Morgantown, WV Rideshare Accident Lawyer
After an Uber or Lyft crash in Morgantown, the insurance that pays depends on what the driver’s app was doing at the moment of impact, and the proof sits in Uber’s or Lyft’s records. Unlike an ordinary car accident claim, a rideshare claim can involve the driver’s policy, the company’s policy, or both. Our rideshare accident attorneys identify the right policy, secure the trip data, and deal with the insurers for you.
Before you give a recorded statement, sign anything, or accept a settlement offer, talk to a rideshare accident attorney. Contact us at (304) 802-2115 for a free consultation.
Whose Insurance Pays for a Rideshare Crash?
West Virginia’s rideshare insurance law ties coverage to the driver’s app status:
- App off: The driver’s personal car insurance applies, as in any other crash.
- App on, waiting for a ride request: The law requires coverage limits higher than West Virginia’s minimum for personal auto policies. The driver, the rideshare company, or both can provide it.
- Ride accepted through drop-off: The law requires substantially higher limits, met by the driver’s policy, the company’s policy, or a combination.
Personal car insurers can exclude rideshare driving, but West Virginia law doesn’t let a rideshare company’s coverage wait on a personal insurer’s denial. The required rideshare coverage also includes uninsured and underinsured motorist protection.
When Are Morgantown Rideshares Busiest?
During the fall and spring semesters, WVU’s Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) stops at 10:15 p.m. on weekdays, closes at 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and doesn’t run on Sundays or over summer break. When it’s down, many students turn to Uber and Lyft. Home football games at Milan Puskar Stadium draw crowds of up to 60,000, and late-night and game-day trips often run along University Avenue, Beechurst Avenue, and High Street.
What Happens When You Call Us?
- We advise you before you talk to insurers. You’ll know what to say, and what not to say, before any adjuster calls.
- We confirm the driver’s status. West Virginia law requires rideshare drivers to disclose after a crash whether they were offline, logged in, or carrying a passenger.
- We preserve the evidence. We request trip data, driver logs, and app records from Uber or Lyft before they’re lost.
- We find every policy. We check the driver’s personal insurance, the rideshare company’s policy, and any additional commercial coverage.
- We handle the adjusters. No one pressures you into a quick, low settlement.
- We pursue full compensation. That includes medical bills and future care, lost wages and earning ability, vehicle repair or replacement, and pain and suffering.
If a commercial truck caused your crash instead, our truck accident attorneys can explain how those claims differ.
Where Will Your Case Be Filed?
Most rideshare injury lawsuits here are filed in the Monongalia County Circuit Court at the Monongalia County Justice Center, 75 High Street, Morgantown.
If your crash happened on WVU-owned property, such as the grounds around a residence hall or the Mountainlair, WVU Police may have responded instead of Morgantown Police. In that case, WVU Police must provide the crash report, and we handle that request for you.
How Long Do You Have to File?
West Virginia sets a strict deadline for personal injury lawsuits, and the clock generally starts on the date of the injury. Missing it can end your right to compensation. In rideshare cases, act even sooner, because trip data and app records may not be kept indefinitely.
What If You Were Partly at Fault?
West Virginia uses a shared-fault rule. You can still recover compensation as long as you weren’t more at fault than everyone else involved combined, but your award is reduced by your share of the blame.
Insurers may try to shift blame to pay less. We use trip data and crash scene evidence to show what really happened.
