Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Gainesville

If you live in Gainesville, Georgia, chances are you’ve either taken a rideshare service or have shared the road with rideshare vehicles. Nevertheless, when you’re enjoying a drive on the scenic routes around Lake Lanier, the last thing you might expect is a car accident with an Uber or a Lyft car.  

In an instant, a rideshare accident could alter your life and leave you with long-lasting injuries and significant bills. If you file an insurance claim, you may find that a rideshare insurer might be reluctant to pay you what you’re rightfully owed. Insurance giants may try to make you jump through hoops or outright deny your claim.

You don’t have to walk the path to justice alone. A rideshare accident lawyer in Gainesville with The Scott Pryor Law Group knows how to deal with the insurance companies, can compassionately offer legal knowledge and walk beside you through each step of the legal process, and will battle the insurance companies on your behalf.   

• Rideshare Accidents in Georgia
• Georgia laws that could impact your rideshare accident case
  • HB529  
  • Modified Comparative Negligence
  • Statute of Limitations
• Who’s liable after a Gainesville rideshare accident?
• What to expect during a rideshare accident claim
• Compensation in a Gainesville rideshare accident
  • Economic Damages
  • Non-Economic Damages
  • Punitive Damages
• Rideshare Accident FAQ
  • How much does a rideshare accident lawyer cost?
  • Should I sue the rideshare company if a driver hits me?
  • Why should I choose The Scott Pryor Law Group to represent me?
• How The Scott Pryor Law Group can help

Rideshare Accidents in Georgia

In recent years, the number of rideshare accidents in Georgia have increased and rideshare accidents have increased as well. Rideshare companies often carry up to $1 million in liability coverage and rideshare drivers are required to carry full coverage. 

Nevertheless, insurance giants employ a highly experienced legal team and may try to poke holes in your claim so that they won’t have to pay you. 

The current statistics on rideshare accidents in Georgia are limited, but both Lyft and Uber consistently release accident data and safety reports. Those reports indicate that under 1% of nationwide rideshare drivers are involved in car accidents. 

However, state and federal statistics reflect rideshare accidents that result in significant injury and fatality.    

Georgia laws that could impact your rideshare accident case

A rideshare accident lawyer in Gainesville can explain the Georgia laws that could have an impact on your case. However, here are some of the state laws that may present challenges or benefits to your personal injury claim after a rideshare accident. 

HB529

Introduced in 2024, Georgia House Bill HB529 was introduced in 2024 and passed through the Georgia House, but has not yet been introduced in the Senate. If this bill is passed into law, it may impact rideshare accident claims.

HB529 mandates a minimum amount of uninsured and uninsured motorist coverage for all rideshare services. This means that legally, Lyft and Uber will be able to carry low insurance premiums, rather than the $1 million liability premiums these companies carry now. 

If HB529 becomes law, car accident settlement offers from rideshare companies may be extremely low.         

Modified Comparative Negligence

Georgia’s modified comparative negligence law (or comparative fault) can impact the amount of compensation you receive for a Gainesville rideshare accident claim. One of over a dozen states with a modified comparative negligence law, Georgia mandates that if you share fault for your accident, your percentage of liability affects your compensation.

The attorneys for a rideshare insurance company will work diligently to try to prove that you hold partial responsibility for your collision so that they don’t have to pay you. However, a rideshare accident lawyer in Gainesville from The Scott Pryor Law Group can disprove modified comparative negligence, or advise you on your next steps if you are proven to be partially liable for your accident.  

 Modified comparative negligence means:

• You no longer have valid recourse to pursue compensation if you’re 50%-100% at fault for your accident.
• The compensation you can seek will be reduced if you’re liable for 0%-50% of your collision.

For example, if you’re speeding when a rideshare driver hits you, you may hold some responsibility for your accident.

Statute of Limitations

According to the Georgia statute of limitations § 9-3-33, you must file any personal injury claim within two years of the date of your accident. This statute gives you ample time to build your case and determine your next legal steps.

If the statute of limitations elapses and you have not yet filed a claim, you no longer have a legal path to compensation. However, the courts grant a two-year extension if your claim includes loss of consortium (companionship and intimacy), and you will have four years to file.

Who’s liable after a Gainesville rideshare accident?

