You retain your legal rights after an accident, whether it involves Lyft, Uber, or another kind of ride-sharing service. You could be entitled to financial compensation from the party (or parties) who caused or contributed to your injuries and damages.
Most Uber and Lyft accidents settle through insurance claims and rarely go to court. However, before we get to settlements and verdicts, here’s what to do immediately following an Uber or Lyft accident:
- Call 911 for police and medical assistance.
- Take pictures of your injuries and property damage.
- Get the at-fault driver’s license and insurance information (write them down or take photos).
- Ask witnesses for their names and contact information.
- Promptly seek medical care.
- Keep paperwork related to the crash, including the police report, medical records, and bills.
- If you have to talk to the insurance company, stick to the basic facts about the crash.
Always get checked by a medical professional after a Lyft or Uber accident. Even if you don’t consider your injuries severe, only a licensed healthcare provider can determine if you need treatment. Some injuries take a while before developing symptoms.
Who Is Eligible for Potential Compensation?
Any individual who suffers bodily injury, property damage, or both could be eligible for compensation after a Lyft or Uber crash, including:
- Passengers
- Drivers
- Pedestrians
- Cyclists
- Motorists
Depending on your state’s liability and negligence laws, you could recover damages even if you played a minor role in the accident. Liability is a complex legal issue. A car accident attorney can help you understand your rights and options for recovering damages.
Who Is Liable for Your Injuries and Expenses?
Uber and Lyft accidents tend to be more complicated than other traffic accidents. There can be several at-fault parties and insurance policies.
Ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft must carry liability insurance. Individuals who drive for these companies are supposed to have adequate insurance. Figuring out who pays depends upon where and when the accident occurred.
Quick Insurance for an Uber or Lyft Crash
In general, Lyft or Uber liability insurance applies if you are injured when:
- The app is on, and the driver is waiting for rider requests;
- The app is on, and the driver is picking up, transporting, and completing rider requests.
The driver’s auto insurance applies if the app is off and not actively seeking, driving, or completing rides.
Depending on the accident, other at-fault parties might include another motorist or a negligent vehicle or parts manufacturer.
What Kind of Compensation Could You Get?
Ride-share accidents can result in extensive injuries, including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and internal bleeding. Sometimes these injuries are fatal.
The compensation you could recover depends upon the extent and severity of your injuries. Commonly recovered damages from a ride-share accident include:
- Emergency room and ambulance costs
- Surgery and hospitalization
- Other medical expenses
- Lost pay due to injuries
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Final expenses if a loved one passed away from accident injuries
Money cannot erase the emotional trauma and physical pain of an accident that was not your fault. It is the legal remedy for victims of negligence or their surviving family members.
What if You Become Disabled?
Some accident injuries are severe enough to cause temporary or permanent disability. When you cannot return to your job or earn a living, you may seek additional compensation to cover lost income or reduced earnings.
Do You Need a Lawyer for an Uber or Lyft Accident?
You have one chance to seek damages after an Uber or Lyft accident. Additionally, each state imposes a statute of limitations, or deadline, on filing a personal injury lawsuit.
You could try to seek compensation without help from an attorney. However, there are several benefits if you ask a lawyer to work on your injury case:
- Collect evidence of liability
- Assess your damages, including future medical care or lost income
- File a detailed and accurate insurance claim
- Negotiate a fair settlement
- Take your case to court if necessary
Some Uber and Lyft accident lawyers work on a contingency basis only. You typically pay nothing up-front and only owe attorney fees if they successfully recover compensation for you.
Exercise Your Rights After an Uber or Lyft Accident
Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft have practically replaced taxis in many cities. While they are convenient and cheap to use because you share the expense, your ride could end with a trip to the emergency room.
You have the same right to pursue compensation for medical bills and other losses when injured in a ride-share accident. Many Uber and Lyft attorneys offer free, no-obligation consultations. You deserve to understand and exercise your rights when someone’s negligence injures you.