Lyft vehicles have made travel more convenient for professionals, tourists, or those just enjoying a night out. If you are in an accident involving a Lyft vehicle, however, the experience will not be convenient. Securing a settlement to compensate for your damages is a complicated process and is best handled by an Augusta rideshare accident lawyer.
If you or a loved one have been in a Lyft accident, contact John Foy & Associates for prompt legal advice.
When to Call an Augusta Lyft Accident Lawyer
Contact an Augusta Lyft accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. In Georgia, there is a two-year statute of limitations for filing injury claims. If you miss that deadline, your case will almost definitely be dismissed, and you lose your opportunity to collect a much-needed settlement.
The sooner your contact a lawyer, the better it is for your case. For example, your lawyer can gather witness testimonies while details of the accident are still fresh in their minds and request photo and video footage from nearby surveillance cameras, if applicable, while it is still available. The sooner you start the process, the sooner you can hope to see financial relief.
Though time is of the essence, you do not want to rush a filing and, in doing so, fail to present your strongest case or make errors in your documentation. Your personal injury lawyer in Augusta from John Foy & Associates will file your case with efficiency and accuracy, protecting your potential settlement.
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How Georgia Fault Laws Affect Your Settlement
Georgia is an at-fault state, meaning the party at fault for the accident provides compensation, usually through their insurance, to the party injured in a car accident.
However, Georgia operates under a modified comparative fault system, which means even injured parties can be found partially responsible for the accident, and that responsibility comes with a cost proportionate to their level of fault. If you, the victim, are deemed 15% at fault for the accident, you receive 85% of the fully calculated settlement, or 15% less than the full amount.
Negotiating a Settlement from a Lyft Accident Has Complicating Factors
Insurance companies do not want to pay out settlements if they can help it. They will try to exaggerate your level of fault and decrease what they own or even deny fault altogether.
One important way an Augusta Lyft accident lawyer can protect you is by calling out such unethical tactics or preventing you from accepting a too-low settlement when the insurance companies tell you that amount is the most you can hope to recover. Lyft accidents involve additional insurance companies, bringing a higher level of complexity and intensity to those negotiations.
How Lyft Insurance Works
Lyft drivers operate as independent contractors, not employees of the Lyft rideshare company. When using their cars for personal reasons, without activating the Lyft app, drivers are covered by their own private car insurance. When they have activated the app, drivers are, to one extent or another, covered by Lyft insurance.
- If drivers are waiting for a ride request, Lyft provides third-party liability if the driver’s personal insurance “does not apply.” Though the third-party coverage is significant, there is no first-party coverage.
- When traveling to pick up or while transporting passengers, Lyft coverage includes $1,000,000 third-party coverage, uninsured or uninsured motorist injury, first-party coverage, and contingent comprehensive/collision coverage up to the cash value of the car (with a $2500 deductible).
If you have been in a Lyft accident, your coverage varies depending on your role. Whether you are the driver, passenger, or other third party, it is likely that insurance companies will look for “fine print” loopholes to avoid being determined the responsible carrier.
Fortunately, lawyers from the Strong Arm of Georgia are experts in fine print too. They will safeguard your interests by ensuring insurance carriers play fair, paying the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Damages Your Augusta Lyft Accident Lawyer Can Seek
Augusta is one of Georgia’s largest cities. According to U.S. News, most Augusta travelers use cars, and while the city has pedestrian-friendly areas, cars are necessary for getting around the metro area.
As with many places, both nationally and internationally, Augusta commuters, tourists, and local passengers often use the convenience of Lyft vehicles to get from one place to another. Though convenient, rideshare vehicles have caused a rise in traffic-related accidents.
Car accidents can leave you with serious and life-changing injuries that affect your ability to work, care for yourself or your family, enjoy life, and cause extensive property damage. Though each case is different, your August Lyft accident will likely pursue compensation for:
Medical Expenses
Medical intervention, whether surgical, rehabilitative, medicinal, or therapeutic, is costly. Your lawyer will present all medical reports and bills as evidence in your case and seek compensation for all relevant and continued expenses.
Economic Losses
Missing work or losing your ability to work temporarily or permanently reduces your household income and can lead to a financial crisis. Your lawyer will pursue recovery for lost wages and lost potential earnings, bringing you and your family financial security.
Lost Enjoyment of Life
Your injuries may change your social and leisure activities and/or cause chronic pain, thus reducing your quality of life. These losses, though intangible, must be accounted for.
Damage to Property
The accident may damage or total your and other belongings. By recovering damages, you can repair or replace your property.
If your loved one is killed in a Lyft accident, your lawyer from John Foy & Associates can pursue a wrongful death suit. Compensation can include coverage for related medical costs, end-of-life expenses, lost earnings and potential earnings, and loss of companionship.
What You Can Expect from Your Augusta Lyft Accident Attorney
From beginning to end, your lawyer will give your case the attention it deserves. While you put your energy into recovery, your lawyer will:
- Collect evidence and build your case
- Complete all needed filings
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- Represent you at trial, should a fair settlement not be forthcoming outside of court
Through the entire process, you can expect to receive consistent, professional communication from your John Foy & Associates attorney.
Schedule a No-Cost Consultation Today
To schedule a no-cost-to-you consultation with a Lyft accident attorney in Augusta, visit John Foy & Associates’ contact page. We will treat your case with respect and accept no payment until you have been awarded a financial settlement.
706-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form