Westport residents are fortunate to be able to take advantage of on-demand rideshare services like Lyft and Uber. Should a need or situation arise where traditional taxi and limousine services are needed, these options are also at the disposal of interested consumers. However, there is always a risk when stepping into a vehicle and taking to the roadways.
When events do not go as planned and the unexpected happens, an accident involving a rideshare car or taxicab could turn your life upside down. If you have experienced an accident, consider speaking to a Westport Uber/taxi accident lawyer right away. An experienced taxi accident attorney could help you file an insurance claim or advocate for your interests in a personal injury lawsuit.
Reasons for Why Rideshare Accidents Occur
Roadway accidents transpire for any number of reasons. When an injured rider seeks compensation for the harms they have suffered in an accident, they generally need to prove that the responsible driver behaved negligently.
Negligence is a legal concept meaning disregard for standards of conduct that every driver is responsible for upholding for their safety and others’. Some of the common reasons for accidents resulting in driver liability include:
- Eating or drinking while driving
- Cell phone use while driving
- Reckless maneuvers
- Fatigued driving
- Speeding
- Improperly maintained vehicles
- Traffic violations
Connecticut imposes additional rules on rideshare and taxicab companies. If a hired driver is not qualified to under the law or their vehicle does not meet the minimum requirements, the company or corporation itself could be responsible for its oversight. With the help of a Westport Uber/taxi accident attorney, victims could focus on their recovery efforts while legal counsel reviews the nuances of their cases.
for Westport GET A FREE CONSULTATION
Causation in a Negligence-based Uber/Taxi Accident Lawsuit
In a lawsuit, a plaintiff must prove not only that a driver was negligent, but that they also caused the accident. Causation is a tricky element of the claim to prove because the opposing party often raises several defenses.
A driver could try to refute the notion of negligence and argue that under the circumstances, they did what any reasonable person would have done, and therefore cannot be held liable under the law. A defendant could also use the concept of contributory negligence in their defense.
Contributory negligence is a way of apportioning fault in accidents. Parties to a lawsuit would present evidence demonstrating who they believe was at fault and why. A judge, or more likely a jury, then decides which party was at fault and to what degree, expressed as a percentage.
A defendant Uber or taxicab driver could argue, for example, that the rider injured in the accident contributed to or caused their own injuries by failing to wear a seatbelt. If the evidence convinces a jury of a plaintiff’s contributory negligence, a set of rules applies that can limit a plaintiff’s recovery. A Westport taxi accident lawyer could help victims understand how contributory negligence may affect their case and recovery.
The deadline to file in Connecticut
Connecticut law generally gives you two years from the date the injury is sustained or discovered to bring a claim, and in most cases no more than three years from the act or omission complained of, even if the injury is discovered later. That deadline comes from Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584.
How shared fault affects your claim
Connecticut follows modified comparative fault under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h: when the victim and the defendant share fault, the court reduces recoverable compensation by the victim's percentage of fault, and a victim whose share of fault is more than 50 percent may not recover at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do rideshare and taxi accidents occur?
Roadway accidents transpire for any number of reasons. Some common reasons for accidents resulting in driver liability include eating or drinking while driving, cell phone use while driving, reckless maneuvers, fatigued driving, speeding, improperly maintained vehicles, and traffic violations.
What is negligence in an Uber or taxi accident case?
Negligence is a legal concept meaning disregard for standards of conduct that every driver is responsible for upholding for their safety and others’. When an injured rider seeks compensation, they generally need to prove that the responsible driver behaved negligently.
What is causation in a negligence-based Uber/taxi accident lawsuit?
In a lawsuit, a plaintiff must prove not only that a driver was negligent, but that they also caused the accident. Causation can be tricky to prove because the opposing party often raises defenses, such as arguing they acted reasonably under the circumstances.
How can contributory negligence affect a rider’s recovery after an Uber or taxi accident?
Contributory negligence is a way of apportioning fault in accidents. Parties present evidence about who was at fault and why, and a judge or jury decides fault as a percentage. If a jury is convinced of a plaintiff’s contributory negligence, a set of rules applies that can limit a plaintiff’s recovery, such as where a defendant argues the injured rider contributed to their injuries by failing to wear a seatbelt.
How can a Westport Uber/taxi accident lawyer help after an accident?
An experienced taxi accident attorney could help you file an insurance claim or advocate for your interests in a personal injury lawsuit. With legal counsel, victims could focus on their recovery efforts while an attorney reviews the nuances of their cases and assists in navigating the legal or insurance claim process with confidence.
Speak with a Westport Uber Accident Attorney Today
The inconvenience of an accident is never something people plan for. Sometimes collisions are much more serious and threaten the very things people hold precious. It is understandably emotionally traumatizing and profoundly upsetting to be left with the expenses associated with recovery, especially when a wreck was not of your doing.
An Uber accident attorney understands the stress of dealing with an accident. They could assist you in navigating the legal or insurance claim process with confidence. Get in touch with a Westport Uber/taxi accident lawyer to learn more about how legal counsel could fight for you.
