If you suffered an injury in a Lyft car accident, you may be wondering if you can sue for your injuries. Lyft car crashes are mostly complex, involving multiple parties, such as the driver, the ridesharing company, and the insurance provider.
Depending on the crash’s circumstances or the injury’s severity, you may be entitled to economic and non-economic damages. However, determining liability in a ridesharing crash can be challenging, as Lyft drivers are independent contractors. Therefore, you should work with a legal professional for advice on your options after the crash. A rideshare accident lawyer can investigate the crash, gather evidence, and initiate a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the negligent party.
Can I Sue and Who is Responsible?
If you suffered an injury in a Lyft accident, you have the right to sue, depending on who was at fault and the details of the crash. Understanding your options can protect your legal rights, whether you’re a driver, passenger, or pedestrian.
Here’s why you can sue after a Lyft accident:
Severe or Permanent Injuries
You may be entitled to compensation after suffering severe or permanent injuries as a result of a Lyft accident. These injuries can have a lasting impact on your life, affecting your ability to work, perform daily tasks, and enjoy your usual activities.
If the negligent party’s insurer downplays your losses, it can restrict your ability to cope or recover from the losses. Suing the negligent party allows for a neutral assessment of the case, leading to a higher settlement value.
An experienced rideshare accident lawyer can use medical records to prove the extent of your injuries and make a compelling case before a jury to maximize your settlement value.
Wrongful Death
Tragically, some Lyft accidents result in wrongful death. If you have lost a loved one in a Lyft accident due to the negligence of another party, you may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
While no amount of money can bring back your loved one, a skilled rideshare accident attorney can help seek justice and hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.
Insurance Denial or Delay
Dealing with insurance companies after a Lyft accident can be frustrating, especially if they deny your claim or delay the settlement process. An experienced rideshare accident attorney can advocate for your rights and negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries and damages.
They can present compelling evidence before a judge or jury to validate your compensation claim for injury-related losses.
Low Settlement Offers
Insurance companies may offer you a low settlement soon after the accident, hoping you’ll accept it and move on. However, these initial offers are often far below the actual value of your claim. You can avoid accepting inadequate settlement offers with the guidance of a rideshare accident lawyer.
They are prepared to gather evidence, make compelling arguments in court, and push for a higher settlement award that covers your losses.
Disputed Liability
In some Lyft accidents, there may be a liability dispute, making it challenging to initiate a compensation claim. A knowledgeable attorney can investigate the circumstances of the accident, gather evidence, and build a strong case to establish liability and initiate a lawsuit against the negligent party.
A lawsuit allows a rideshare accident lawyer to conduct a formal investigation and gather evidence, such as dashboard cam footage, phone records, driver logs, and witness statements, to determine who was truly at fault for the crash.
Uninsured/Underinsured Driver
If you are involved in a Lyft accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, recovering compensation for your injuries and damages can be complicated. A rideshare accident attorney can help explore all available options, such as filing a claim with your insurance company or pursuing legal action against the at-fault driver to seek the compensation you deserve.
Even if the driver is uninsured, legal action can reveal whether they have personal assets to satisfy the compensation award.
Third-Party Liability
In some Lyft accidents, a third party may be partially or fully responsible for the collision, such as a negligent road maintenance crew or a manufacturer of defective vehicle parts. In such cases, you may have grounds to sue the third party for their role in causing the accident.
An experienced personal injury attorney can help you identify all potentially liable parties and initiate a lawsuit to secure the compensation you deserve.
What to Do if a Lyft Driver Hits Your Car
After a ridesharing accident, your actions can enhance your wellness and protect your legal rights. Here’s what to do after a Lyft driver hits your car.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
You should seek immediate medical attention if you feel fine or have minor injuries. Some injuries, including whiplash and concussion, can take hours or days to manifest fully. Delaying medical care risks worsening your condition or compromising your legal rights.
A healthcare provider can discover hidden injuries and initiate a treatment plan. Further, a healthcare provider will document your injuries and the treatment, generating medical records you can use to prove your claim.
Insurance companies and their defense attorneys will look for any opportunity to undermine your case. Therefore, a comprehensive medical examination from the outset is invaluable in establishing the severity of your injuries and the connection to the accident.
Insurance adjusters may argue that your injuries are not a direct result of the accident but were caused by another incident. When you seek immediate medical attention, you demonstrate the link between the accident and your injuries, helping to strengthen your case and improve your chances of receiving fair compensation for your damages.
File a Police Accident Report
Filing a police accident report after a car crash can enhance your ability to seek compensation and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Here are three key reasons why filing a police accident report is essential after a Lyft vehicle accident:
- Documentation: A police accident report is an official record of the crash detailing the specifics of the incident, including the date, time, location, and parties involved. The document provides an unbiased account of the accident, which can be invaluable when dealing with insurance companies and pursuing legal action.
