With more and more commuters choosing rideshare services like Lyft and Uber as one of their primary modes of transportation, the potential for accidents, collisions, and lawsuits becomes increasingly more frequent year after year.
However, compensation for rideshare accidents can be difficult to obtain. Rideshare drivers are independent workers and not their companies’ employees like taxi drivers.
Read on if you or someone you know suffered injuries in a rideshare accident. A Port Barre rideshare accident lawyer can help you navigate insurance and liability coverage while helping you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Can a Rideshare Accident Lawyer Help Me After a Port Barre Car Accident?
With three offices located throughout Louisiana, the rideshare accident lawyers at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers are ready to provide legal representation to injured rideshare drivers not already covered by workers’ compensation. Passengers who believe a collision caused their injuries due to the driver’s negligence can also seek legal representation.
Our accident lawyers can secure a settlement for your injuries in many ways. Should your claim prove to hold merit, we could assist you in many areas, including:
- Gathering evidence
- Collecting medical expenses and documentation
- Providing counseling before making statements about the accident
- Communicating with the insurance companies.
In effect, our law firm aims to offer clients the ability to focus on their physical and emotional recovery while our lawyers work towards rightful compensation.
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How to Earn a Settlement Following a Rideshare Accident
The insurance providers of rideshare companies do not cover the drivers or their vehicles. This is because services like Uber and Lyft are classified as transportation network companies (TNCs) under RS 45:201.4. However, there are several ways an eligible driver or passenger may still obtain a settlement for injuries suffered during a rideshare accident.
Determine Liability
Determining liability is crucial to determining whether you are eligible for compensation. As such, you must confirm the following questions:
- Did the rideshare driver cause the accident?
- Was the rideshare driver actively using the ridesharing app at the time of the accident?
- Were any other parties directly involved in causing the accident?
If you have trouble answering any of these questions, your rideshare accident lawyer can assist in conducting an investigation. They can also help explain the nuances of rideshare accident liability.
Review the Liability Nuances
Liability nuances center around the degree to which the rideshare driver was actively engaged with the ridesharing app at the time of the accident. Therefore, rideshare drivers will need to use their own auto insurance if they were not logged on to the app or if the app was off completely when the accident occurred. Alternatively, suppose the accident happened when the app was on, and the driver was waiting for the passenger.
In that case, the ridesharing company could potentially provide coverage if the driver’s insurance does not. The rideshare company’s insurance could also provide coverage if the driver was injured on their way to the passenger or if both the driver and passenger were injured during an active ride.
Should a third party be involved in the cause of the accident, you could also pursue compensation from this driver’s insurance company. Common examples of third parties involved in rideshare accidents include other drivers, maintenance and manufacturing companies, or municipalities.
Types of Compensation
After determining liability, individuals injured in rideshare accidents can seek recoverable damages. A range of medical expenses is covered, including the cost of:
- Medication
- Emergency medical services
- Hospitalization
- Surgery
- Rehabilitation
- Assistive devices
- Home health care
In addition to the more immediate expenses, you can seek compensation due to long-term losses. These damages include:
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent impairments
- Loss of earning capacity
- Future income due to the inability to work
You can also obtain compensation for the loss of a loved one in a rideshare accident. Compensation for both tangible and intangible damages are available, with recoverable damages including:
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of society
- Loss of guidance
- Funeral and burial costs
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How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
Though most personal injury cases settle out of court, you must still file a lawsuit to retain the ability to seek compensation via trial if the responsible parties do not provide a suitable settlement offer.
According to CC Art. 3492 and CC Art. 2315.2, you have up to one year to file a lawsuit in personal injury or wrongful death cases, respectively. Failing to file your lawsuit on time could result in losing the right to file altogether.
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What does It Cost to Hire a Port Barre Rideshare Accident Lawyer?
Hiring the services of a rideshare accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers might be more affordable than some people may think. Injured parties seeking legal representation pay nothing upfront until compensation for their injuries is obtained.
As a result, we will front the cost for everything (investigating, building your case, and litigating before a court of law). Our firm will not charge clients if our lawyers do not deliver a settlement or court award.
Some lawyers ask clients to pay costly retainer fees or pay upfront for the lawyer’s labor. We know you are likely under financial stress, so we will not ask this of you.
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Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers To Learn About Your Options
Knowing your options for rightful compensation is important no matter what seat you were in when a rideshare accident occurred. Obtaining fair damages is possible, and our rideshare accident lawyers in the Port Barre area can benefit your case.
With free consultation available, look no further than Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to help get you rolling on the road toward the compensation you deserve. Call (337) 777-7777 today to speak to our team.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
