Fearless Advocacy for Rideshare Accident Victims in Lafayette and Tippecanoe County
The convenience of rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft has transformed how we move through Lafayette. From students navigating the Purdue University campus to residents heading to dinner at Wabash Landing or catching a flight from the Purdue University Airport, ridesharing is a staple of our local economy.
Unfortunately, with thousands of rideshare trips happening every day on busy corridors like Sagamore Parkway, State Street, and US-52, accidents are on the rise.
At Vaughan & Vaughan, we have been a pillar of the Lafayette legal community for more than 110 years. Since our firm was established in 1913, spanning three generations of the Vaughan family, we have provided fearless representation for Hoosiers who have been injured by the negligence of other drivers.
An accident involving an Uber is not a standard car insurance claim; it is a complex legal battle against a multi-billion-dollar Transportation Network Company (TNC). If you were a passenger, a pedestrian, or another driver struck by a rideshare vehicle, our Lafayette Uber accident lawyers are here to provide the aggressive advocacy you need.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
Why You Should Trust Vaughan & Vaughan With Your Lafayette Uber Accident Claim
Uber and Lyft go to great lengths to classify their drivers as independent contractors to avoid liability in the case of an accident. To secure a full recovery, you need to work with a law firm that possesses elite credentials and deep roots in Lafayette to hold these massive corporations accountable.
At Vaughan & Vaughan, we offer these exceptional benefits for our clients:
- Lafayette’s Choice for Board-Certified Leadership: Attorney Charles V. Vaughan is board-certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Practice Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Fewer than 20 attorneys in Indiana hold this elite certification. When you are fighting a company as large as Uber, having a board-certified trial advocate ensures the insurance adjusters know you are fully prepared to win in the Tippecanoe County Superior Courts.
- The CDL Advantage: Many rideshare accidents in Lafayette happen near heavy commercial traffic on I-65. Attorney Charles J. Vaughan holds a Class A Commercial Drivers License (CDL). His technical understanding of commercial vehicle regulations and driver maneuvers allows our firm to identify negligence that typical personal injury firms might overlook.
- A Century of Dedicated Service: Our headquarters have been located in Lafayette since 1913. We aren’t a national firm with a satellite office; we are your neighbors. We understand the local traffic patterns near the Wabash River and the unique risks associated with student-heavy pedestrian zones in West Lafayette.
- Contingency Fee Representation: You are already dealing with the financial stress of medical bills and vehicle repairs. We accept rideshare accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means we advance all costs, and we only receive a fee if we successfully recover compensation for you.
- Available 24/7: Rideshare accidents frequently happen late at night or on weekends. Our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to take your call and begin the work of securing vital digital evidence.
There is no fee
unless you win
Understanding the Insurance Periods That Affect a Lafayette Rideshare Crash
One of the biggest challenges in an Uber accident claim is determining which insurance policy and which level of coverage is active at the time of your crash. Under Indiana law, Uber must provide different levels of coverage based on the driver’s status at the time of the crash.
Period 1: App is On, Waiting for a Request
If the driver has the Uber app open but has not yet accepted a ride, the available liability coverage is typically lower. Uber provides $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, but only if the driver’s personal insurance denies the claim—making it important to consult an experienced personal injury lawyer who can identify all available coverage.
Period 2: Ride Accepted, En Route to Pick Up
Once a driver accepts a request, a $1 million commercial liability policy generally becomes active.
Period 3: Passenger in the Vehicle
From the moment you enter the Uber until you are dropped off at your destination, the $1 million policy is in full effect. This policy also usually includes Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, which protects you if another negligent driver hits the Uber and that driver has no insurance.
We Fight to Recover Maximum Damages for Your Injuries
In the Indiana legal system, damages are the financial compensation intended to cover your physical and financial losses. Because we take an aggressive, comprehensive approach to every case, we investigate the total impact the injury has on your life and demand the maximum amount of compensation possible under your unique circumstances.
In general, we fight for the recovery of:
- Immediate and Future Medical Costs: This includes emergency care at IU Health Arnett or Franciscan Health Lafayette, surgical fees, physical therapy, and diagnostic imaging.
- Lost Wages and Future Earning Capacity: If your injury prevents you from working, we pursue the full value of the income you’ve lost. For permanent injuries that affect your career path, we calculate the loss of a lifetime of potential earnings.
- Pain and Suffering: This compensates you for the physical pain and psychological trauma, such as PTSD or anxiety, caused by the collision.
- Loss of Quality of Life: If you can no longer enjoy walking through Columbian Park or participating in your usual hobbies, we fight for compensation that reflects that loss.
Navigating Lafayette Roadways and Understanding Uber Liability
Rideshare drivers often rely heavily on GPS, which can lead to distracted driving on complex roads like Teal Road or South Street. According to the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), congested areas around universities see a higher frequency of lane-change and rear-end collisions, which could reflect negligence by rideshare drivers.
