Rideshare Accident Attorney in Mount Pleasant

South Carolina Rideshare Insurance Coverage During a Trip

South Carolina regulates Uber and Lyft as Transportation Network Companies, which use digital networks to connect passengers with drivers. The Transportation Network Company Act, S.C. Code Ann. § 58-23-1610 et seq., establishes insurance requirements for different stages of a ride. The coverage available after a collision depends heavily on the rideshare driver’s app status.

The three coverage periods are:

• App Off: Transportation Network Company insurance doesn’t apply. The driver’s personal auto insurance generally provides the available coverage.
• Logged In and Waiting: When the driver is available for a request but hasn’t accepted one, South Carolina requires primary liability coverage of at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $50,000 for property damage.
• Ride Accepted or Passenger On Board: From the time a driver accepts a request through the passenger’s trip, the law requires at least $1,000,000 in primary liability coverage for death, bodily injury, and property damage.

Trip data, screenshots, driver logs, and account records can help establish which period applied. Insurance limits alone don’t determine liability or a claim’s value. The collision facts, applicable law, injuries, and available evidence must also be evaluated.

Liability & Compensation After a Mount Pleasant Rideshare Crash

Liability can rest with the rideshare driver, another driver, or other parties whose conduct contributed to the crash. Whether an injured person can make a direct claim against a rideshare company depends on applicable law, the driver’s status, and the specific circumstances. We evaluate those issues before asserting who may be responsible.

How South Carolina Allocates Fault

South Carolina follows modified comparative negligence, which compares each party’s share of fault. An injured person can recover compensation when found 50% or less at fault, but the compensation is reduced by that person’s percentage of fault. A finding above 50% prevents recovery under this rule.

Compensation Evaluated After a Rideshare Crash

Depending on the evidence, damages we evaluate can include:

• Economic Damages: Medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, reduced future earning capacity, and property damage.
• Non-Economic Damages: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disability or disfigurement, and loss of consortium.
• Wrongful Death Damages: Funeral expenses, lost financial support, and loss of companionship.

South Carolina doesn’t impose a fixed cap on compensatory damages in car accident cases. That doesn’t establish what any claim is worth. The amount depends on the supporting medical, financial, and liability evidence.

Filing Deadlines & Charleston County Civil Claims

The general filing deadline for a South Carolina personal injury claim is three years from when the injured person knew or reasonably should have known of the cause of action. Other facts can affect the deadline, so an individual shouldn’t assume the full period remains. Civil disputes in Charleston County valued above $7,500 are filed and heard in the Charleston County Court of Common Pleas.

Steps to Take After an Uber or Lyft Collision

Passengers and people outside the rideshare vehicle can preserve important claim information after a collision. When possible, move to safety, call emergency services, and obtain a medical evaluation. These steps apply whether you were driving another vehicle, walking, cycling, or riding as a passenger.

Preserve the following information when it’s available:

• The crash report and vehicle information
• Photographs of the scene, vehicles, and visible injuries
• Names and contact details for witnesses
• Medical records related to the collision
• Screenshots showing the trip, driver information, and app status

Keep insurance correspondence and copies of any early settlement offer. Review an offer against the complete medical, financial, and liability evidence, not only the information available shortly after the collision.