Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Athens

Rideshares in the bustling city of Athens, Georgia are extremely popular. Whether you frequently enjoy rideshare services or simply share the road with Uber and Lyft drivers, an accident with a rideshare vehicle is the last thing you might expect.

Nevertheless, rideshare accidents occur, and can leave you with life-altering injuries and unexpected expenses. If you file an insurance claim, the insurance giants who cover rideshare companies may try to poke holes in your case, and could lowball or even deny your claim.

You deserve justice for the pain and suffering you’ve endured, and you shouldn’t be left on the hook paying for medical bills and vehicle damage that someone else caused. You need to be able to focus on healing, and you don’t have to navigate the aftermath of your collision alone. 

A rideshare accident lawyer in Athens with The Scott Pryor Law Group knows how to deal with the insurance companies, has access to the legal resources you’ll need to find justice, and will compassionately guide you through the nuances of a rideshare accident case.   

• Rideshare Accidents in Georgia
• Georgia laws that could impact your rideshare accident case
  • HB529  
  • Statute of Limitations
  • Modified Comparative Negligence
• What to expect during a rideshare accident claim
• Who’s liable after an Athens rideshare accident?
  • Causes of rideshare accidents
• Compensation in a rideshare accident
  • Economic Damages
  • Non-Economic Damages
  • Punitive Damages
• Rideshare Accident FAQ
  • What sets The Scott Pryor Law Group apart from other rideshare accident lawyers?
  • If the rideshare insurer offers me immediate payment, should I accept?
  • Should I sue the rideshare company if a driver hits me?
• How The Scott Pryor Law Group can help

Rideshare Accidents in Georgia

As Georgia rideshare services grow in popularity, the number of rideshare accidents in the state increases. Rideshare drivers are required to carry full insurance coverage, and rideshare companies typically cover up to $1 million in liability coverage. However, insurers have a fleet of attorneys and are often reluctant to pay out high claims.  

Although statistics on rideshare accidents in Georgia are limited, it’s important to note that Uber and Lyft release two-year safety reports that include accident data. Both claim under 1% of their nationwide drivers are involved in accidents. Nevertheless, many rideshare collisions result in injury or even fatality. 

Georgia laws that could impact your rideshare accident case

A rideshare accident case in Athens could be impacted by state laws. If you choose to file a personal injury claim against an at fault driver or rideshare services company, it’s important to understand the laws in place that could strengthen or present challenges to your case.

A rideshare accident lawyer in Athens can advise you on the steps you should take based on the impact of these laws. 

HB529

Introduced in 2024, Georgia House Bill HB529 has crossed over from committee and will next be introduced to the State Senate. Although the bill has not yet been passed, it may become law within the next year.

HB529 requires that rideshare companies carry a specific minimum of uninsured and uninsured motorist coverage. Essentially, this means that companies like Uber and Lyft can carry lower insurance premiums — if this bill passes into law, Georgia drivers may have a tougher time getting an insurance claim settled for just compensation. 

If HB529 becomes law and you suffer personal injury due to a rideshare accident, suing the rideshare service may be the only way to recover your losses.

Statute of Limitations

The Georgia statute of limitations § 9-3-33 requires that you file a personal injury claim within two years of the date of your accident. This protects both you and any named defendants in your case — the statute gives you time to build your case and protects the defendant from facing frivolous or extremely old claims.

An extension is permitted if your claim includes loss of consortium (companionship and intimacy), and you’re given four years to file.

However, if the statute of limitations runs out and you have not filed your legal claim, you no longer have valid recourse to recoup your monetary losses.

Modified Comparative Negligence

Georgia’s modified comparative negligence law (also known as comparative fault) may impact the financial compensation you receive after an Athens rideshare accident. 

Basically, this means that if you hold any responsibility for your collision, the amount of compensation you can receive will decrease.

A rideshare insurer will use their vast legal resources to attempt to prove modified comparative negligence in your case. However, a rideshare accident lawyer in Athens from The Scott Pryor Law Group can help to strengthen your case, and can advise you how to proceed if you do hold partial fault for your collision.

 Modified comparative negligence means:

• If you’re liable for 50% or more of your accident, you will not be able to legally pursue compensation.
• If you’re liable for 0%-50% of your accident, the amount of compensation you can seek will decrease based on your percentage of fault.

For example, if you make an illegal lane shift and a rideshare driver hits you, you may be found partially liable for your crash.

What to expect during a rideshare accident claim

Your Athens rideshare accident lawyer can advise you on any unique steps your case might take. However, here are the general expectations of what will occur during your claim:

• In the immediate aftermath of your accident, call 911, wait for first responders to arrive and file a police report. Your police report is vital to any personal injury claim you might pursue.
• Seek medical attention. You should seek immediate medical attention, even if you don’t feel that your injuries are severe. Documentation of your medical diagnosis, treatment, and prescriptions is crucial to your personal injury case. 
• File an insurance claim through your insurance company. Your insurer will contact the rideshare’s insurer and begin the claims process. Your insurance company will also assign you a claims number and an agent as references throughout the process.
• Consult an Athens rideshare car accident lawyer. The Scott Pryor Law Group offers a free initial consultation to help you explore the merits of your case and can even help through the insurance claims process.
• If you are not offered appropriate compensation, your rideshare accident lawyer may recommend that you file a lawsuit..
• The Scott Pryor Law Group will collect evidence from the scene of your accident including your police report and photo and video documentation. Our team will also conduct an exhaustive investigation of your accident.
• Your lawyer may obtain testimony from forensic experts, such as crash reconstructionists, and record witness statements on your behalf.
• The defendant (s) in your case has 30 days to respond to your complaint.
• The Scott Pryor Law Group will represent you in all negotiations and meetings. We will never agree to a settlement offer without your consent.  
• Most personal injury cases are settled before they go to trial. However, if a settlement agreement cannot be reached, The Scott Pryor Law Group is committed to fighting for you until the best possible outcome is achieved.

