I’m sorry to hear about your accident. In many cases, you may be unable to seek damages from the company. However, you should speak with an experienced personal injury attorney about your case.
When an employee gets hurt on the job, the injured worker can normally recover either workers’ compensation from the employer or can sue the employer for his or her injuries. However, when an independent contractor is injured on the job, the injured worker cannot automatically seek workers’ compensation benefits. If the company was negligent, and the negligence caused the driver’s injuries, the injured worker may be able to recover.
Uber, Lyft, and other ridesharing companies typically classify their drivers as independent contractors. As a result, they are normally left without workers’ compensation benefits if they are injured in an accident. Driving passengers for hire can be a dangerous job, both because of the danger of automobile accidents as well as potential violence from passengers.
Unfortunately, some rideshare companies also fail to maintain adequate insurance or protections for drivers who are involved in an accident. In some cases, the ridesharing drivers may get more compensation from an insurance company for the other driver involved in the accident than from the ridesharing company.
If you are a driver for Uber or Lyft and you have been involved in an accident, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles personal injury attorney, at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.