In South Florida communities like Plantation, car sharing is relatively new and insurers are still working out liability issues and claims in situations involving this model. If you are injured in a collision involving a car sharing vehicle, it’s important to work with a Plantation car collision claims attorney because your case may be complicated.
Car sharing can be a good solution for drivers. There are a few types of car sharing. In one type of car sharing, a company purchases a fleet of cars and rents them on a short-term basis to customers who pay to use cars by the hour. If you’re in a collision with one of these cars, the insurance is not very different than being in a collision with a rental car. More complex than being in a crash with a regular driver—there are more parties involved, after all—but familiar.
In other car sharing platforms, owners of vehicles either loan their car to a company which in turn offers it by the hour to other drivers or rent their car directly to other drivers in an Airbnb-style platform.
Here is where things get murky. In a collision with one of these cars, is the driver at the time of the collision liable? Is the company offering the short-term rental liable? Is the owner liable? Often, these situations turn into a finger-pointing scenario, where the owner claims the driver was at fault, the driver alleges the car had defects, and the platform offering car sharing is usually at great pains to distance themselves from liability. For someone injured in the crash, delays and confusion keep them from securing the compensation they need for medical bills, lost income, and other expenses.
Getting Compensation in a Car Sharing Collision in Plantation
The insurance policies in car-sharing arrangements offer some insurance, so speaking with an attorney can help you determine what is covered and how much is covered. Some drivers take out additional, recommended insurance to cover anything not included in the car-sharing insurance. This can also be helpful if you’re injured.
An experience attorney can work with accident reconstruction experts, medical witnesses, and other professionals to build a strong case and to find all liable parties. Experienced attorneys may also be able to pursue compensation in your case if you qualify.
If you’ve been in a car collision involving a car share car, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free accident consultation with a Plantation car accident claims attorney. Our legal team has more than sixty years of experience and Charles Flaxman, our principal, has insurance industry experience, allowing him to understand insurance company negotiations and contracts in depth—an understanding he can put to use in injury claims like yours.