The number of people using Lyft and Uber has grown steadily over the years. People injured in auto accidents involving drivers of the two companies have also increased. Lyft works with drivers as independent contractors, so it would be difficult to determine who is liable for your injuries. Our Avoyelles Parish Lyft accident lawyer can help you determine if you should get compensated by Lyft or the driver.
Approximately 4.4 million Americans sustain medical injuries in car accidents annually. As the injured party, you do not have to bear the cost of treating injuries or fixing property damaged in a Lyft accident. Seek out the services of our personal injury lawyers who can help you get compensated.
Causes of Lyft Accidents
The main cause of Lyft accidents is due to the driver’s negligence. For instance:
- Driving over the speed limit
- Impaired judgment due to the intake or abuse of alcohol and drugs
- Driving while texting
- Not stopping at a red light
- Aggressive driving
Finding out the cause of a Lyft accident helps you establish negligence which is a requirement for you to win a settlement. Establishing negligence requires you as the plaintiff to show that there was a duty of care owed by the Lyft driver. The Lyft driver breached that duty, and this directly caused you bodily injury or damaged your property.
As a passenger, you can sue both the Lyft driver and the other party involved in the accident. As the Lyft driver, you can sue the other party for damages even if you are partly at fault. But the recoverable damage you get will reduce by your percentage of fault. For instance, if you are 35% at fault, the compensation you receive will reduce by 35%.
As a Lyft driver, you need to have your own insurance cover separate from the one covering Lyft passengers. The insurance cover will come in handy if you suffer an accident at the hand of an uninsured liable party. The insurance cover will also compensate any parties you may injure while not on duty. Not being on duty refers to when:
- You are not on the application
- You are not dropping a passenger
- You are not going to pick up a passenger
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientWhen Can You Make a Personal Injury Claim Against Lyft?
Lyft and Uber operate with drivers as independent contractors. This means that they can only be liable if the driver has accepted a ride request or is already transporting a passenger. If you are a party injured by a Lyft driver when they were going to pick up a passenger, you can sue Lyft.
Lyft is legally required to provide $50,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage during the pre-trip period. This provision is set out by the Transportation Network Company Motor Vehicle Responsibility Law. The law ensures that pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists, and other motorists can sue Lyft for damages if their driver causes an accident.
Lyft’s level of liability rises to a higher level once the Lyft driver has picked up the passenger. The company insurance covers $1,000,000 in liability once the driver is on duty (meaning they have accepted a ride request and are transporting the passenger). The parties who can sue Lyft are:
- The Lyft driver
- The Lyft passenger
- Pedestrians who sustained injuries when the Lyft driver was on duty
- Other motorists injured in a Lyft accident
Lyft is now a multinational company which means going up against them is not easy. The company has a team of lawyers who will fight to minimize any financial loss the company has to face after an accident. Our Avoyelles Parish Lyft accident lawyer can help you determine which circumstances allow you to seek damages directly from the company.
Injuries Sustained in a Lyft Accident
The injuries sustained by the Lyft driver may differ in severity from the ones sustained by the passenger. Some of the injuries you may sustain in a Lyft accident are:
- Traumatic brain injuries if the head suffers a terrible blow or jolt
- Back and spinal cord injuries with some resulting in paralysis
- Severe damage to the limbs may make amputations necessary
- Fractures and broken bones
- Lacerations
- Internal injuries
The cost of the injuries is the main factor in determining the value of your claim. The other factor is whether you have incurred any property damage. It is important to keep track of everything you had on your person when you boarded the Lyft.
Keep the medical records for the treatment you received for your injuries. Our Avoyelles Parish Lyft accident lawyer will be able to handle the claims process while you recover from your injuries. If a family member dies because of their injuries from a Lyft accident, consult a wrongful death lawyer.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientWhen to Make a Claim Against Lyft
The best time to make a personal injury claim against Lyft is immediately after the accident. One of the steps you should take after an accident is to contact a car accident lawyer. Our attorney will begin gathering evidence to help you win your claim while the scene of the accident is not yet contaminated.
You have two years to file a personal injury claim in Louisiana. The time limit is quite strict, and missing the deadline voids your ability to recover damages. If you have lost a family member to a Lyft accident, you have two years from the date of their death to file a wrongful death claim (CC Art. 2315.2).
Waiting too long before deciding to file a personal injury claim may negatively affect the damages you stand to recover. This is because evidence may get lost, or the liable party may hide it to conceal their negligence.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientConsult an Avoyelles Parish Lyft Accident Lawyer Today
Claiming damages from Lyft is a difficult task, and the company will require sufficient evidence before paying out any claim. Contact our Avoyelles Parish Lyft accident lawyer who will investigate your case and ensure you have everything you need to get compensated.
Get a free consultation today when you call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers.