- Legal Protection: By involving law enforcement and obtaining a police accident report, you create a formal record of the incident. A rideshare accident lawyer can use the report to establish liability and safeguard your legal rights. You can also use the report in court proceedings, demonstrating the validity of your claim and supporting your case with concrete facts.
- Insurance Claims: When filing a claim with your insurance company or pursuing compensation from Lyft’s insurance, a police accident report can strengthen your case. Insurance companies rely on this official documentation to assess the validity of claims and determine fault. Without a police report, your claim may face challenges or delays in the settlement process.
Alert Your Insurance Provider About the Crash
You should also alert your insurance provider about the crash. Many insurance providers require their policyholders to make a crash notification within a specified timeline. Your underinsurance/uninsured coverage can cover the losses if the at-fault party has no insurance or holds a low coverage limit.
You should also avoid commencing negotiations or accepting a settlement offer without legal representation. A rideshare accident attorney can evaluate the settlement offers and advise whether to accept or push for a higher settlement offer.
Consult a Rideshare Accident Lawyer
You should speak with a rideshare accident lawyer if you sustain an injury in a car crash involving a Lyft driver. First, they will launch a thorough investigation to establish the facts and details of the crash.
An experienced rideshare accident attorney will gather evidence, interview witnesses, and analyze the details to establish liability and design a strategy to pursue compensation for your losses.
Moreover, a skilled rideshare accident lawyer will assist in evaluating the value of damages resulting from the wrongful death. The process includes assessing potential damages like medical expenses, funeral costs, lost income, and emotional suffering.
When a rideshare accident attorney quantifies these losses accurately, they can use the findings to fight for fair compensation for your losses.
A rideshare accident lawyer will also handle all communications with the insurance adjusters, protect your interests, and negotiate a settlement that reflects the true extent of your damages. Their knowledge and experience in dealing with insurance companies can lead to a favorable outcome in your claim or lawsuit.
How Much Can You Sue for a Car Crash
The estimated value of your car accident can help determine if it is worth pursuing your claim. There is no average value you can sue for a crash involving a Lyft vehicle. The outcome depends on the facts and circumstances of your claim.
Some of the factors that influence the value of a car crash include:
Severity of Your Injury
The severity of an injury can determine how much you can sue for a rideshare accident. The more severe the injury, the higher the potential compensation. Serious injuries typically result in greater medical expenses, ongoing treatment needs, lost income, and pain and suffering.
If you sustained a minor injury like whiplash in a rideshare accident, your compensation may be limited to covering your medical bills and any lost income during your recovery. On the other hand, if you suffered a severe injury such as a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury, your compensation can account for extensive medical treatments, long-term care needs, lost earning capacity, and significant pain and suffering.
A rideshare accident lawyer can use different sources of evidence to prove the extent of injuries and to support your claim for a higher settlement value.
Shared Liability
Sometimes, multiple parties may be at fault for an accident, including the rideshare driver, other motorists, or even the rideshare company. If you’re partially at fault for the crash, your claim’s value and potential compensation may be lower.
For example, if the rideshare driver is found to be 80 percent at fault, and another driver is determined to be 20 percent at fault, the compensation awarded will reflect this distribution of liability. Therefore, if you’re 20 percent at fault for the crash, your settlement value will reduce by the same percentage.
A rideshare accident attorney can use evidence to protect you from being unfairly blamed for the crash. They are also ready to litigate your case before a judge so you can receive a fair and just settlement value.
Insurance Coverage of the Negligent Party
The at-fault party’s insurance is mostly the source of compensation for the injured victim. Therefore, the at-fault party’s insurance coverage can determine if you’ll receive a settlement value that covers your losses.
A rideshare driver without insurance or with a low coverage limit can restrict how much you receive for your injury-related losses.
Availability of Evidence
Evidence is the foundation of all legal claims, including rideshare accidents. The more evidence you have to support your claim, the stronger your case becomes. Different sources of evidence can include witness statements, photos of the accident scene, medical records, and expert testimony.
Insurance companies may try to minimize your claim or deny liability if you don’t have evidence. An experienced rideshare accident attorney can help gather and preserve supporting evidence to protect your legal rights.
A rideshare accident lawyer can use evidence to negotiate with insurers or prove why you deserve a higher settlement value before a judge or jury.
Let an Experienced Lawyer Guide Your Next Steps
You’re likely to endure financial strain after sustaining an injury in a Lyft accident. For example, a spinal cord injury may require medication, surgical procedures, physical therapy, and ongoing care, which can drain your finances.
Although you’re entitled to compensation for these losses, the at-fault party’s insurer may reject your claim or make a low settlement offer that doesn’t cover your losses. A rideshare accident attorney can evaluate the circumstances of the crash and advise you to sue a negligent party if it will lead to a fair and just settlement value for your losses.
Get in touch with a rideshare accident attorney to understand your options.