Rideshare apps often feel like a seamless part of modern transportation until a collision occurs. While companies like Uber and Lyft market themselves on convenience and safety, the legal reality following a rideshare crash quickly appears. These collisions are far more complicated than regular traffic accidents
If you are recovering from injuries after a crash on King Avenue, a collision near Billings Logan International Airport, or an accident anywhere in Yellowstone County involving a rideshare vehicle, you face a unique set of legal hurdles.
A Billings rideshare accident lawyer understands the specific tiered insurance policies that dictate Uber and Lyft accident claims in Montana, offering the help you need in this situation.
At Yellowstone Law, we help our neighbors cut through corporate red tape to pursue the full and fair financial support they need for their recovery.
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Table of Contents
- Key Points to Know About Rideshare Accidents
- Rideshare Claims Are More Complex Than Standard Car Accidents
- Understanding Montana’s Rideshare Insurance Periods
- Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents in Billings
- Injuries Commonly Sustained in Rideshare Crashes
- The Danger of Accepting an Early Settlement After a Billings Rideshare Accident
- How to Protect Your Claim After a Billings Uber or Lyft Accident
- Why Choose Yellowstone Law for Your Case
- Common Questions About Billings Rideshare Injury Claims
- Level the Playing Field with a Trial-Ready Legal Team
Key Points to Know About Rideshare Accidents
- Driver status dictates coverage: The amount of insurance money available for your recovery depends entirely on whether the driver had the app on, was waiting for a ride, or had a passenger in the car.
- Montana follows specific TNC laws: Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) must adhere to state-mandated insurance minimums, but they often fight to keep payouts low.
- Multiple parties may be liable: You may need to file claims against the rideshare driver, the rideshare company, or a third-party driver who hit your rideshare vehicle.
- Quick settlements are rarely fair: Insurance adjusters may offer a quick payment before you know the full extent of your long-term medical needs.
- Yellowstone Law handles the complexity: We manage the communication with insurers and corporate legal teams so you can focus entirely on healing.
Rideshare Claims Are More Complex Than Standard Car Accidents
A standard car accident usually involves two drivers and their personal auto insurance policies. In a rideshare accident, the introduction of a billion-dollar corporation changes the dynamic immediately. Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. This legal distinction is a strategic choice designed to shield the parent company from liability when its drivers cause harm.
When you file a claim, you may find that the driver’s personal insurance denies coverage because the car was being used for commercial purposes. Simultaneously, the rideshare company may deny liability because the driver was not “officially” on a trip. This creates a coverage gap that can leave injured passengers or other motorists in a difficult financial position.
We identify every potential source of compensation.
- The Rideshare Driver: If they were speeding, distracted, or violated traffic laws.
- The Rideshare Company: If they failed to vet a dangerous driver, or if the accident occurred during a covered insurance period.
- Other Motorists: If another vehicle struck the Uber or Lyft you were riding in.
- Vehicle Manufacturers: If a mechanical failure, such as a brake defect, contributed to the crash.
The legal team at Yellowstone Law investigates these layers of liability to prevent insurance companies from passing the buck.
Understanding Montana’s Rideshare Insurance Periods
Montana law requires Transportation Network Companies to maintain insurance policies that adapt based on what the driver is doing at the time of the crash. This is often called the period system. Identifying which period the driver was in is the first step we take in building your case.
Period 1: App On, Waiting for a Request
The driver has the Uber or Lyft app open and is available to accept rides but has not yet accepted a passenger. During this phase, the rideshare company provides limited liability coverage.
- Bodily Injury: Coverage is typically lower than when a passenger is in the car, often capped at $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.
- Property Damage: Usually capped at $25,000.
- Implication: If your damages exceed these limits, you may have to look to your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage unless the driver has a specific commercial endorsement.
Period 2: Ride Accepted, En Route to Passenger
Once the driver accepts a ride request and is on their way to pick you up, the coverage limits increase significantly. The rideshare company’s commercial insurance policy generally kicks in regarding liability.
- Coverage Shift: The policy becomes primary over the driver’s personal insurance.
- Gap Coverage: This period covers the time between acceptance and physical pickup, which is often a gray area in standard insurance disputes.
Period 3: Passenger in the Vehicle
From the moment the passenger enters the vehicle until they exit at their destination, the highest level of coverage applies.
- $1 Million Policy: Uber and Lyft typically provide a $1 million liability policy for accidents occurring during this phase.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: This period usually includes coverage if an uninsured driver hits the rideshare vehicle.
- Significance: While a $1 million policy sounds sufficient, multiple injured passengers or catastrophic injuries can quickly exhaust this limit.
Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents in Billings
While rideshare drivers are professionally vetted, they are not professional chauffeurs. They are everyday drivers subject to the same errors and distractions as anyone else on Montana roads. However, the nature of the app-based economy introduces specific risks that do not exist in other driving scenarios.
The pressure to complete rides quickly and the reliance on a smartphone for navigation create a dangerous environment.
- App-Related Distraction: Drivers must constantly monitor their phones to accept rides, check GPS routes, and communicate with passengers. This visual and cognitive distraction takes their eyes off the road.
- Fatigue: Rideshare drivers often work long shifts or drive as a second job after a full day of work. Drowsy driving significantly slows reaction times.
- Unfamiliar Areas: A driver may be focused on finding a specific pickup address in an unfamiliar Billings neighborhood, leading to sudden stops or erratic lane changes.
- Speeding: Because drivers are paid per ride, there is a financial incentive to reach the destination as fast as possible, sometimes leading to aggressive driving.
