Mesa Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer
Mesa, AZ Uber Accident Lawyer: Guidance After an Uber or Lyft Crash
An Uber accident lawyer in Mesa can work out which insurance applies, because the answer changes with what the driver was doing when the crash happened. Arizona sets different coverage for a driver with the app on and waiting, a driver who has accepted a ride, and a driver with a passenger aboard (A.R.S. 28-4038). Most injury claims have a two-year deadline (A.R.S. 12-542), and we begin by phone, wherever in Mesa you were hurt.
- Passenger aboard
- $1,000,000 in liability coverage
- A.R.S. 28-4038
- Ride accepted
- $250,000 in liability coverage
- A.R.S. 28-4038
- Filing deadline
- Generally 2 years from the injury
- A.R.S. 12-542(1)
What an Uber Accident Lawyer in Mesa Does After a Rideshare Crash
Rideshare trips in Mesa tend to cluster around a few places: downtown Mesa and the Main Street light rail line, Mesa Gateway Airport in the southeast part of the city, and Sloan Park, where the Chicago Cubs play spring training games before a 15,000-seat crowd. Add the campuses of Mesa Community College and the ASU Polytechnic campus, and there is no shortage of passengers who would rather not drive. When one of those trips ends in a crash, three insurers can be in the picture before anyone has said who was at fault: the rideshare company's, the driver's own, and the other driver's.
Valley Accident Law is a Scottsdale firm, and we do not have a Mesa office. We begin by phone. Call (602) 584-8054 and our attorney, with 32 years of experience, will explain your legal rights. We handle claims from passengers, from drivers in the other car, and from pedestrians and cyclists struck by a rideshare vehicle. For the wider picture, see our page for a personal injury lawyer in Mesa.
What happens when
Rideshare Injury Lawyer in Mesa: Which Insurance Applies at Each Stage
A rideshare driver is not always working, and the coverage follows the app. These are the stages we ask about first.
App off
The driver's personal policy
If the driver was off the app, the claim generally runs through the driver's own insurance, subject to Arizona's minimum liability limits of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $15,000 for property damage (A.R.S. 28-4009).
App on, waiting for a request
Limited company coverage
Arizona sets coverage of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $20,000 for property damage while the driver is logged in and waiting (A.R.S. 28-4038).
Ride accepted, heading to the pickup
The $250,000 tier
Once the driver has accepted a prearranged ride, the required liability coverage rises to $250,000 (A.R.S. 28-4038).
Passenger aboard
The $1,000,000 tier
With a passenger in the vehicle, the required coverage is $1,000,000 (A.R.S. 28-4038). The same statute sets an uninsured motorist minimum of 25/75. These rules have exceptions, so call us and we will explain how they apply to your trip.
After an Uber or Lyft Crash in Mesa: What to Save
The app holds proof that can disappear from your phone or the company's view of the trip. Capture it early.
- 1
Get care and a police report.
Many injuries show no or seemingly minor symptoms at first, so have yourself checked. Get the report number and the name of the agency that responded.
- 2
Take a screenshot of the trip.
Capture the driver's name, the vehicle and plate, the trip status and the time. If safely possible, before any vehicle is moved, photograph the scene and all the cars.
- 3
Keep the receipt and any messages.
A receipt in your email, a text from the driver or a support chat can fix the stage of the trip.
- 4
Be careful with the company's claims contact.
Insurance companies and attorneys often negotiate the percentage of fault. Do not agree to a recorded statement before you have spoken with us.
- 5
Call us before you sign anything.
A signed release will under most circumstances close your claim permanently, so we want to read it first.
Arizona
Were You the Passenger or in Another Car?
Your role in the crash changes who you claim against. It does not change how seriously you should take the deadline. For the statewide rules, see our guide from a rideshare accident lawyer in Arizona.
If you were the rideshare passenger
- The claim can run against the rideshare driver's coverage, the other driver's insurance, or both.
- The passenger-aboard tier is the highest, at $1,000,000 (A.R.S. 28-4038).
- Pure comparative fault means that even if you share some blame, the claim is not barred (A.R.S. 12-2505).
- If the rideshare driver was impaired, the legal limit for rideshare drivers is 0.04 (A.R.S. 28-1381).
If you were in another car or on foot
- Your claim is against the party at fault, which may be the rideshare driver, the other driver, or both.
- What the driver was doing at the time of the crash, working or not, decides which policy responds.
- If a driverless vehicle such as a Waymo was involved, a Waymo accident lawyer in Mesa starts with a different question: who operates the vehicle and what data it recorded.
- Your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may help if the limits fall short (A.R.S. 20-259.01).
Related pages
Uber and Lyft accidents by city
Questions
Questions about Mesa Uber and Lyft accident cases
Do I need a Lyft accident lawyer in Mesa if the company says it will pay my bills?
An early offer from any company is a good time to talk to us first. It may be offered before you know how long your treatment will last, and accepting it can end the claim. We will explain what is on the table and what it leaves out.
Who writes the report after a rideshare crash in Mesa?
Mesa Police writes the report for crashes on city streets, and Arizona DPS handles freeways and highways. Mesa Police sells reports through the BuyCrash portal for $5.00 each, and you need the report number and accident date. Our guide to getting a police report has more.
Which court hears a Mesa rideshare lawsuit?
Maricopa County Superior Court, which hears injury cases from every city in the county and has a Southeast Regional Court Center on East Javelina Avenue in Mesa. Which location a case is assigned to depends on how the county assigns civil cases. Most claims settle before a lawsuit is needed.
Where am I taken after a serious rideshare crash near downtown Mesa?
It depends on your injuries and the location. Banner Desert Medical Center on South Dobson Road is a state-designated Level I trauma center. Banner Baywood Medical Center and HonorHealth Four Peaks Medical Center in Mesa are Level III trauma centers.
What if a City of Mesa vehicle was involved in the crash?
A notice of claim must generally be filed with the Mesa City Clerk within 180 days after the claim accrues, with the facts and a specific sum certain (A.R.S. 12-821.01). A lawsuit generally must follow within one year (A.R.S. 12-821). See our page on notices of claim against the government.
Can I talk with an Uber lawyer in Mesa without paying anything?
You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. Request a free case review and we will explain how costs are handled.
Free case review
Talk With Us About Your Mesa Rideshare Crash
Call (602) 584-8054 or request your free case review. Our experienced and friendly attorney will explain your legal rights and what your next steps may be. The earlier you call, the better, but it's never too late to find out your legal rights.
Call any time. Office visits Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.
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