Uber and Lyft accidents aren’t like standard car crash claims. When a passenger or pedestrian is hurt in an accident, legal representation can mean the difference between a fair recovery and a lowball payout. At The Donahey Law Firm, our Columbus rideshare injury attorneys know how to hold Uber and Lyft accountable for accidents caused by negligence. If you were injured in a rideshare accident, we can help you seek compensation for medical bills and other losses.
Why Choose The Donahey Law Firm as Your Columbus Uber Injury Attorney
- Liability That Goes Beyond the Driver: Rideshare companies argue their drivers work for themselves, not for them. Our attorneys understand exactly what has to be proven — whether the app was on, whether the driver had accepted a ride, and whether a passenger was already in the car — to establish that Uber or Lyft bears responsibility.
- Thorough, Hands-On Investigation: Our legal team sends investigators to the scene, recovers available video footage, and works with accident reconstruction experts to establish exactly what happened.
- Deep Understanding of Coverage Tiers: Depending on whether a driver was simply logged into the app, en route to a pickup, or actively transporting a passenger, different insurance policies and limits come into play. We know how to determine which tier applies and how to pursue additional avenues, such as negligent hiring or negligent retention claims, when a driver’s history should have kept them off the road.
- Prepared to Challenge Arbitration Clauses: Rideshare companies often try to push injury claims out of the courtroom and into private arbitration. Our Uber and Lyft accident lawyers are prepared to challenge those clauses so our clients get their day in front of a jury.
- Decades of Experience Behind Every Case: After 60 years representing injured Ohioans, our firm has the staying power and litigation experience needed to go up against companies with virtually unlimited legal resources.
Who We Represent in Rideshare Accident Cases
A rideshare crash can affect multiple people and families. Our Columbus Lyft injury attorneys represent:
- Passengers who were riding in an Uber or Lyft vehicle at the time of the crash
- Pedestrians and cyclists who were hit by an Uber or Lyft vehicle
- Drivers and passengers of vehicles struck by a rideshare driver
- Families who have lost a loved one in a fatal rideshare accident
Because our firm concentrates on catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, we bring the full weight of our resources to claims involving serious, life-altering harm.
“Uber and Lyft will tell you their driver is an independent contractor with no connection to them, but that driver wouldn’t be on the road at all if it weren’t for that company. We know how to prove that connection and make sure a catastrophic injury or death isn’t reduced to whatever minimum payout Uber or Lyft feels like offering.”
–Gordon Evans
Our 5-Step Process for
Building Your Rideshare Injury Claim
Free Case Evaluation: We start by learning what happened and identifying which company and coverage may apply to your situation, at no cost to you.
Determining the Driver’s Status: We investigate whether the driver’s app was active at the time of the crash, whether they had accepted a ride request, and whether a passenger was already in the vehicle. Each of these details affects which insurance coverage applies.
Full Scene and Evidence Investigation: Just as we would in any serious car accident case, we deploy investigators, secure video footage, and bring in accident reconstruction experts to analyze how and why the crash occurred.
Pursuing Every Source of Compensation: Beyond the driver’s personal policy, we also evaluate corporate insurance coverage and potential claims for negligent hiring, negligent retention, or the failure to enforce basic safety measures.
Negotiating or Litigating Your Claim: We push back against attempts to limit compensation to minimum policy amounts. Our attorneys are fully prepared to take your case to court if Uber, Lyft, or their insurers refuse to offer what your claim is truly worth.
Hire an Experienced Columbus Lyft Injury Attorney
If you were hurt or lost a loved one in a crash involving an Uber or Lyft driver, you have legal options for pursuing justice and compensation. The sooner you speak with our team, the sooner we can begin preserving evidence and identifying every party who may be responsible. Contact The Donahey Law Firm today for a free consultation with an experienced Columbus Uber injury attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions About Uber and Lyft Accident Claims
It depends on the situation, but in many cases, yes. While Uber and Lyft will often argue that their drivers are independent contractors with no connection to the company, our attorneys know how to attach liability directly to the corporation, particularly in cases involving serious injury or death.
According to the insurance marketplace Insurify, rideshare drivers are 73% more likely to be involved in an accident than the general population. And according to a peer-reviewed study from 2021, for every 100 rideshare trips that were recorded in a specific area, the odds of an injury crash increased by 4.6%.
It can. Whether a driver was simply logged into the app, actively en route to pick up a passenger, or already transporting someone affects which insurance coverage applies and how much is available. A driver who was not logged in at all may not trigger rideshare coverage, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have a claim — it means the case requires a closer look from an experienced attorney.
It depends on the driver’s status at the time of the crash. Coverage tends to be much higher when a driver is en route to or transporting a passenger than when they are simply waiting for a ride request. In cases involving catastrophic injury or death, our attorneys work to identify every available source of compensation beyond the minimum policy limits.
Many rideshare user agreements include a clause requiring disputes to go through private arbitration rather than a courtroom. These clauses generally do not apply to wrongful death claims, but they can come into play in other rideshare injury cases. Our attorneys are prepared to challenge these provisions when appropriate to protect your right to a trial.
The statute of limitations for a rideshare accident claim in Ohio is generally the same as any other auto accident case: two years from the date of the crash, or two years from the date of death in a wrongful death claim. However, it’s crucial not to wait to seek legal counsel if you’ve been injured, as evidence can quickly disappear in accident cases.
Treat it the same as you would any serious car accident. Seek medical attention right away, follow your provider’s instructions, report the crash to police, and document the scene if you’re able to. Avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with a rideshare accident lawyer.
No. The Donahey Law Firm handles rideshare accident cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront legal fees, and we cover the costs of investigating your case. You owe us nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
Talk to a Columbus Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Rideshare cases aren’t won by treating them like ordinary fender-benders. They demand a law firm that’s willing to dig into corporate policy, insurance tiers, and the tactics these companies use to limit their own exposure. The Donahey Law Firm has spent six decades building the resources and courtroom experience it takes to go up against companies like Uber and Lyft. Reach out today to speak with an experienced Columbus rideshare injury attorney at our firm.