Uber, Lyft, Blacklane, Curb and taxis — what do they all have in common? These are just a few of the ride-share services available in Colorado. Every single day, numerous individuals depend on these services to get them from point A to point B safely. Unfortunately, accidents happen, and if you’ve found yourself injured in a collision while as a passenger in a ride-share vehicle, you may not be sure who is responsible for your losses.

As with any auto accident, the details matter. The responsible party is typically the individual thought at fault for the collision. If that is the other driver, then you may pursue legal claims against him or her and that individual’s insurance provider. What if your driver was at fault? What if both parties shared in liability? Who will pay for your losses?

Ride-share driver at fault

If your driver caused the crash, he or she and his or her employer may have to cover any losses you’ve suffered because of the wreck. Most ride-share companies have commercial liability insurance for this reason. The driver should also have insurance of his or her own with whom you may file a claim. Every case will be different.

Partial fault on both sides

If both drivers played a role in the car accident, you may have the ability to file claims for compensation against all parties deemed liable. This means neither party may have to pay full compensation for your losses, only partial. Comparative negligence laws allow this, and it is okay. If you choose to pursue compensation, it just means filing claims against more people.

What to do after an accident

After an accident, if you’ve suffered injuries that require immediate medical attention, getting treated is the most important thing you can do. After treatment and as soon as you are able, it is time to tackle seeking compensation for your losses.

To do this, you’ll need information from the crash, such as:

• Date and time of the collision
• Details about how the wreck happened
• Witness statements and contact information
• Police report
• Details about your personal losses

If rushed from the scene and unable to collect this information yourself, you can usually find a lot of this information in the police report.

When you are ready to seek compensation for your losses, there are three ways to go about doing this:

• Take the initial insurance settlement offer
• Negotiate a new settlement with the help of legal counsel
• Litigation

Most personal injury cases, including ride-share accident cases, do not make it to court, as you can typically settle them in private, but sometimes, avoiding court is not possible. As previously stated, every case is different, and what works for someone else may not work for you. Legal counsel can help you pursue the best possible course of action for your situation.