Using a smartphone app to summon a ride has become an expected way of life for many people. As ridesharing companies continue to gain popularity, more of their vehicles are being added to the roads and highways drivers share. However, with more ridesharing vehicles on the road comes more opportunity for them to get into traffic accidents.
If you or someone you love suffered injuries as either an Uber or Lyft passenger or a pedestrian hit by one of these vehicles, you might be able to sue for compensation from the rideshare vehicle driver, company, or related party. The personal injury team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can explain how a St. Charles Parish rideshare accident lawyer could help you pursue compensation.
Let Our Team Represent Your Interests Against the Rideshare Company
No one wants to fight a large corporation on their own, whether it is a trucking company, rideshare provider, or insurer. Our traffic accident attorneys working in St. Charles Parish understand this unease and are here to help. We have experience representing Uber and Lyft accident victims and know how to navigate and win these claims.
We understand the unusual and often-confusing way rideshare companies structure their insurance coverage. We can identify which policy is primary and if any contingency policies might cover any additional expenses you suffered. In many cases, we can seek damages for our client based on the rideshare company’s $1 million liability policy. These cases generally settle outside of court.
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers represents our clients based on a contingency fee. We do not ask clients to pay us upfront or at an hourly rate. Instead, we only get paid from any financial recovery we secure for the client. We receive a percentage of the award for our attorney’s fees. If we do not recover compensation for you, we will not get paid.
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.
ClientCatalog Your Injuries and Their Costs
Depending on what happened in the accident, you might sustain severe, even life-threatening injuries. If you were a pedestrian instead of a vehicle passenger in an accident, your injuries might range from minor to catastrophic. Injuries typically reported in car and pedestrian accidents include:
- Broken bones
- Head and neck injuries
- Back and spine injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal bleeding
More serious injuries could include traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and spinal cord injuries (SCIs). In addition, some people experience devastating, life-altering effects from their collision injuries. Generally, these injuries qualify for the most compensation.
To help show the extent of your injuries and their corresponding costs, our team might request your emergency room notes, diagnostic exam results, and health care bills, and reports. We might be able to use these documents to determine the amount of compensation to request for the injury portion of your case.
Your Injuries Have Related Expenses
Your lawyer might also be able to help you recoup additional costs related to your accident or injuries. For example, your injury-related expenses can also include job-related wages or business income you missed out on while you underwent treatment. That might include costs for hospital or rehab stays, doctor’s appointments, and days you could not work because of your injuries.
If your vehicle or other personal property was damaged or destroyed in the accident, you may be able to list these expenses as total property damage in your demand letter. If you were in your vehicle and a rideshare driver hit you, your claim could include repairing or replacing your car.
You might also receive compensation for general (noneconomic) damages, such as pain and suffering, inconvenience, mental and emotional trauma, physical disabilities or impairments, and permanent scarring or disfigurement.
Our team may discuss the damages you experienced at length so that we can assign an accurate value to your personal injury case. We know how to value your to-date expenses and losses, future costs, and intangible damages. We will seek an appropriate payout for you based on the value range we put on your case.
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 | ClientWe Can Deal with the Insurance Companies on Your Behalf
When a St. Charles Parish Uber and Lyft ridesharing accident lawyer works with you, they may handle the insurance forms, paperwork, and settlement negotiations for you. Indeed, our team wants to focus on your personal injury case on your behalf so that you can focus on sticking to your treatment plan and optimizing your physical recovery.
Each ridesharing company has insurance coverage with regulations and maximums that affect who pays for damages and in what amounts. These rules can be challenging to sort through, but our attorneys know how they work and how to determine which insurance policy was in effect when your accident occurred. This determination is vital to ensure we file your claim with the right insurer.
Uber Insurance Protections
Uber drivers logged into the app and waiting for a request might first have to rely on their private insurance. If the driver’s auto liability insurance does not cover the accident, Uber’s third-party liability coverage might kick in. Uber’s policy limits include:
- $50,000 in bodily injury protection per person
- $100,000 per accident
- $25,000 in property damage per accident
If an Uber driver is involved in an accident on their way to pick up a passenger or with a passenger in their vehicle, Uber’s coverage increases to $1,000,000 in third-party liability. For the rideshare driver, it also includes uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for bodily injuries. They might also be entitled to recover the actual cash value of their car.
Lyft Insurance Protections
Lyft takes its responsibility to its drivers and passengers seriously. A Lyft driver involved in an accident while logged into the app might have to turn first to their private insurer to cover accident-related expenses. If Lyft insurance covers the accident, the payout is limited to the amounts of $50,000 per person for bodily injuries with a cap of $100,000 per accident. An additional $25,000 per accident is available to compensate injured parties for property damage.
A Lyft driver who is transporting a passenger or on the way to transport a passenger might be covered by Lyft’s insurance. It provides third-party liability of $1,000,000. It also includes coverage for the driver’s bodily injury protection if the accident involves an uninsured or underinsured motorist. Property damages for the rideshare driver are limited to a damaged car’s pre-accident cash value.
You do not have to sort out these insurance claims without help. The personal injury team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can explain the ins and outs of ridesharing insurance and build your case.
Do Not Wait to Contact Our Team
The Louisiana Civil Code (CC) § 3492 limits you to two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. It can take more than two years to recover from a car accident. Unfortunately, the statute of limitations will not wait while you recuperate. Running out of time might prevent you from pursuing the compensation you need.
With enough notice, our personal injury team might be able to comply with the statutory deadline so that your case can move forward. We immediately get to work after you sign a contract to work with us—even if you are still undergoing treatment or recovering from your injuries. We generally do not file a claim until:
- Our client reaches maximum medical recovery
- We understand their prognosis and any future or ongoing medical needs
However, we must complete several tasks before we can file a claim. Therefore, we can get to work investigating your case and developing your claim as soon as you enlist our help.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientWe Can Help After a Ridesharing Accident
Recovery after a ridesharing accident can be frustrating and stressful. Having to go through legal battles might only add to your frustration and anxiety. A St. Charles Parish Uber and Lyft ridesharing accident lawyer may help you pursue compensation. If you are interested in filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit, contact our legal team by calling Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (504) 777-7777.
