Hundreds of Million-Dollar Verdicts & Settlements
Detroit’s busy streets and highways make it a hub for rideshare activity, with thousands of Uber and Lyft trips beginning and ending each day across the metro area. Whether you’re catching a ride downtown after a game at Comerica Park, heading home from the airport, or commuting through Corktown, Midtown, or Greektown, rideshare accidents can happen anywhere.
Collisions involving Uber and Lyft vehicles often occur on heavily traveled roads like I-75, I-94, and Woodward Avenue, where congestion, fatigue, and distracted driving are common factors.
If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident in Detroit or elsewhere in Michigan, the attorneys at Fieger Law have the experience and tenacity to help you recover the compensation you deserve. We’ve handled complex rideshare cases statewide and know how to hold negligent drivers and their insurers accountable.
Understanding Rideshare Insurance Coverage
Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have specific insurance policies that apply during different phases of a driver’s activity:
- App Off: When the app is off, only the driver’s personal insurance applies.
- App On, No Ride Accepted: Rideshare insurance provides limited coverage for liability only.
- Active Ride (Ride Accepted or Passenger Onboard): Full rideshare insurance applies, covering liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and contingent collision coverage.
Understanding which insurance policy applies is a critical part of properly handling rideshare accident cases, because it can help determine how compensation is pursued.
Types of Rideshare Accident Cases We Handle
At Fieger Law, our team of Michigan rideshare accident lawyers handle a variety of rideshare-related cases, including:
- Passenger Injuries: Protecting the rights of rideshare passengers injured during a ride
- Collisions With Other Drivers: Representing individuals struck by rideshare vehicles
- Pedestrian Accidents: Advocating for pedestrians hit by a rideshare driver
Each case has its own set of challenges, so having an experienced law firm guiding you is critical for a favorable outcome.
Common Injuries in Rideshare Accidents
Rideshare accidents often result in significant injuries due to the high number of passengers involved and the unpredictable nature of these incidents. Here are some of the most common injuries our firm encounters in rideshare accident cases:
- Whiplash: A frequent outcome of rear-end collisions, whiplash can cause neck pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, sometimes leading to chronic discomfort.
- Fractures: Broken bones are common, particularly in the arms, legs, ribs, and collarbone. These injuries often require extensive treatment, including surgeries, casts, and rehabilitation.
- Concussions and Head Injuries: Sudden impacts or trauma to the head can lead to concussions or more severe traumatic brain injuries, resulting in cognitive impairments, headaches, and emotional challenges.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can cause partial or complete paralysis, requiring lifelong medical care and adaptive support.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Strains, sprains, and torn ligaments often result from the force of the collision, leading to pain, swelling, and limited range of motion.
- Internal Injuries: The impact of a crash can cause internal bleeding or damage to vital organs such as the lungs, liver, or spleen, which may not be immediately apparent but can be life-threatening.
- Facial and Dental Injuries: Broken teeth, jaw fractures, and facial lacerations can occur when passengers hit seatbacks, dashboards, or airbags during a collision.
- Psychological Trauma: Anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can arise after a traumatic rideshare accident, affecting victims’ emotional well-being and quality of life.
These injuries can have long-term physical, emotional, and financial impacts on victims and their families. If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident, we are here to help you pursue the compensation you need to recover and move forward.
Challenges in Rideshare Accident Claims
Rideshare accident claims often present unique complexities compared to standard car accident cases, requiring specialized legal knowledge and resources. Some of the key challenges include:
- Multiple Parties Involved: Determining liability in a rideshare accident can be complicated. Responsibility may lie with the rideshare driver, another motorist, the rideshare company, or even a third party, such as a vehicle manufacturer or municipality. Sorting through these possibilities requires thorough investigation and a deep understanding of how rideshare policies intersect with state law.
- Insurance Coverage Issues: Rideshare companies typically provide varying levels of insurance coverage depending on the driver’s status at the time of the accident (e.g., waiting for a ride request, en route to pick up a passenger, or actively transporting a passenger). Navigating these policies to determine coverage and compensation eligibility can be challenging.
