Victims of rideshare accidents in Gretna may recover compensation for their damages. This may be true of rideshare passengers involved in an accident and drivers who were hurt in an accident that a rideshare driver caused.
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can handle either type of case. We manage lawsuits and insurance claims from start to finish for our clients. Whether your case is against Uber, Lyft, or another potentially liable party, a Gretna rideshare accident lawyer from our firm can help you fight for compensation.
We Can Pursue Compensation for Your Eligible Damages
When it comes to representing a new client, we start the process by finding answers for several key questions, such as:
- What are your injuries?
- What losses have your injuries caused?
- What non-injury-related losses have you suffered?
- What is the total cost of your losses?
- Who was responsible for your accident?
When we have answers to these questions, we can understand how to pursue compensation for you. Our two general approaches are insurance claims and lawsuits.
Some of the losses we may seek compensation for in your case are:
Medical Expenses
The cost of diagnosing and treating injuries can be steep. We can calculate your medical costs and aim to have liable parties cover them. Some medical expenses we may recover awards for are:
- Care that you received in the emergency department
- Surgery
- Medications
- Hospitalization
- Doctor’s appointments
- Transportation to medical appointments
- Medical equipment
- Rehabilitation for your injuries
If you are still receiving treatment for your injuries, we can estimate your future medical costs and include that figure in our requests for compensation as well.
Professional Losses
Short-term, long-term, and permanent injuries can harm you professionally. While you are injured and recovering, you may not be able to work. Even once you return to work, your circumstances may have changed dramatically.
We can pursue coverage for:
- Lost productivity
- Current lost wages
- Future loss of wages
- Diminished earning power
- Loss of professional opportunities
Pain and Suffering
Your car accident may cause physical and psychological pain. We can pursue compensation for your pain and suffering, which may include:
- The pain of suffering physical injury
- Conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which the Mayo Clinic explains can come from an accident
- The cost of counseling or other treatments for your trauma
These are not the only categories of losses that you may have. When building your case, a Gretna Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can help you identify all the damages you have suffered. We can also consider damages that you may experience going forward.
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.
ClientThe Causes of Gretna Rideshare Accidents
There are millions of vehicle accidents each year in the United States. Because of the rise in popularity of ridesharing, these vehicles are bound to be in accidents. Some causes of these accidents may include:
Vehicle Breakdown
Drivers in Louisiana must have their vehicles inspected regularly to ensure major mechanical systems are working properly. If any part of the vehicle fails, it can cause an accident.
Dangerous Road Conditions
Heavy rain, snow, high winds, and other road conditions can affect rideshare drivers just as much as private drivers.
Distracted Driving
New and old technology serves as a major factor in distracted driving. Cell phones, GPS systems, radios, and even the passengers can divert drivers’ attention, leading to accidents.
Driver Fatigue
While Uber and Lyft require their drivers to take at least a six-hour break after 12 straight hours of driving, they have no way to ensure all drivers are getting adequate sleep during their break times. This means there may be many fatigued rideshare drivers on the road.
Driving While Impaired
Thankfully, reports of drunk rideshare drivers are rare, but they can happen. When driving impaired, drivers can easily make poor decisions with disastrous results.
Speeding
To make more money, some rideshare drivers may ignore posted speed limits. Like other drivers, some rideshare drivers also ignore road and travel conditions that would dictate they travel below posted limits for safety.
Reckless Driving
Rideshare drivers are just as susceptible to road rage, changing lanes without signaling, and other hazards, which could lead to a serious accident.
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 | ClientGretna Rideshare Qualifications
To maintain safety and company reputation, Gretna rideshare drivers must meet several qualifications.
Drivers Must Have an Appropriate Vehicle
Vehicles must have four doors and at least five seats. The car must have a valid license plate and a clean title and be a fairly new model (specific rules vary depending on the rideshare company).
Drivers Must Meet Certain Requirements
Before being accepted as a Lyft or Uber driver, applicants must pass a thorough background check covering their driving history and criminal history. They must also have a valid driver’s license.
Lyft requires drivers to be at least 25 years old. Drivers for Uber must have at least one year of driving experience, or three years if they are under 25.
Drivers Must Have Insurance
Rideshare drivers must be listed as insured drivers on the vehicle’s insurance policy. If the app is turned off, the driver’s personal insurance policy will cover an accident. Uber and Lyft offer coverage only when the driver is actively using the ridesharing app.
If the app is turned on and the driver is waiting for a ride request, Uber and Lyft offer $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury liability coverage, as well as $25,000 per accident in property damage coverage. This coverage typically only kicks in if the driver’s personal coverage will not pay for an accident.
If the driver is on their way to pick up a passenger or currently has a passenger in their car at the time of an accident, Uber and Lyft provide $1 million in third-party liability coverage.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientWho is Eligible to Bring a Rideshare Accident Case?
Our firm can handle rideshare accident cases where:
- You were injured
- Your loved one was injured
- Your loved one died from accident-related injuries
There may be other circumstances that lead us to handle your case. Calling for a free case review is the way to determine your eligibility.
When we accept your case, we see it through to the finish. Our personal injury attorneys aim to secure fair compensation on your behalf by holding all potentially liable parties responsible.
We Seek Awards from All Liable Parties
Liability for rideshare accidents is different from normal passenger vehicle collisions. Because the rideshare company is in the mix, we must consider it a potentially liable party.
We can review all the facts related to your case, including:
- Coverage that the at-fault driver may be responsible for providing
- Coverage that Uber or Lyft may be responsible for providing
- Coverage that any third parties may be responsible for providing
We can handle the issue of liability. This will be central to your case for awards.
They treated us like no other people would. Whenever we needed something they were there for us. I put my trust in them and I don’t regret it.
ClientWe Do Everything for Your Case at No Upfront Cost
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can deal with all your case-related responsibilities. This means we will:
- Collect evidence
- Review insurance policies and applicable statutes
- Determine how much compensation you may be owed
- Handle all paperwork
- Hire experts and speak with accident witnesses
- Negotiate on your behalf
- Advance your case to completion
We can handle any other duties that your case requires.
You Do Not Pay Us from Your Pocket
Our firm works for contingency fees. We do not get paid upfront, nor from your pocket. We only receive compensation as a percentage of your winnings. If we do not win your case, you do not pay us.
The Deadline to Sue in Louisiana
Louisiana sets the following general deadlines for civil lawsuits:
- One year from the accident for filing a personal injury lawsuit, per CC §3492
- One year from the date of your loved one’s death for filing a wrongful death lawsuit, per CC §2315.2
If you are thinking of taking legal action, do not delay. Missing the filing deadline could get your lawsuit dismissed.
Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers has won over $600 million for clients through settlements and verdicts. Call us today for a free case evaluation with a member of our team.
The sooner you call, the sooner a Gretna Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer from our firm can start working for you.
