Lyft and other ridesharing programs have made it easier than ever to get a safe ride home after a night out with friends, and they make it convenient to get rides to the airport, doctor’s appointments, and wherever else on demand. The vast majority of rides given by Lyft are completely safe and reliable, but accidents happen occasionally.
If you or a loved one was involved in a car accident while using Lyft, you can recover some damages that can help you pay for medical bills and cover costs if you can’t work. These types of cases can be even more complicated than standard car accidents, which is why it’s best to hire an experienced Ellenwood rideshare accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident.
Who Pays for Damages in a Lyft Accident?
It depends who is found responsible for causing the accident in most cases. If another car hits the Lyft car you were in, the other party’s insurance may have to cover the damage done. If the Lyft driver’s actions caused the accident, their insurance may be tapped to cover damages, especially if they weren’t actively using the Lyft app.
Not all insurance companies cover those who drive for rideshare programs like Lyft, but Lyft also offers insurance for its drivers whenever they are driving with the app engaged. Lyft’s insurance policies differ for when the Lyft driver is using the app and waiting for a ride request, or for when they have passengers in the car. Despite these rules of thumb, it can be incredibly difficult to establish fault and get the compensation you deserve after an accident without expert legal advice.
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Proving Fault in a Lyft Accident
The best way to ensure that you can get compensation from the Lyft accident you were involved in is to gather adequate evidence that proves the other party, or the Lyft driver, was responsible for the accident. This often includes photographs at the scene of the accident, in-app interactions with the driver, and witness testimony.
Your Lyft accident attorney in Ellenwood will help you gather compelling evidence for your case, and they will work to present a credible account of why the other party is at fault, and why you deserve compensation. Proving fault in an accident without a skilled Ellenwood Lyft accident lawyer can be almost impossible.
Compensation You Can Get from Lyft
If your Lyft driver was in an accident, and they are determined to be responsible for causing it, you can receive up to $1 million in damages from the company. Lyft will likely do everything in its power to pay out as little as possible, but your Lyft accident lawyer in Ellenwood will advocate to get you as much compensation as possible. Some common types of damages you may be able to collect from a Lyft accident include:
Medical Bills
Car accidents can lead to numerous types of injuries that can cause temporary or permanent bodily harm. Medical bills can accrue quickly, but your lawyer will fight to get you the compensation you need to pay your medical bills related to the accident in full. Medical bill damages can also cover future medical care that you may need, including physical and occupational therapy, home visits from healthcare professionals, and more.
Lost Income
Severe injuries may render you or your loved one unable to work, which can put a major financial strain on a family that finds themselves suddenly without income, or with far less than they are accustomed to. Lost wages can help pay you for the hours of work you have missed due to your injuries so far, and they can also cover the hours that you won’t be able to work in the future.
Property Damage
You may also be able to recover property damage compensation if your car was struck by a Lyft driver, or other personal property was damaged in the accident.
Wrongful Death
If you lost a loved one in a Lyft accident, you may be able to recover wrongful death damages by suing Lyft. These can help cover the costs of medical bills accrued before death, funeral expenses, and the income they are no longer able to bring in. No amount of money can erase the grief a victim’s loved ones feel about their death, but wrongful death damages can at least help those left behind make ends meet.
In some cases, you may also be able to sue both the Lyft driver and Lyft to receive damages, but these cases are extremely complex and require expert legal representation.
The Statute of Limitations on Lyft Accident Claims in Georgia
According to code §9-3-33, Georgia has a two-year statute of limitations in place. This means that you have two full years from the date of the accident to file a claim. Two years seems like a long time, and many people put off filing claims because it can be a taxing and overwhelming process.
Unfortunately, it can take the court system a long time to let the claim through, especially if the paperwork is filled out incorrectly or incompletely. Failure to get your claim filed on time can result in your case being thrown out, effectively eliminating your chances of receiving compensation. This is why we always recommend filing a claim as soon as possible after an accident.
When you choose John Foy & Associates, we will help you file your claim to ensure that it is complete and accurate, and we will ensure that everything is filed on time, every time.
Connect with a Skilled Ellenwood Lyft Accident Attorney Today
After being involved in a Lyft accident, the last thing you feel like doing is searching for the right lawyer to handle your case. At John Foy & Associates, we offer a free case consultation, and our clients don’t pay us unless we win. We have fought on behalf of people like you for 20 years, and we have helped recover over $1 billion for those who have been hurt by other people’s irresponsible actions.
If you or a loved one needs the best legal representation in Georgia, contact us today!
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
