When you're badly injured, the last thing you want to think about is filling out paperwork, searching for an attorney, or trying to gather evidence. Yet, these steps are necessary if you want to collect the compensation you deserve due to someone else's negligence. The more you know about personal injury cases and hiring an attorney, the less stressful this time will be.
We've created this website to offer basic personal injury law advice for anyone who has been injured or who may become injured in the future. Keep in mind that if you've been injured in a car accident, due to medical neglect, or even by slipping in someone else's parking lot, your case qualifies a personal injury case — and thus you'll find our collection of articles relevant.
Interactions between rideshare drivers and their passengers often go smoothly. Even when a driver acts unprofessionally or delivers poor service, a negative review may settle the matter. However, there may be instances involving arguments that become physical. A passenger might feel the driver is not taking an appropriate route, and a disagreement follows. What happens if the driver demands a non-threatening passenger exit the vehicle in an unfamiliar area and the passenger refuses? The situation could escalate, and the driver might physically drag and eject the passenger from the car. Doing so may prove regrettable for all parties involved, with the driver potentially exposed to a civil suit.
Physical Actions Could Cause Injuries
Grabbing someone by the arm and pulling the person out from the car could lead to elbow and shoulder injuries. If a hand pulls on someone's collar, there may be a risk of whiplash. Someone who falls while being pulled out the door might suffer severe injuries upon hitting the ground. Back and spinal injuries could occur, as might broken bones. Physically aggressive rideshare drivers may be held liable for the resultant medical costs, pain and suffering, and, possibly, more.
Questions About Self-Defense
A driver may claim "self-defense" when accused of hurting a passenger. State laws define self-defense in clear terms. If a passenger noted he/she would leave poor feedback regarding the vehicle's operation, the driver faced no physical threat. Why take any physical action? Even if a passenger did something egregious, such as lighting a cigarette and refusing to put it out, rideshare service policies address how to handle the situation. Physically assaulting a passenger won't be one of them.
The Emergency Response
Rideshare services commonly establish an emergency response protocol for drivers to follow. Hitting an "emergency button" could be an option for emergency responders to address the situation. Questions may arise if the driver did not hit the "panic button." Was the driver acting with malice and the intent to hurt the passenger?
The Rideshare Service May Be Liable
The rideshare service could share some responsibility for the actions of its driver-partners. If the company received previous complaints about a driver's erratic or threatening behavior, why didn't the company terminate the partnership? A personal injury attorney may be able to show that a rideshare company's negligence contributed to the outcome. Continuing to employ a potentially dangerous driver might be considered negligence. Persons injured in confrontations with a rideshare driver might wish to discuss all their options with a lawyer.
Contact a personal injury law firm to learn more.