Have you suffered financial losses from medical bills and lost time at work because of a rideshare accident? Perhaps you are now facing pain and suffering and emotional trauma from your accident, be sure to speak to a Boston personal injury lawyer today. You need to hire a Burlington rideshare accident lawyer, and we can help you at DiBella Law Offices, P.C.
Transportation Network Company Liability in Burlington
Massachusetts legislators recently passed some regulations involving transportation network companies, which is the term for describing ridesharing organizations such as Lyft or Uber. A “transportation network company” is an organization or entity that employs a digital networking system capable of linking riders with drivers to coordinate transportation services. These companies are required to have a permit that lasts for a period of two years.
Governor Charlie Baker signed the legislation recently. It stated, “This legislation does a pretty good job of placing a regulatory framework to deal with some of the issues associated with public safety, vehicle identification, and insurance”. This is the first statewide regulation on this segment of services in MA and seems to ensure that concerns of accident liability are addressed.
Are you unsure if you have a case after being involved in a rideshare accident? Let our legal team at DiBella Law Offices, P.C. help you to navigate your rights in these matters. With our experience and dedication to our clients, we are confident we can help you.
Give us a call today to discover how we can assist you.
Request Your Free Police Report
DiBella Law Offices, P.C., is glad to assist you with getting your crash report at no cost. Visit our police report request page and fill out our form. We will take care of the rest.
If you are unsure if you have a rideshare accident claim, we encourage you to contact us now to discuss your case with a trusted, experienced attorney. With our team, we can help you determine what evidence is available to support your claim, no matter who is at fault. Just call a Burlington rideshare accident lawyer from DiBella Law Offices, P.C., to learn more.
We encourage you not to simply file a claim with the insurance company. Let us help you navigate your legal rights in this situation based on the evidence available. A rideshare accident attorney in Burlington is committed to remaining by your side throughout this legal process.
Background Screening for Drivers
A two-part background-checking system has been implemented. The companies themselves are responsible for conducting the initial checks, and the state follows suit thereafter. This screening process is to be conducted in set six-month intervals.
Drivers must be 21 years of age, must not exceed four traffic infractions in the prior three-year time period, and may not appear in the National Sex Offender Database. The process does not require driver fingerprinting or the need to obtain commercial license plates, which is the case currently for those driving taxi cabs. In addition, the vehicles will be subject to regular safety inspections.
This should give you some confidence in the drivers who get into the vehicle with you, but it may not. Let us help you navigate the legal rights you have in this case. We will uncover whether the rideshare driver was safe to operate a vehicle under the state’s laws.
We've offered crucial support and guidance to individuals who have suffered injuries, ensuring their financial and emotional well-being.
Insurance Requirements
There is a unique application for auto accident insurance in which two separate sets of coverage exist based on the driver’s status. The first is when a transportation network vehicle operator is actively on the digital network, yet not actually in route to pick up a passenger or transport a passenger; the second is when they are actively in route or transporting a passenger. The comparison is as follows:
- Liability coverage of $50,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, $100,000 for total bodily injury, $30,000 of property damage coverage, uninsured motorist insurance, and personal injury coverage.
- Liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence for death, bodily injury, property damage, uninsured motorist, and personal injury coverage.
- The holder of a policy may be either the network driver or the transportation network organization.
This means that if you need to file a claim against the driver or other provider, they should have insurance to cover your losses. However, this is not what always happens. Let our Burlington rideshare accident attorney help you navigate the options.
Get in touch with us today to get a free consultation.
Fare Estimates
The companies are required to provide their customers with “conspicuous and clear” estimates of the transportation fare at all times. This applies during periods of heavy volume, increased demand, and “surge” pricing applicability. Further, the drivers are prohibited from soliciting passengers along the streets but instead are only to pick up passengers solely in response to requests through the digital system application.
The vehicles themselves must have decals to signify that they are ridesharing vehicles. You should never get into a vehicle without this. If you were told to be the driver, that could be a violation.
We encourage you to report this type of claim to the rideshare company. Be sure that you protect yourself from all risks, too. If a situation does not seem safe, do not put yourself into it.
Airport Service and Passenger Accessibility
There is no restriction on these drivers providing services to Logan Airport and the Boston Convention Center. All drivers must be capable of providing for those passengers requiring special needs or assistance without an extra fee. If that does not happen, be sure to seek out the legal services of our rideshare accident lawyer in Burlington.
State Surcharge Revenue
A 20-cent surcharge is added to each ride provided, which will be allocated to local and state governments. The fee is to be directed toward state and local transportation-related costs, including furthering job skills and related training for services of taxi and livery. This fee is apparently going to be eliminated after a period of ten years.
What Should You Do Now?
If you have been in an accident with a Lyft, Uber, or other rideshare driver, seek out the help of our legal team now. Our Burlington rideshare accident lawyer will work closely with you to determine if you have a case, what type of legal right you have to a claim, and how much compensation you are owed.
We never encourage you to try to file a claim on your own because these insurance companies will pursue every legal step they can to limit how much they pay you. We want to make sure you receive maximum compensation for your losses instead. And, with our experience, we can make sure that happens.
If you are unsure what to do, set up a free consultation to discuss your case with our team. Allow us to offer insight and guidance to you about your rights. We are passionate about helping you!
Set Up a Free Consultation Now
If you have been injured in a collision involving a rideshare vehicle in Burlington or elsewhere in the state, you may be entitled to financial compensation for damages. At the DiBella Law Offices, P.C., we have been advocating for injury victims in areas such as Burlington for years and were recently named one of the “Top Litigators” by the American Society of Legal Advocates. Contact the office today for a free consultation with a Burlington car accident attorney.
We are committed to providing valuable information and resources to assist you.