Injuries Commonly Sustained in Rideshare Crashes
At Yellowstone Law, we understand that after a collision, your focus is on managing pain and attending medical appointments. The physical impact of a crash can vary greatly depending on whether you were a passenger in the back seat (often without airbags), a pedestrian, or a driver in another car.
We have helped clients recover from serious injuries involving long-term rehabilitation.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Concussions or severe brain trauma caused by striking the head against windows or partitions.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Whiplash, herniated discs, paralysis, and other spinal cord injuries resulting from the force of impact.
- Fractures and Orthopedic Injuries: Broken bones that may require surgery and physical therapy.
- Facial Injuries: Lacerations or fractures caused by impact with the seat ahead or broken glass.
You face a future that may involve ongoing therapy, lost wages, and emotional distress. Our goal is to ensure the settlement you agree to accounts for these future needs, not just your current emergency room bills.
The Danger of Accepting an Early Settlement After a Billings Rideshare Accident
Insurance adjusters for Uber and Lyft are trained to minimize company losses. Shortly after an accident, they may contact you with a settlement offer. This often happens before you have fully finished your medical treatment or know the long-term prognosis of your injuries.
Accepting this check typically requires you to sign a release. This document legally prevents you from asking for more money later, even if your injuries require surgery months down the road. It is vital to have an experienced rideshare accident lawyer review any offer before you sign. Yellowstone Law can help you determine if the offer truly covers your economic and non-economic damages.
How to Protect Your Claim After a Billings Uber or Lyft Accident
After any motor vehicle accident, seeing a doctor immediately is the vital first step, not just to protect your physical health but also for the validity of your legal case. Insurance companies often look for gaps in treatment to argue that your injuries are not serious or were caused by something else.
Once you are stable, there are specific actions you can take to strengthen your position while you recover.
- Contact a Billings Rideshare Lawyer immediately: The sooner we get involved, the sooner we can preserve evidence like ride logs, GPS data, and driver records before they are deleted or lost.
- Follow all medical treatment plans: attending every physical therapy session and follow-up appointment creates a paper trail that documents the severity and duration of your recovery.
- Keep a pain journal: document your daily pain levels, sleep disruptions, and activities you can no longer perform to help us illustrate the non-economic impact of the crash on your life.
- Stay off social media: insurance adjusters monitor social accounts for photos or posts they can twist to claim you are less injured than you report.
Why Choose Yellowstone Law for Your Case
You have many options for legal representation in Montana, but rideshare cases require a firm with the specific resources and resolve to face billion-dollar tech companies. We do not simply process files; we build relationships with our neighbors to help them rebuild their lives.
We Have Deep Roots in Billings
We are not a national referral service; we are a local firm that knows the courts, judges, and roads of Yellowstone County. Our legal team is deeply involved in the community, supporting local high schools and organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters. We fight for you because we see you as a neighbor, not a case number.
We Back Experience with Results
Our attorneys have more than 81 years of combined legal experience. We have successfully resolved over 2,000 cases and recovered more than $150 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients. While past results do not guarantee future outcomes, our history shows that we have the skills to secure substantial recoveries.
We Are Not Afraid of Court
Many firms prefer to settle quickly to avoid the cost and effort of a trial. At Yellowstone Law, we prepare every case as if it will go before a jury. This aggressive preparation often compels insurance companies to offer fair settlements because they know we are ready to hold them accountable in court if they refuse.
Common Questions About Billings Rideshare Injury Claims
What is the statute of limitations for a rideshare lawsuit in Montana?
In Montana, the statute of limitations generally allows three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (MCA 27-2-204). However, this timeline can be shorter if a government vehicle was involved or if specific circumstances apply. If you miss this deadline, you will likely lose your right to pursue compensation entirely.
How much does it cost to hire a rideshare accident lawyer?
We operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront legal fees. We only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for you through a settlement or verdict. If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing for our attorney fees.
Can I still recover damages if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Yes, under Montana’s modified comparative negligence law, you can still pursue compensation as long as you were not more than 50% responsible for the crash. However, your total recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20% at fault, your settlement will be reduced by 20%.
Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly?
It is difficult to sue these companies directly because they classify drivers as independent contractors. However, we can often file claims against the commercial insurance policies these companies provide. We may also identify direct negligence by the company, such as failing to conduct a proper background check on a dangerous driver.
Is my case worth more than the insurance company offered?
Insurance adjusters often use formulas that underestimate the true cost of pain, suffering, and future medical needs. We calculate the full value of your claim, including lost earning capacity and long-term care costs, to determine what a fair settlement actually looks like.
What compensation can I recover after a rideshare accident?
You can pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.
- Economic damages cover verifiable financial losses such as past and future medical bills, lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity.
- Non-economic damages compensate you for intangible losses like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Level the Playing Field with a Trial-Ready Legal Team
Shane D. Colton, Billings Rideshare Accident Attorney
Insurance companies undervalue claims when they believe they can settle quickly and quietly. Give your case true legal authority by hiring a rideshare accident lawyer that these corporations respect.
At Yellowstone Law, we level the playing field by preparing every rideshare claim as if it is going to court. This trial-ready approach signals to adjusters that we will not accept lowball offers, often motivating them to provide fair compensation rather than face us before a jury. Don’t let them dictate the value of your recovery and sell you short. We will fight to maximize your recovery so that you’re never left alone to pay for someone else’s errors.
Call us today at (406) 259-9986 or contact us online for a free consultation. Let’s discuss how we can put our experience to work for you.
Yellowstone Law – Office Location
310 Grand Avenue,
Billings, MT 59101
Call Now For A Free Consultation(406) 259-9986