If you live anywhere in the Greater Toronto Area, you’ve likely used a rideshare service such as Uber, Lyft, and Hopp. These companies have revolutionized how Torontonians navigate the city and its surrounding areas. Ride-sharing apps are convenient, cost-effective, and easily accessible. But with this increase in popularity comes a corresponding rise in accidents involving rideshare vehicles.
If you’ve been seriously injured in a car accident while riding in, driving for, or being struck by an Uber or Lyft vehicle, your legal situation is more complex than a typical car accident. Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer who has represented seriously injured individuals in a rideshare accident is critical to protecting your rights, ensuring fair compensation, and navigating the complexities of insurance policies and liability questions.
The legal team at Bergel Magence Personal Injury Lawyers has helped countless seriously injured individuals across Ontario recover the compensation they deserve. We understand the complexities of rideshare accident cases and focus on getting victims the justice and compensation they deserve, allowing them to focus on rehabilitation.
The Rise of Rideshare Accidents in Ontario
In 2012, Uber launched operations in Toronto, marking its first entry into the Canadian market, with Lyft following in 2017. The expansion of both companies in Canada has been significant, making rideshare services one of the most common methods of transportation, with tens of thousands of drivers now operating throughout Ontario. The volume of drivers is correspondingly larger in densely populated areas like the GTA and Ottawa.
As of 2023, Uber alone had over 100,000 active drivers in Canada, with the largest number of drivers operating in Ontario. On a positive note, rideshare services have reduced impaired driving incidents. The negative, though, is they have also been involved in numerous accidents, introducing new risks and legal complexities on Ontario roads.
A 2022 City of Toronto report found that vehicles used in rideshare services had a higher collision rate per kilometer driven than traditional taxis or personal vehicles. This high rate was due to increased driving in high-traffic areas, distractions caused by the driver using the rideshare apps while operating the car, driving on unfamiliar routes, and increased levels of fatigue.
What Makes Rideshare Accidents More Legally Complex?
Rideshare-related collisions introduce additional layers of legal and insurance complexity. Here are a few considerations regarding why complications may arise with your legal claim.
1. Multiple Parties May Be Liable
Depending on the circumstances, several parties could be responsible for your injuries. These parties include the rideshare driver, the driver of another vehicle, the rideshare companies (Uber, Lyft, or Hopp in rare cases of gross negligence), a municipality (e.g., poor road conditions) or a third-party pedestrian or cyclist.
2. Unique Insurance Coverage
Rideshare companies that operate in Ontario are required to carry commercial insurance policies for their drivers. Uber, for example, provides $2 million in third-party liability coverage when a driver is actively transporting a passenger. However, determining which policy is active at the time of the crash can be tricky. It is important to consider at what point in the journey the accident occurred. If the app is off, then the driver’s insurance applies. If the app is on but there is no passenger, the rideshare company’s insurance may offer limited coverage. Lastly, if the app is on with a passenger in the car, then the full commercial policy applies.
Understanding which policy applies and negotiating with multiple insurers is where a seasoned rideshare accident lawyer is invaluable.
3. Independent Contractor Status
Uber and Lyft drivers are considered independent contractors, which can affect your claim if you try to sue the rideshare company directly. A personal injury lawyer can evaluate whether the rideshare company can be held accountable due to policies, training, or lack thereof.
What Are the Most Common Injuries in Rideshare Accidents?
Whether you were a passenger, another driver, a cyclist, or a pedestrian, injuries from a rideshare collision can be severe and even life-altering. Common injuries include whiplash and soft tissue damage, concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, and psychological trauma (e.g., PTSD, anxiety).
Even minor injuries can have lasting impacts, which is why after experiencing a serious accident, you must seek medical care promptly and document your injuries — not only for your health but also to support your claim.
What Can You Do After a Rideshare Accident in Toronto?
If you’re involved in an Uber or Lyft accident, follow these steps to protect yourself.
- First, call 911, as this will ensure that police and paramedics arrive at the scene. Next, get medical attention. Even if you feel fine, symptoms may appear later. The health of those involved in the accident, including your own, is the most important.
- After making sure everyone is all right, gather evidence. Take photos, record witness information, and screenshot ride details from the app. Gather as much evidence as possible, as you never know what will be helpful with your claim.
- It is important to avoid making statements. Don’t admit fault or speak to insurance adjusters without consulting a lawyer.
- Next, contact a personal injury lawyer who has experience dealing with rideshare accident cases. The sooner you involve legal counsel, the better your chances of building a strong case will be.
What Can a Rideshare Accident Lawyer Do for You?
The legal team at Bergel Magence Personal Injury Lawyers has extensive experience representing individuals who have been seriously injured in car accidents, including those hurt while traveling in a rideshare. We will handle your legal claim, allowing you to focus on your rehabilitation. We collaborate with accident reconstruction experts, gather surveillance footage, and obtain ride-sharing app logs, among other measures. We untangle the complexities of rideshare insurance and liability so you can focus on healing.
Bergel Magence has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients, getting them the justice and compensation they deserve after being seriously injured in an accident.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
In Ontario, the standard limitation period to file a personal injury lawsuit is two years from the date of the accident. However, certain insurance claims and accident benefits forms have much shorter deadlines — sometimes as short as 30 days.
Don’t wait. Contacting a rideshare accident lawyer promptly ensures that no deadlines are missed, and key evidence is preserved.
Whether you were a rideshare passenger, driver, or an innocent bystander, we have the expertise to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Contact a Bergel Magence Personal Injury Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a rideshare accident, they don’t need to navigate the legal landscape alone. They should contact the experienced team at Bergel Magence Personal Injury Lawyers. as we can handle the legal work while you focus on recovery. We will fight on your behalf, so you can solely work on your rehabilitation.
You’ll benefit from our unparalleled legal experience as we fight on your behalf to secure the compensation you and your family deserves.
