured party shares any fault. Even 1% of fault by the claimant prevents recovery. This strict rule makes it essential for claimants to prove they were completely free of negligence to win damages.
If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident in Virginia, such as with Uber or Lyft, it is crucial to be aware of the filing deadlines for lodging a personal injury claim. The statute of limitations in Virginia generally requires that personal injury lawsuits, including those arising from rideshare incidents, be filed within two years from the date of the injury. This is established under Virginia Code § 8.01-243.A, which applies to all personal actions for injuries.
Failing to file a lawsuit within this two-year period typically results in a loss of the right to seek compensation. The law strictly enforces this deadline, and courts have little leeway to extend it, except under very specific circumstances that rarely apply to rideshare claims. Therefore, if the deadline is missed, you will be barred from recovering any damages for your injuries, no matter how severe they are.
The two-year deadline begins to run on the date of the accident in which you were injured. Given the challenges involved in legal claims against rideshare companies, which often have powerful legal teams, it is recommended to take action well before the deadline approaches. Promptly consulting with a Northern Virginia attorney who handles rideshare accidents can help protect your rights and ensure that your claim is filed on time.
Remember, each day that passes is one day less you have to claim the compensation you might be entitled to. Therefore, acting swiftly after your rideshare accident is essential to securing the justice and compensation you deserve.
Understanding how accident laws in Virginia can affect your case is crucial, especially when it comes to accidents involving services like Uber and Lyft. As a passenger, you may be entitled to compensation for injuries you’ve sustained in such incidents.
Dealing with the legal issues after a rideshare accident can be overwhelming, particularly when dealing with insurance companies. This is where having a dedicated advocate on your side becomes invaluable. At Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC, our Northern Virginia rideshare accident attorneys can help safeguard the rights of those injured in rideshare accidents and ensure they receive the compensation they deserve while they focus on what matters most, their health and recovery.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a rideshare accident, don’t face this challenge alone. Contact Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC today at (571) 532-9070, and let us help you secure your rights and advocate for the compensation you are entitled to. Take the first step towards protecting your interests.
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Upon meeting Jennifer, I was immediately put at ease by her compassionate and empathetic nature. She took the time to listen attentively to my concerns and thoroughly understand the details of my accident. Her ability…Read Full Google Review
Amber Audi
Jennifer Porter has handled my case with the utmost professionalism, grace and effectiveness. During the entire process I have never had to worry about her having my best interest at heart. She kept me informed of how…Read Full Google Review
Gloria Hicks
Jennifer and her team have been nothing but supportive, attentive and professional when it came to handling my case. She worked diligently to make sure that everything was done in a timely manner and also communicated…Read Full Google Review
Melanie Joy Pierce
Jennifer is incredibly knowledgeable and patient. In a time that was confusing and scary to us, she talked us through our options with expertise and calm. I recommend her to literally everyone I know, without reservat…Read Full Google Review
Denise Brandenburg
Jennifer was thorough, made recommendations for needs outside of her scope of practice, stayed on top of everything, gave support and guidance freely. If you are looking for empathetic, transparent legal advocacy and…Read Full Google Review
Delores Clearfield
