The most popular form of hired vehicle in Omaha is Uber or Lyft. While taxis, buses, and shuttle services are still around, they are becoming less predominant as time goes by.
Accidents involving Ubers or taxis can be more complex than other car crash cases, and victims may have difficulty determining the responsible parties. Fortunately, an Omaha Uber/taxi accident lawyer has the knowledge and experience needed to identify all potential sources of compensation and fight for justice on a victim’s behalf. Contact the Omaha car accident lawyers at Berry Law today to discuss your situation.
What is a Common Carrier?
Common carriers are services that provide public transportation. These could include governmental bodies, private companies, or private individuals. Oftentimes, public transportation is owned by a city or other municipality. Uber and Lyft are common carriers, but the vehicles are typically privately owned, and drivers contract with the companies.
Common carrier laws are constantly in flux, but companies or drivers typically must register within the municipality that they are in. A person looking at becoming an Uber driver, a taxi driver, or other common carrier driver needs to look at the specific laws of the particular municipality.
How Uber/Taxi Crashes Differ from Other Accidents
From a legal perspective, car accidents with a taxi or Uber drivers differs from those involving personal transportation vehicles. In an Uber, Lyft, taxi, or other common carrier collision, the injured party could sue the common carrier driver or another motorist, depending on who was at fault.
There are a number of ways that a taxi’s status as a common carrier would affect an injury claim. The first is whether the taxi has met all of the necessary requirements under the law. It is important to determine and verify the insurance status of the taxi because companies sometimes structure their business in a manner to minimize their liability.
One of the most famous cases in New York City involved an owner of the taxi company that incorporated every taxi into its own business and provided the basic minimal insurance. The company tried to claim that the taxi was insolvent and could not pay a judgment when it was involved in an accident. In that situation, there is a legal remedy called piercing the corporate veil in which the injury victim was able to sue the taxi carrier’s parent company to obtain full recovery. It is important to know that some common carriers utilize legal structures to minimize their liabilities.
Identifying the Responsible Party
Typically, the at-fault driver is responsible for paying damages in Omaha Uber accidents. However, if the Uber driver is the at-fault party, the driver or the insurance carrier would pay for the accident.
It is also important to know that before one gets into a vehicle with Uber, he or she should verify that the driver has the supplemental insurance plan, rider, or umbrella that covers accidents when the individual is engaging in for-hire services. One of the common exclusions in regular automobile insurance policies is that they do not cover accidents within the scope of for-hire driving.
Berry Law’s Team Provides You With Multiple Attorney Perspectives
Contact an Omaha Uber/Taxi Accident Attorney Today
Car accident cases involving Ubers, Lyfts, or other common carriers can be difficult for victims to manage alone. An injured person may be burdened with medical expenses, physical pain, and emotional trauma, at a time when he or she deserves to focus on healing. Fortunately, help is available.
Contact Berry Law today to schedule a free case evaluation. With help from a driven personal injury attorney, you could hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions and fight for the compensation you deserve.
