Like countless others, you might regularly or occasionally rely on rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft to get around. While ridesharing might make travel easier and more convenient for you, it still carries the risks of riding in a car. According to a recent Becker Friedman Institute report, accidents have increased with the advent of ridesharing. Their research indicates:
- The number of vehicle miles traveled each year has increased.
- The number of fatal accidents increased annually by about three percent.
A Lake Charles rideshare accident lawyer might be able to help you hold the rideshare driver or company financially responsible for your injuries if you are involved in an accident. The personal injury team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can help you find out how to seek the compensation you deserve during your free consultation.
Uber or Lyft’s Insurance Coverage May Cover Your Losses
Both major rideshare companies—Uber and Lyft—have insurance policies to cover their passengers and drivers in the event of an accident. However, tapping into their insurance coverage is not automatic. In some cases, each rideshare company might first require an at-fault driver to pursue coverage from their private insurer or the victim to seek compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurer.
If the driver’s private insurer refuses to cover the financial expenses and losses of the accident, the rideshare company’s coverage might kick in. Each company maintains different coverage levels depending on:
- Whether their driver was logged on to the app
- Whether the driver was waiting for, on their way to, or actively transporting a passenger
Lyft and Uber offer coverage that generally provides up to $1,000,000 for third-party liability. Our legal team might be able to help you determine the best way to seek compensation after a ridesharing accident and the right insurance company to pursue for a financial settlement.
We know how to determine which stage the rideshare driver was in and how this affects our client’s insurance claim. We can identify the primary liability coverage, any contingency coverage available, and the company that provides each policy. In general, if our client was hurt while riding in an Uber or Lyft, our claim is based on the rideshare company’s $1 million liability policy.
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.
ClientComply with Louisiana’s Statute of Limitations
The rideshare company in Lake Charles that employs the driver involved in the accident might be responsible for your financial recovery. Whether you seek compensation from the rideshare driver or company or another driver involved in the collision, you have a limited amount of time to pursue the at-fault party.
In many cases, we do not have to sue at all. We can instead file a claim based on the insurance policy or policies in effect at the time of the crash and demand the insurer pay our clients a fair value for the damages they suffered. We can often negotiate an appropriate settlement and avoid court. However, sometimes we do have to sue.
Generally, you must file your personal injury lawsuit within one year of the accident, according to Civil Code (CC) § 3492. The sooner you act, the more time you give your Lake Charles car accident lawyer to prepare your lawsuit should you choose to work with one. They can help you file in time to comply with the statute of limitations.
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 | ClientResolve Your Claim with an Insurance Settlement
The primary goal of a personal injury lawsuit is to ensure you are made financially whole when another person’s negligence injures you. Settling your claim holds the at-fault driver responsible for their negligence and creates safer roads for all drivers.
Our team may be able to help you recover your health care expenses and other costs stemming from the accident and your injuries. We can also aim to negotiate with the at-fault party’s representative to recover the full monetary value of the accident without the time and expense of a court trial.
A financial settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company can help you get the compensation you are entitled to recover due to the other driver’s negligence. It can also mean you may avoid going to court. However, a settlement is permanent, so getting the numbers right is critical. Your personal injury lawyer will work to ensure your case is accurately valued and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Assess Your Recoverable Damages
After a ridesharing accident, you are entitled to the same recoverable damages you might receive in a typical car accident. Whether the at-fault driver is your ridesharing vehicle driver or another involved driver, you are entitled to recover the costs that stem from the accident. The financial value of your injuries might include:
- Medical expenses, both current and future
- Lost income, including wages and benefits
- Property damage repairs or replacement
- Disability or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Our team can help you create an expense statement that enables you to keep track of your expenses and losses to arrive at an accurate total loss statement. When you are ready to pursue the compensation the at-fault driver’s negligence entitles you to recover, we are prepared to help.
We can ensure you understand the value of your case, including future expenses and intangible damages, both of which can be difficult to value. We’ll work with doctors, economists, and other experts to understand your prognosis, medical needs, and future expenses and losses. We also know how to value non-economic damages, including pain and suffering and mental anguish.
Bring Us Your Crash Report
When we start building your compensation claim, our team might request various pieces of information from you. Our goal is to put together a case file that:
- Proves the other driver’s fault
- Establishes your right to compensation
Your crash report will likely contain the at-fault driver’s contact information, their insurance company, any available witnesses, and the investigating officer’s name. It will also denote:
- The accident date, time, and place
- Where each vehicle was struck
- Whether anyone received a traffic citation
- Accident notes and diagrams
- Injury degree and severity
Your crash report will also list the primary and secondary contributing factors for the accident. This is a valuable tool for both sides and can help secure your right to compensation from the driver who caused the collision. If you do not have a copy of the report law enforcement filed about your crash, we can obtain this document and any additional information.
File Your Insurance Claim and Demand Appropriate Compensation
Our lawyers have the experience and knowledge necessary to navigate the insurance claim process regardless of which insurance coverage was in effect or who provided the policy. Depending on the circumstances, we can file claims for clients based on:
- The rideshare driver’s individual policy
- The rideshare company’s contingency liability policy
- Uber or Lyft’s $1 million liability policy
- Another at-fault driver’s auto liability policy
Before we demand compensation from any insurer, we’ll gather evidence to support our claim and value the case. Only then will we tell the insurer how much we expect them to pay our client. They often counter-offer, and this begins settlement negotiations.
We often negotiate a settlement that fairly compensates our client and is agreeable to the insurer during this time. However, we may need to sue if:
- They will not pay a fair value
- They refuse to accept responsibility for the crash
- There are other questions of fact in the case
- Time is running out and there is no agreement
We offer our clients advice, guidance, and services based on contingency. We do not charge anything upfront. There are no hourly charges or retainers for our team. We only ask our clients to pay us a percentage of their settlement or jury award for attorney’s fees. If our client does not get money damages, we do not get paid.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientGet Help from a Lake Charles Ridesharing Accident Lawyer
Were you or someone you love injured in a car accident involving a ridesharing vehicle in Calcasieu Parish? If so, you might be entitled to financial recovery for the injuries you sustained. You can involve our team in building your compensation claim right from the start to make sure we can meet the filing deadline.
Contact the personal injury team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers by calling (337) 777-7777. We will fight by your side for the best possible financial outcome after a ridesharing accident.
