Rideshare companies like Lyft have unusual insurance coverage for their drivers. The insurance is not active all the time, like most automotive policies. If you have been in a crash while taking this car service in the North Georgia area, you may need the help of a Cartersville Lyft accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates.
Known as the Strong Arm in Georgia, our attorneys will listen to your story and gather evidence to prove who is responsible for covering your medical bills. The professional legal team at John Foy & Associates will aggressively pursue those at fault and secure the maximum compensation you deserve.
How Rideshare Insurance Works
Lyft drivers sign a contract that leases their vehicle to the rideshare company whenever they are actively driving for the company. The company “owns” the car during that time and its insurance policy covers accidents.
When you are a passenger, you can file against the Lyft driver’s personal insurance. If another driver caused the accident, you could file against them. Lyft is very evasive in accepting claims against its insurance, often insisting that you exhaust other options before they pay out. If there are multiple individuals involved who want to claim against Lyft, this means your compensation may be reduced.
Rideshare companies like Lyft only provide liability coverage when their drivers are engaged in these activities:
Logged into the Lyft App
Even if a driver is sitting in their car preparing to work, they must be logged into the Lyft app at the time of an accident. Insurance coverage during this activity is the lowest, usually mirroring state minimum requirements. For example, in Georgia, the state requires coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per incident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
Picking up or Transporting a Passenger
When a driver is on their way to pick up a passenger or is driving with the passenger in the car, Lyft provides up to $1 million in comprehensive liability insurance.
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How Much Is a Cartersville Lyft Accident Claim Worth?
A crash while riding in a Lyft vehicle can result in severe injuries. You may also experience property damage to items such as cell phones, computers, or luggage if you are traveling to the airport. An experienced Lyft accident lawyer in Cartersville can help you calculate the full value of your claim.
You could suffer injuries that develop in the days and weeks after the crash. You may be unable to work or resume your normal activities without substantial medical treatment. Both economic expenses like doctor bills and non-economic damage such as emotional distress can be included in your claim.
Some examples of these losses are:
- Hospital bills
- Travel for medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Loss of consortium
- Medications
- Mobility aids, such as crutches, wheelchairs, or walkers
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Replacement costs for personal property
How an Attorney Can Help
Whether the Lyft driver or another motorist is to blame, you should not face these expenses without help. Your attorney will negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to fight back against their underhanded tactics.
A Cartersville Lyft accident attorney from John Foy & Associates will push back on lowball offers until you have a satisfactory settlement. They will also litigate tirelessly in court for your personal injury lawsuit.
Even though Lyft provides a possible $1 million in coverage, if you suffer catastrophic injuries and permanent disability, your expenses could total more than that. Years of treatment and care can easily surpass insurance coverage. The best course of action may be to file a lawsuit and seek reimbursement from the company directly.
Proving Liability in a Lyft Accident
A successful insurance claim or lawsuit depends on proving negligence on the part of the responsible party and demonstrating how they are at fault. Your attorney will develop a case that shows the four elements of negligence:
- The at-fault party owed you a duty of care.
- The at-fault party failed in that duty.
- You suffered injuries as a result of the failure.
- You incurred damages directly related to your injuries.
Evidence to support these arguments can include information you supply to your lawyer and documents they must request through legal actions. Your attorney may even hire an independent accident investigator to ensure no stone is left unturned. Your case may rely on materials such as:
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Dash camera footage
- Traffic camera footage
- Photos of the accident scene and your injuries
- Witness statements
- Cell phone records of the drivers
- Event Data Recorder (EDR) or “black box” information from the vehicles involved
While most accidents are between individuals, Lyft crash cases are more complicated because the rideshare company is involved. They often hide behind a defense that their driver is to blame, not them. Their team of lawyers will try to intimidate you into dropping a suit or drag it out in an effort to exhaust your financial resources.
The good news is that John Foy & Associates will not quit. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we do not get paid until you win. We stay the course until you receive justice.
Speak to a Cartersville Lyft Accident Lawyer Today
Figuring out who should reimburse you for injuries in your rideshare accident can be confusing and overwhelming when you are trying to heal. You must act quickly because Georgia only allows two years from the date of your accident to file a claim. If you wait too long, you could lose your right to seek compensation.
Speak to a Lyft accident attorney in Cartersville today to understand what to do next. Our team will assess your case and get started while you recover. We are available 24/7 and offer services in Spanish. Do not wait to get help determining who is to blame for your pain and suffering.
Get in touch with our office today by phone or through our convenient online form.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form