As a customer of a rideshare company, like Lyft, you are owed a standard duty of care. If the rideshare driver does not uphold this responsibility and their negligence causes an accident, you may be owed compensation. While it may seem impossible to bring a lawsuit against a large company like Uber or Lyft, this is far from the truth.
John Foy & Associates can help you ensure that justice is upheld through a rideshare accident claim. In some instances, you may even be able to collect from one of the large-scale insurance policies held by the rideshare companies. To get started with filing your claim, reach out to an Acworth rideshare accident lawyer today.
How to Handle Rideshare Accidents
Rideshare accidents are serious, whether you are a passenger or you are struck by a rideshare driver while using the roads. When a rideshare accident occurs, it is imperative that you either stop driving or ask the rideshare driver to pull the vehicle over. Do not allow them to continue driving, as the next step is to file a police report with the appropriate authorities.
Here are some other steps to follow after a rideshare accident.
Start Collecting Evidence
If you are severely injured, seeking medical attention takes priority over anything else. But, people who are able to should stay at the scene of the accident and start collecting information. Primarily, you will need the names and contact information of any people who witnessed the accident.
Some of these witnesses are likely to leave the scene before the police arrive to make a report, so having some way to contact them is incredibly important. During the claims process, their testimony will be a useful element that can influence the outcome of your case.
Even if the police have not arrived at this point, you need to take pictures of the vehicles that were involved in the accident. If there is any evidence on the road, such as traffic signs that were ignored or traffic signals that should have been obeyed, take pictures of those too. Using these pictures, your personal injury lawyer in Acworth can paint a picture of how the rideshare driver or another driver was negligent.
Seek Medical Attention
Once you have done all you can to collect evidence, seek medical attention. Your medical records will be used to inform the courts of your economic losses, so this step is important. Do not wait to get medical care, as doing so could allow the insurance companies to diminish the amount of pain you are suffering due to the accident.
By going to the hospital immediately, you are showing that you are actually dealing with significant medical issues caused by the accident.
Contact an Acworth Lyft Accident Attorney
After you have done all of the aforementioned steps, you need to get in touch with a rideshare accident lawyer quickly. If you wait, critical evidence may be lost or hidden. By getting in touch with a Lyft accident attorney in Acworth immediately, you increase your chances of being able to successfully file a claim against the at-fault party.
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What Are Your Rights?
When people suffer due to Lyft accidents, they are often left with many unanswered questions. Beyond that, they begin wondering whether they have legal options to pursue damages from the rideshare driver or the company as a whole. Knowing what your rights are can help you make the right choices following a rideshare accident.
Is Your Testimony Acceptable?
If you witnessed your driver breaking the law or driving negligently, you have the right to bring this up during a claim. Of course, the driver is unlikely to admit fault, but an Acworth Lyft accident lawyer can ensure that your testimony is heard and acknowledged by the insurance company, rideshare company, judge, or jury.
Are You Covered by Lyft’s Insurance?
Another right you should be aware of is your right to file a claim through the rideshare company’s insurance policy. This is not a comprehensive right that applies to all accidents. Instead, rideshare companies have policies that only cover riders when certain conditions are met.
For example, if someone who is not actively using the rideshare app hits you while you are driving, that driver will hold liability for the accident they caused.
Can You Sue Lyft?
The last thing you need to think about is whether you have the option to sue the rideshare company directly. In most cases, you do not. This is because rideshare drivers are normally third-party contractors. Because of this, Lyft is not responsible for what these drivers do while they are working.
Though, if one of these companies hired someone with a history of breaking traffic laws and driving recklessly, you may have the opportunity to sue the rideshare company for their negligent hiring practices. To successfully litigate such a claim, you will likely need support from an experienced attorney who has processed claims against large companies in the past.
How Much Money Can You Get from a Lyft Accident Claim?
We are sure that you are wondering how much money you can acquire through a Lyft accident claim. Well, unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with an exact estimate without knowing the exact details of your case. Though, we can let you know what factors are used to determine settlement amounts in motorcycle accident cases.
There are two types of damages that can be considered losses in a personal injury claim. They include economic and non-economic damages. Here is more about each.
Economic Damages
Economic damages include any losses that can be quantified as a direct monetary loss. Examples of economic damages include:
- Past medical bills incurred due to the accident
- Future medical bills that will arise due to injuries caused by an accident
- Wages lost because of an accident
- Lost work opportunities related to an accident
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are losses that are not easily quantified in dollar amounts. Some examples of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Inability to live a comfortable life
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional distress
You May Be Entitled to Compensation
If you suffered due to the negligence of a Lyft driver, you have the right to seek compensation from them or their insurer. In some cases, you may also be eligible to claim compensation from Lyft or their insurer. To find out what you are entitled to, have an Acworth Lyft accident lawyer review the details of your accident.
Reach Out to an Attorney Today
When looking for a lawyer, be certain that the firm you choose has experience winning compensation in rideshare accidents. These cases are often complex, so someone without experience may struggle to secure fair compensation. Fortunately, John Foy & Associates has a long history in personal injury law.
You can trust us to fight for your rights and maximum compensation throughout the entire legal process. To get started with a free consultation, get in touch with us using the contact form on this page.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form