Who’s liable after an Athens rideshare accident?

Liability in a rideshare accident is nuanced. For example, if an Uber driver hits you but just clocked off, the driver may hold liability, but Uber will not. Liable parties in an Athens rideshare accident might include:

• Rideshare company
• Rideshare driver
• Another driver 
• Construction company (unclearly marked work zones)
• Local government (poor road conditions)
• Vehicle Manufacturer

Causes of rideshare accidents

Common rideshare accident risk factors can include:

• Congested Traffic
• Distracted Driving
• Driver Fatigue
• Driver Inexperience
• Dropoffs or Pickups in unsafe traffic conditions
• Excessive Speed
• Impaired Driving
• Poor Vehicle Maintenance 
• Reckless Driving
• Unfamiliar Routes

Compensation in a rideshare accident

A rideshare accident lawyer in Athens with The Scott Pryor Law Group will help you to determine the compensation you should seek and help you to calculate the monetary value of the losses you’ve suffered.

The compensation you receive in any personal injury case (including a rideshare accident claim) is classified into categories called damages. Each category represents different types of losses and allows you to clearly define your claim.

These damages represent both the measurable and incalculable losses you’ve endured. 

Economic Damages

Economic damages (or special damages) cover losses that have a measurable value. For example, any bills with a set monetary cost are considered economic damages. 

Economic damage claims after a rideshare accident might include (but are not limited to):

• Lost Wages (including bonuses and tips)
• Medical Expenses (all present and future medical appointments, hospital stays, prescriptions, surgeries, and treatments)
• Vehicle Repair or Replacement Costs

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages (or general damages) cover immeasurable losses — the trauma you’ve endured that might significantly alter your life, but do not have a set value.

Non-economic damages are not meant to replace or make up for these losses, but are a legal way of acknowledging that you deserve justice for what you’ve endured. Financial compensation may help to alleviate your burdens as you focus on healing. 

Non-economic damages in an Athens rideshare accident might include (but are not limited to):  

• Catastrophic Injury
• Chronic Pain
• Disfigurement
• Emotional Distress 
• Loss of Consortium (loss of companionship and intimacy)
• Pain and Suffering
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Wrongful Death

Punitive Damages

In Georgia, punitive damages are also known as vindictive damages. This is because they are often determined by a judge or jury to serve as punishment for a grossly negligent defendant.

Although punitive damages are rarely sought by a plaintiff, your rideshare accident lawyer in Athens may advise you to ask for punitive damages if the defendant (s) in your case exhibited gross negligence.   

For example, if a rideshare driver was hired despite a history of serious traffic violations including felony DUI and hits you while on the clock, the rideshare services company may be liable for punitive damages.

Rideshare Accident FAQ

What sets The Scott Pryor Law Group apart from other rideshare accident lawyers?

The Scott Pryor Law Group is passionately dedicated to fighting for you, your family, and your loved ones. We believe every individual case matters, and every personal story matters. You’re not just another case number to us. The Scott Pryor Law Group has been nationally recognized as a Top 1% trial law firm in the U.S. 

If the rideshare insurer offers me immediate payment, should I accept?

It’s important to consult a lawyer before you accept an insurance payment offer after your rideshare accident. Insurance companies are notorious for offering quick, lump sum payments that do not equal just compensation. 

Remember, once you’ve accepted an insurance offer, you do not have a valid claim to further compensation.

Should I sue the rideshare company if a driver hits me?

If a rideshare driver is responsible for your accident and hits you while on the clock, you should begin an insurance claim with the rideshare service they work for. If you decline the insurance offer from the rideshare service’s insurer, you should include the service in your lawsuit.

A rideshare accident lawyer in Athens can help you to determine which parties should be included in your personal injury lawsuit.

How The Scott Pryor Law Group can help

The Scott Pryor Law Group cares about your personal story and understands the life-changing impact of the trauma you’ve endured. We’ll fight for your voice and your pain and suffering to be heard so that you can receive the justice you deserve.

A rideshare accident lawyer in Athens will work with you on a contingency basis — this means that we don’t get paid until you get paid. Your current financial situation shouldn’t prevent you from getting the best legal representation possible. 

A successful verdict is never a guarantee, but we’ve recovered 7-figure settlements for many clients and have over 1000 5-star client reviews. 

Our founder, Scott Pryor, is a former U.S. Marine whose passion for fighting for people who deserve justice informs his career as a trial lawyer, too. Scott’s passion is shared by the entire team at The Scott Pryor Law Group and we’re committed to doing whatever it takes to protect your best interests.

We’ll help guide you through the legal process and stand beside you every step of the way. Your first step on the road to justice is just a free consultation away.