Minneapolis Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Rideshare Accident Lawyer Minneapolis, MN
If you’ve been hurt in a rideshare accident, you’re likely feeling overwhelmed. The moment an Uber or Lyft driver is involved, the insurance picture gets complicated fast. Coverage depends on whether the driver was logged into the app, whether they had a passenger, and which company’s policy applies at what point in the trip. Rideshare companies have designed their insurance structures specifically to limit what injured people can recover. At Bennerotte & Associates, P.A., our Minneapolis, MN rideshare accident lawyer knows how those structures work and how to navigate them on behalf of injured clients. Our legal team has 19 years of firm experience and a combined 161 years of legal practice. Contact us today to get set up with a free consultation and learn how we can help.
Why Choose Bennerotte & Associates, P.A. For Rideshare Accident Claims In Minneapolis, MN?
Experience With Minnesota Personal Injury Litigation
Thomas R. Bennerotte has been representing injured Minnesotans since 1991. A cum laude graduate of William Mitchell College of Law, he has spent his entire career on personal injury litigation, including motor vehicle accident claims involving complex insurance coverage questions. Admitted in Minnesota and North Dakota, he understands how insurers approach these cases and what it takes to cut through the coverage disputes that rideshare companies use to delay and minimize payouts.
Attorney Jeffrey R. Murray focuses his practice on personal injury litigation, including motor vehicle collisions and rideshare accident claims. A graduate of Emory University School of Law, he is admitted in Minnesota and Florida and brings additional perspective from representing injured clients across multiple jurisdictions.
Tom is a member of the Minnesota Association for Justice and regularly lectures at legal seminars across Minnesota. As a personal injury lawyer in Minneapolis, MN, he has helped thousands of accident victims recover compensation after crashes that disrupted their lives.
A Strong Record Of Success, Built Case By Case
Our attorneys have helped clients recover millions of dollars across motor vehicle accident cases and other serious injury claims. That record reflects thorough investigation, persistent negotiation, and a firm that takes cases to trial when the insurance company’s offer doesn’t reflect what a client actually deserves.
Thomas Bennerotte is a Life Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, reserved for trial attorneys with multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements. He has been selected for Super Lawyers multiple times and named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. Attorney Wade Rabenhorst holds the AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest available for legal ability and ethics.
No Fees Unless We Win
Rideshare accident cases at Bennerotte & Associates are handled on a contingency fee basis. Nothing to pay upfront. No retainer. No hourly billing. If we don’t recover compensation for you, you owe us nothing.
What Clients Say
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“I had a great experience working with Bennerotte & Associates. There was clear communication from all of the staff regarding questions, concerns, and important dates coming up. Everyone that I interacted with was extremely kind and helpful! The team responds in a quick, timely manner and they were able to explain things to me in a way that made me fully understand all of the legal references/documents. I am very glad that I got to work with Tom Bennerotte because he put me first, surpassed my expectations, and he was able to help me to the best of his ability for my situation. He is a very genuine person who wants the absolute best for you!” — Aubrey R.
Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Types Of Rideshare Accident Cases We Handle In Minneapolis
Rideshare accidents in Minneapolis involve a range of circumstances, and who was doing what at the time of the crash matters significantly for how the claim proceeds. Here’s what we handle.
- Passengers injured in rideshare vehicles. If you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft and the driver caused or was involved in a crash, you have a claim. The coverage available depends on the phase of the trip, but passengers are generally in the strongest position of any rideshare accident victim because they bear no fault for the crash itself.
- Drivers and passengers injured by a rideshare vehicle. When an Uber or Lyft driver causes a collision with another vehicle, the people in that other car have a claim against the rideshare driver and potentially the rideshare company’s insurance, depending on the driver’s app status at the time. These cases require a close look at what the driver was doing in the moments before impact.
- Pedestrians and cyclists struck by rideshare vehicles. Rideshare drivers pulling over to pick up or drop off passengers are a genuine hazard to pedestrians and cyclists in Minneapolis. A driver who opens a door into a bike lane, pulls into a crosswalk, or accelerates without checking for people on foot can cause serious injury. We handle these claims and know how to establish liability in pickup and dropoff zone scenarios.
- Distracted driving accidents. Rideshare drivers navigate GPS directions, manage in-app communications, and monitor ride requests while driving. That’s a significant distraction. When distracted driving causes a crash, phone records and app data can be critical evidence in establishing what the driver was doing at the moment of impact.