A rideshare accident lawyer in Gainesville can advise you on the complexities of liability in your case. For example, there may be multiple parties at fault for your accident. Multiple factors, including the cause of your collision, can help to determine liability.

Common causes of rideshare accidents can include:

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

Liable parties in a rideshare accident might include:

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

What to expect during a rideshare accident claim

Your Gainesville rideshare accident lawyer will explain any additional steps your unique case might take. However, here are the general expectations of what to expect during your claim:

• Directly after your accident, call 911, safely pull over, and wait for first responders to arrive and file a police report. Your police report is vital documentation for your case.
• Seek immediate medical attention. Even if your injuries initially seem minor, official medical diagnosis and treatment are vital to your personal injury claim.
• Begin the insurance claims process with your insurance company. Your insurer will contact the rideshare’s insurance provider. You’ll be assigned a claims agent and case number to refer to throughout the process.
• Consult a rideshare accident lawyer in Gainesville. The Scott Pryor Law Group offers a free initial consultation which can help you to discern what legal steps you can take next.
• If the rideshare’s insurer lowballs or denies your claim, a rideshare accident lawyer may advise you to file a personal injury lawsuit..
• The Scott Pryor Law Group will investigate your accident and collect evidence from the scene, including any photo and video documentation and your police report. 
• Your lawyer will then record eyewitness testimony and obtain testimony from forensic experts, such as crash reconstructionists.
• The defendant (s) in your case has 30 days to respond to your complaint.
• The Scott Pryor Law Group will represent you and advocate for your best interests in all meetings and negotiations.  
• Although most personal injury cases are settled before they go to trial, if a settlement is not reached, your Gainesville rideshare accident lawyer will fight in court on your behalf.

Compensation in a Gainesville rideshare accident

The compensation you might receive after a rideshare accident is classified into categories called damages. Each category represents different types of losses.

These damages represent both the measurable and immeasurable losses you’ve endured. Compensatory damages include Economic, Non-Economic, and Punitive.

A rideshare accident lawyer in Gainesville will help you calculate your damages and determine the compensation you should seek.

Economic Damages

Economic damages (or special damages) cover measurable losses with a set monetary value. For example, any accident-related bills are considered economic damages. 

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

• Lost Wages (including bonuses and tips)
• Medical Expenses (all accident-related medical care and prescriptions present)
• Vehicle Repair or Replacement Costs

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages (or general damages) cover the losses you’ve suffered that cannot be quantified. These are losses that no compensation can heal, but non-economic damages help to recognize the injustice you’ve experienced and may help to relieve your financial burdens. 

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

• Catastrophic Injury
• Chronic Pain
• 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 used as punishment for a grossly negligent defendant and meted out by a judge or jury. Gross negligence means a defendant has intentionally or unintentionally violated the universal duty of care. 

Your rideshare accident lawyer in Gainesville may advise you to ask for punitive damages if the defendant (s) in your case exhibited gross negligence, but typically, they are additional to your compensatory award.

Examples of gross negligence might include an intoxicated rideshare driver, a driver who was hired despite an extensive history of traffic violations, or a rideshare services company that failed to ensure the vehicle used meets basic automotive standards.

Rideshare Accident FAQ

How much does a rideshare accident lawyer cost?

A Gainesville rideshare accident lawyer with The Scott Pryor Law Group works on a contingency basis. This means that we only get paid if you get paid! We believe your financial status shouldn’t impact the quality of legal services you receive. You won’t have to shoulder the burden of legal fees while we fight for your justice. 

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

A rideshare company may hold liability in your accident if they failed to properly vet a driver or if an on-the-clock driver causes your collision. Your lawyer can help you to determine whether or not you should sue the rideshare company after your accident.

Why should I choose The Scott Pryor Law Group to represent me?

The Scott Pryor Law Group has been nationally recognized as a Top 1% trial law firm in the U.S. You are more than just another case number to us, and we care about your story. We’re passionate about fighting for you, your family, and your loved ones, and will work tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome in your case.

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.

We can’t guarantee a successful verdict, but we’ve recovered 7-figure settlements for many clients and have over 1000 5-star client reviews. We understand the injustice and pain of suffering due to the actions of another person, and we won’t stop fighting until we’ve done everything we can to find justice so that you can focus on healing.

Schedule your free consultation with The Scott Pryor Law Group today.