Our team has decades of experience dealing with state and local laws, including:
- Modified Comparative Fault: Indiana follows the 51% rule. Under this law, you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident, provided your fault is not 51% or more. Most rideshare passengers bear no responsibility for accidents that harm them; however, several other parties may be held accountable for fault depending on the specific situation.
- Statute of Limitations: You generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim in Indiana. However, in Uber cases, app data and digital trip logs can be lost within months if not legally preserved. The sooner you contact our firm, the faster we can take steps to protect evidence.
- Lafayette Municipal Rules: We are well-versed in local Tippecanoe County traffic ordinances and how they apply to commercial Transportation Network Companies.
Fighting the Uber Corporate Independent Contractor Defense
The cornerstone of Uber’s typical legal defense strategy is to claim that its drivers are not employees, but “independent contractors.” This is a tactic used to shield the parent company from the driver’s negligence. At Vaughan & Vaughan, we aren’t intimidated by this corporate tactic.
We utilize our decades of experience and tenancity to peel back the layers of these claims. We analyze driver history, app logs, and maintenance records to show how the company should be held responsible for your losses.
Additionally, because Charles V. Vaughan is a board-certified litigator, insurance companies have learned that if they fail to treat our clients fairly, our lead car accident attorney has the specialized trial background to effectively tell your story in a courtroom.
What Actions Can I Take While Recovering from My Accident?
If you are at home or in a Lafayette hospital, the weeks following your crash are critical for your legal claim. While our team handles the investigation, you can protect your rights by following these steps:
- Contact the Rideshare Accident Team at Vaughan & Vaughan: The sooner we are involved, the faster we can investigate and issue a “spoliation letter” to Uber’s corporate headquarters to preserve the driver’s GPS coordinates and app activity at the time of the impact.
- Download Your Uber Trip Data: If you were a passenger at the time of the crash, take screenshots of your trip history, the driver’s name, and the “Receipt” or “Trip ID.” This is your proof that you were legally in the vehicle when you were injured.
- Request the BuyCrash Report: We can help ensure you have a copy of the official police report and verify that the officer noted the driver was operating as a rideshare vehicle.
- Commit to Your Medical Plan: Do not skip appointments with your Lafayette or other providers. Insurance adjusters monitor your medical progress, and treatment gaps are the primary reason Uber’s insurers attempt to deny or reduce settlements.
- Stay Off Social Media: Insurance companies for gig-economy giants often use private investigators to monitor social media. A photo of you out with friends could be used to argue that your injuries aren’t as severe as you claim.
- Save All Digital Correspondence: If Uber or an insurance adjuster sends you an automated message or a support email, do not reply. Forward all communication directly to your team at Vaughan & Vaughan.
FAQs About Lafayette Uber Accident Claims
What if I was an Uber driver and someone else hit me?
If you were “on the clock” for Uber and another driver hit you, you may be entitled to compensation. Depending on your status (Period 1, 2, or 3), you may be covered by your own rideshare accident insurance, the at-fault driver’s insurance, and/or Uber’s supplementary coverage. We can help you navigate these overlapping policies to ensure you receive the highest possible payout.
Can I file a claim if the Uber driver was “distracted” by their phone?
Yes. Uber drivers are required to use their phones to accept rides and navigate. However, Indiana’s hands-free law still applies. If a driver’s constant interaction with the Uber app led to your accident, that can be evidence of negligence. We can also subpoena app data to determine if the driver was interacting with the screen at the time of the crash.
What if the driver’s personal insurance denies the claim?
This is extremely common. Most personal auto insurance policies in Indiana have a commercial use exclusion. If a driver is working for Uber and their personal insurer denies coverage, Uber’s commercial policy must step in. We are skilled at navigating these denials to ensure that a corporate insurance policy covers your medical bills and damages.
Does it matter if I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt as an Uber passenger?
Under Indiana law, the failure to wear a seatbelt can sometimes be used to mitigate damages in a civil case, but it does not prevent you from filing a claim. Even if you weren’t wearing a seatbelt, the driver’s negligence is still the cause of the accident. We fight to ensure the driver remains the primary focus of the liability claim.
What happens if I am an Uber driver and I hit someone?
If you are an Uber driver and an accident was your fault, you should be protected by Uber’s commercial liability policy, provided you were in Period 2 or 3 of the insurance coverage. However, insurance companies may still attempt to shift liability to your personal policy. We represent rideshare drivers to ensure they are properly covered by the commercial protections they are entitled to while working.
Contact Our Dedicated Lafayette Rideshare Accident Lawyers to Learn More Today
Don’t let a billion-dollar company like Uber dictate the terms of your recovery or your future. Trust the legacy and the elite credentials of Vaughan & Vaughan to protect your rights. With over 110 years of history in Lafayette and board-certified leadership, our family is ready to fight for yours.
Call us 24/7 at (765) 742-0056 or fill out our online contact form for a 100% free consultation. Let our team guide you through the civil claim process to a better future.