- Collisions involving multiple vehicles. Rideshare accidents frequently involve more than two vehicles. When a rideshare driver causes a multi-vehicle crash, liability may be shared across multiple parties. We handle these cases and identify every potential source of recovery, including the rideshare company’s policy, the driver’s personal policy, and any other at-fault parties.
- Accidents caused by other drivers. Not every rideshare accident is the Uber or Lyft driver’s fault. When another driver causes a crash that injures a rideshare passenger, there may be claims against both the at-fault driver and, depending on the circumstances, through the rideshare company’s uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. We evaluate all available coverage from the start.
- Fatal rideshare accidents. When a rideshare crash results in a fatality, surviving family members may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim against the at-fault parties. These cases involve the same coverage complexity as other rideshare claims, with significantly higher stakes.
Minnesota Legal Requirements For Rideshare Accident Claims
Rideshare accident claims in Minnesota are governed by a combination of state insurance law, Minnesota’s no-fault system, and the specific insurance structures that Uber and Lyft maintain. Here’s what matters most.
How Rideshare Insurance Coverage Works
This is the piece that confuses most people. Uber and Lyft don’t simply cover everything their drivers do. Coverage depends entirely on the driver’s status within the app at the time of the crash. When the driver is offline, only their personal auto insurance applies. When the driver is logged in and waiting for a ride request, the rideshare company provides limited liability coverage. Once a ride is accepted and through the completion of the trip, the rideshare company’s full commercial policy applies, which under Minnesota law must meet the coverage requirements set out in Minnesota Statutes Section 65B.472. That statute specifically governs transportation network companies operating in Minnesota and sets minimum insurance requirements for each phase of a trip. Understanding which phase applies to your crash is one of the first and most consequential questions in any rideshare accident case.
Minnesota’s No-Fault System
Minnesota’s no-fault law under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 65B applies to rideshare accidents just as it does in standard car accident cases. Your own Personal Injury Protection coverage pays initial medical expenses and a portion of lost wages regardless of fault. When injuries are serious enough to meet the tort threshold, a direct liability claim against the at-fault party becomes available. In rideshare cases, figuring out which insurance policy PIP claims should be directed to is part of the complexity, and getting it wrong can slow down your access to benefits.
Statute Of Limitations
Under Minnesota Statutes Section 541.05, most rideshare accident injury claims must be filed within two years of the crash date. That deadline applies regardless of where things stand with any insurance claims or disputes. Two years moves faster than people expect when recovery is involved. Don’t wait on this.
Comparative Fault
Minnesota Statutes Section 604.01 governs how fault is allocated when more than one party contributed to a crash. In rideshare cases involving multiple vehicles or disputed facts about driver behavior, comparative fault arguments come up regularly. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault and eliminated entirely if your share exceeds 50%. Rideshare insurers use these arguments strategically, and having an attorney who anticipates them matters.
What Damages Are Recoverable In A Minneapolis Rideshare Accident Case?
Economic Damages
Medical expenses, lost wages, and lost earning capacity make up the core of economic damages in a rideshare accident case. Emergency treatment, surgeries, physical therapy, and ongoing care are all recoverable. So is the income you missed while you were unable to work, and the future income you may lose if your injuries have lasting effects on your ability to earn. In serious cases, economic damages also include the cost of long-term care and rehabilitation. Every element needs careful documentation. Rideshare insurers scrutinize these claims closely, and gaps in documentation get used against claimants.
Non-Economic Damages
Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life are recoverable in Minnesota rideshare accident cases. These damages don’t come with an invoice, but the impact of a serious accident on a person’s daily life is real and compensable. Minnesota doesn’t cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. Rideshare insurance carriers are experienced negotiators who routinely undervalue this piece of a claim. Our Minneapolis rideshare accident attorneys know how to present these losses and push back when the offer doesn’t reflect them.
Punitive Damages
When a rideshare driver’s conduct was particularly reckless, such as driving impaired or ignoring obvious safety risks, Minnesota law allows for punitive damages under Minnesota Statutes Section 549.20. These aren’t available in every case, but when the facts support them, they increase total recovery and hold the at-fault party accountable beyond the immediate cost of the injuries.
Contact Bennerotte & Associates, P.A.
Rideshare accident claims move through a more complicated process than standard car accident cases, and the companies involved have significant resources dedicated to limiting what they pay. If you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident in Minneapolis or anywhere in Minnesota, Bennerotte & Associates is ready to help. Contact us for a free consultation. We work on contingency, so there are no fees unless we win your case.