- Evidence Gathering: Building a strong case requires comprehensive evidence, such as app data to verify the driver’s status during the accident, police reports documenting the crash, medical records, and statements from witnesses. Obtaining this evidence can be difficult without an experienced legal team.
- Company Policies and Legal Protections: Rideshare companies often attempt to distance themselves from liability by classifying drivers as independent contractors. Overcoming these legal defenses requires a detailed understanding of applicable laws and a strategy for proving the company’s role in the incident.
At Fieger Law, we have the resources and expertise to tackle these challenges head-on. From investigating the accident and gathering critical evidence to negotiating with insurance companies and litigating, when necessary, our team is dedicated to securing the compensation you deserve after a rideshare accident.
Where to Seek Medical Treatment After a Rideshare Accident
Even if you feel fine after a crash, it’s crucial to get evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible. Symptoms of serious injuries, such as concussions, internal bleeding, or soft-tissue trauma, may take hours or days to appear. Prompt treatment not only protects your health but also strengthens your legal claim.
Detroit and the surrounding metro area offer several hospitals and trauma centers capable of treating rideshare-related injuries:
- Henry Ford Hospital: Detroit’s flagship Level 1 Trauma Center, offering advanced emergency and neurological care
- DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital: One of Michigan’s busiest emergency departments, specializing in trauma, orthopedic, and burn treatment
- Henry Ford St. John Hospital: Located on the east side, providing 24/7 emergency and surgical services
- Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital (Royal Oak): A nearby Level 1 adult trauma center offering comprehensive orthopedic and neurosurgical care
- Corewell Health Dearborn Hospital: Full-service emergency and rehabilitation care for victims of motor-vehicle accidents
Most Dangerous Roads Around Detroit
Detroit consistently ranks among Michigan’s busiest—and most accident-prone—metro areas. High traffic volumes, aggressive driving, and aging infrastructure make several Detroit-area roads particularly hazardous for both rideshare drivers and passengers. According to Michigan’s own data, Wayne County consistently records some of the state’s highest traffic-crash totals, and rideshare drivers are part of that traffic mix.
- I-75 (Chrysler Freeway): Running north-south through the heart of Detroit, I-75 is a common site of multi-vehicle collisions and heavy commuter congestion, especially near downtown and the Ambassador Bridge.
- I-94 (Edsel Ford Freeway): One of Michigan’s longest and most heavily traveled interstates, I-94 has been the scene of numerous fatal crashes. Its narrow lanes and frequent construction zones increase risk for Uber and Lyft drivers.
- Woodward Avenue (M-1): As Detroit’s main artery connecting downtown with Midtown, Ferndale, and Pontiac, Woodward sees a mix of rideshare traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians—often resulting in side-impact or turning collisions.
- Gratiot Avenue (M-3): Stretching from downtown through Eastpointe and beyond, Gratiot’s high speeds and frequent intersections make it one of Wayne County’s most dangerous corridors.
- Telegraph Road (US-24): A major north-south route linking several suburbs, Telegraph is known for high-speed collisions and rear-end crashes during rush hour.
How Our Michigan Rideshare Accident Lawyers Can Assist You
Fieger Law provides top-notch legal support for rideshare accident victims, including:
- Insurance Negotiation: We deal directly with rideshare companies and their insurers to secure fair compensation.
- Case Management: We handle the complexities of rideshare cases, allowing you to focus on recovery.
- Strong Client Advocacy: We are prepared to take your case to court if a settlement cannot be reached.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does rideshare insurance work in Michigan?
Rideshare insurance coverage depends on the driver’s status in the app at the time of the accident. Understanding this is important for pursuing compensation.
Can I sue the rideshare company directly?
In most cases, rideshare companies classify their drivers as independent contractors, which limits the ability to file a direct lawsuit against the company. But there are other paths to pursuing compensation, such as filing a claim through the rideshare company’s insurance policy or holding negligent parties accountable under specific circumstances.
What should I do immediately after a rideshare accident?
Seek medical attention, document the scene, report the accident to the police, and consult with an experienced rideshare accident attorney as soon as possible.
Contact Our Michigan Rideshare Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been injured in a rideshare accident, Fieger Law is ready to help. With decades of experience fighting for accident victims in Michigan, we have the experience and knowledge to help you move forward. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case.
