Getting hit by a car is scary enough. Finding out the driver was working for Uber or Lyft can make the situation even more confusing. In Wisconsin, pedestrian accidents involving rideshare vehicles can raise difficult insurance questions. The coverage that applies may depend on what the driver was doing in the app at the time of the crash. That is one reason these cases can be more complicated than a typical pedestrian accident.
At Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm, we help injured pedestrians across Wisconsin understand their rights after serious accidents. If you are dealing with medical bills, missed work, pain, and uncertainty, you do not have to figure it out alone.
What To Do After a Pedestrian Accident Involving Uber or Lyft
The steps you take after the crash can affect both your health and your injury claim. Acting quickly can help protect your rights and preserve important evidence.
Get Medical Care Right Away
Even if you think you feel okay, get checked by a medical professional as soon as you can. Some injuries, including head injuries, internal injuries, and soft tissue damage, may not show symptoms right away.
Prompt medical care protects your health and creates a record that connects your injuries to the crash.
Call the Police and Report the Crash
Call 911 and make sure law enforcement responds if possible. A police report can be an important piece of evidence later.
If the driver worked for Uber or Lyft, the crash should also be reported through the rideshare app or support system.
Take Photos and Gather Information
If you are physically able, take pictures of the vehicle, the accident scene, your injuries, road conditions, and nearby traffic lights, crosswalks, or street signs.
Try to get the driver’s name, contact information, insurance information, license plate number, and the names and contact information of any witnesses.
If possible, note whether the driver appeared to be using Uber or Lyft at the time of the crash.
Be Careful What You Say
Insurance companies may contact you quickly. Be careful about giving recorded statements or guessing about fault. Do not minimize your injuries, and do not agree to a settlement before you understand what your case may involve.
Talk to a Wisconsin Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrian accident claims involving Uber or Lyft can get complicated fast. There may be multiple insurance questions, disputed facts, and questions about who is legally responsible.
An attorney can help identify the right insurance coverage, preserve evidence, and deal with the insurance companies for you.
How Uber and Lyft Insurance Works in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has a specific insurance framework for transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft. The coverage that may apply often depends on the driver’s status in the app at the time of the crash.
If the Driver Was Not Logged Into Uber or Lyft
If the driver was not logged into the Uber or Lyft app at the time of the crash, Wisconsin’s rideshare insurance framework usually does not apply. In that situation, the claim will often go through the driver’s personal auto insurance instead.
This matters because the available coverage may be very different than it would be during an active rideshare period.
If the Driver Was Logged In and Waiting for a Ride
If the driver was logged into Uber or Lyft and available for ride requests, Wisconsin law requires primary automobile liability coverage of at least:
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death per person
- $100,000 for bodily injury or death per accident
- $25,000 for property damage
These are the minimum coverage amounts during that stage. Depending on the facts, other coverage may also be available.
If the Driver Was On the Way To Pick Someone Up or Carrying a Passenger
If the driver had accepted a ride or was transporting a passenger, Wisconsin law requires primary automobile liability coverage of at least $1 million for death, bodily injury, and property damage.
That higher level of coverage can make a major difference in a pedestrian injury claim.
Why That Matters
In a Wisconsin Uber or Lyft pedestrian accident claim, the driver’s app status can directly affect what insurance coverage may be available. That is one reason rideshare claims can be more complicated than other pedestrian accident cases.
Why These Cases Can Be Complicated
A pedestrian injury claim involving a rideshare driver is not always straightforward. Insurance companies may dispute:
- Who caused the accident
- Whether the driver was working
- Which insurance policy applies
- How badly you were hurt
- Whether your injuries were caused by the crash
In rideshare cases, app records and other digital evidence can matter. Important evidence can disappear if no one moves quickly to preserve it.
How Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm Can Help
At Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm, we help injured people across Wisconsin deal with serious accident claims involving rideshare drivers and other motor vehicle crashes.
Our team investigates the facts, identifies possible insurance coverage, gathers evidence, and handles communication with the insurance companies. We prepare every case as if it is going to trial because insurance companies know which firms are ready to fight. We carry the burden so our clients can focus on healing.
Talk to a Wisconsin Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
If you were hit by an Uber or Lyft driver while walking, you do not have to handle the aftermath alone.
Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm helps injured pedestrians across Wisconsin understand their rights and pursue the compensation they may be entitled to recover. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
