Who is Responsible for Your Holiday Rideshare Accident?
Who is responsible for your holiday rideshare accident depends on the facts of the situation. More than one party may be at fault, and they may all point their fingers at the others caught up in the accident. Orange County rideshare accident attorney Aaron Hicks will discuss how to handle your holiday rideshare crash so you can protect your rights to compensation. The Orange County rideshare accident Hicks Law firm helps those injured in vehicle accidents, including those using rideshare services.
Getting injury compensation after your holiday rideshare accident could be complex, given how many parties may be involved: your driver, other drivers, rideshare companies, and insurance companies. At Hicks Law Firm, Orange County rideshare accident attorney Aaron Hicks can discuss your accident, your legal rights, and how we can help you get the most compensation possible.
Holiday Accidents Rates
Holidays are times to be extra careful when driving because more drivers are on the road, and many of them may be under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or both. You may also have people driving long distances to see family and friends, so there’s a greater risk that they’re fatigued and easily distracted.
Holidays are hectic times for rideshare companies. People who plan on drinking use them so they won’t be the ones behind the wheel after too many drinks. Rideshare drivers may make more money on holidays, so they may work longer hours and drive faster than usual to pick up as many paying passengers as possible. This may make them more tired, distracted, and dangerous drivers.
Driving fatalities increase during holiday travel and go up dramatically in specific states and celebrations, according to Autoinsurance.com. They state the following:
- Fatal crashes increase 4% on Thanksgiving compared to a non-holiday
- Intoxicated drivers cause more than a third of fatal car accidents on Thanksgiving Day
- Montana has the highest increase of deadly vehicle accidents on Thanksgiving compared to a non-holiday at 45%. California and Maryland are tied for second worst at a 26% increase
The percentage change in fatal accidents for all holidays nationwide are the following:
- All holidays: 2%
- Thanksgiving: 4%
- Christmas: -7%
- New Year’s Eve/Day: -6%
The deadliest holiday for driving is Labor Day, which sees an increase of 15% in fatal crashes compared to an average day.
Thanksgiving (the fifth-deadliest holiday for vehicle travelers) usually has substantially increased travel nationwide. It’s a time when friends and families get together on a four-day weekend. On the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2024, an estimated 80 million people traveled fifty or more miles. A hazardous day to drive is “Drunksgiving” (also known as “Blackout Wednesday”), which is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, when millions are on the roads and go out to drink with friends.
Who is Responsible for My Rideshare Accident?
One of the most important reasons to retain the Orange County rideshare accident Hicks Law Firm is so we can investigate your accident and find out who caused it and why. The facts of your accident are the foundation of your insurance claim or lawsuit. Like any other vehicle accident, there could be many parties to blame, including:
- Your rideshare driver
- Other drivers involved in the crash
- If a vehicle malfunction caused the accident, the company making and selling it may be responsible, or it may be the one who was supposed to maintain and repair it to keep it safe
- The government entity responsible for the location of the accident. The road, highway, or intersection may be poorly designed, maintained, or lit. It may be the scene of multiple accidents, and making it safer isn’t a priority for those responsible for it
There could be multiple parties to blame. Your driver may have been speeding, and they hit the vehicle of someone ignoring a yield sign. Your vehicle was passing through an intersection filled with water due to poor drainage when it was struck by someone driving too fast to stop on a water-covered road. Your Orange County rideshare accident lawyer can put the pieces together to determine who is responsible.
Contact Our Orange County Rideshare Accident Law Firm
Seeking compensation for an injury suffered during a rideshare trip can be complicated. You need an Orange County rideshare accident lawyer because multiple parties, insurance policies, adjusters, and defense attorneys may be involved. Understanding who is responsible, the available insurance coverage, and acting quickly can help improve your case’s outcome.
If you’ve been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, call the Orange County rideshare accident Hicks Law Firm. With our help, you can seek the compensation you deserve. Our rideshare accident law firm in California offers FREE initial consultations, so you can get the answers you need – when you need them. Call us at (949) 541-9944 or fill out our confidential contact form.
Aaron Hicks is a civil trial attorney and founder of Hicks Law Firm, based in Orange County with offices in San Diego and Tennessee. His practice includes representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, dog bites and wrongful death. Mr. Hicks is and AV Rated attorney, Super Lawyer and is currently on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association where he serves as 1st Vice President.
