Whether you are an Uber or Lyft passenger or a driver injured in a crash with a rideshare driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. You need to go through a complicated legal process that may involve dealing with one or more insurance companies. You should contact an Uber or Lyft accident lawyer when you need to seek financial compensation.
Rideshare companies deploy drivers on the street who have minimal training. After a background check and minimal training, one can practically walk in from the street and drive within a few days. In some cases, Uber and Lyft even cut corners on background checks because they need to get as many drivers on the road as they can to make money.
These rideshare drivers often work a second shift after a full-time day job because they want to earn extra income. Thus, they are often fatigued and drive late at night in unfamiliar areas. Further, rideshare drivers frequently go to unfamiliar areas where they do not know the roads or surroundings.
Uber and Lyft are involved in this system, and they take a cut of everything that the driver makes. These drivers make minimum money, and they try to maximize their earnings.
Some common causes of Uber and Lyft accidents include:
Common injuries that you may suffer in an Uber or Lyft accident include:
No matter what type of injury you have suffered in an Uber or Lyft accident, it is incumbent upon you to get medical care as soon as possible. Your doctor will give you medical treatment and a diagnosis that you can use as the basis for an insurance claim.
Perhaps the most important piece of information that you will get from an attorney is guidance on the value of your case. After an Uber or Lyft accident, you are left with physical injuries, but you may not know how they may affect your life in the future. You may also not understand the principles of personal injury compensation to know how they may be valued. An experienced Uber or Lyft accident attorney can review your case and tell you what you may expect in a settlement and how you can get it.
Your Uber or Lyft accident compensation can include the following:
Your rideshare accident compensation may be affected by the amount of insurance coverage available. If there was a passenger in the car or the driver had accepted a ride request, the rideshare companies provide an insurance policy for up to $1 million. In addition, the driver may have their own supplemental insurance policy because they are the ones who would be liable if the damages exceed the amount of Uber or less insurance coverage.
Companies like Uber and Lyft are experts at protecting their own interests and keeping themselves from being held liable to the fullest extent possible. As such, they classify their drivers as independent contractors and not employees. When a driver is not an employee of a company, you cannot Sue that company for compensation. You can sue Uber or Lyft for accident injuries in very limited circumstances.
However, you can file a claim against one or more insurance policies to receive compensation for your injuries. You often begin by filing a claim and working informally with the insurance company. However, if you cannot reach a settlement agreement or your lawyer advises you differently, you can also file a lawsuit against the driver that the insurance company would defend. Still, lawsuits often result in settlements, and personal injury trials are very rare.
Things are exponentially more difficult whenever an insurance company is involved in a case. When dealing with a rideshare accident, there may be more than one insurance policy against which you may file a claim. There is a chance that you may even be filing a claim against your car insurance policy if you have underinsured motorist coverage. It can be challenging to keep track of everything and deal with all the insurance companies at one time. It is challenging enough to communicate with one insurance company.
An Uber or Lyft accident attorney would investigate your accident and learn about all possible insurance coverages. They could determine which ones you may need to file a claim against and the order in which you would do so.
Anytime you find yourself injured in a car accident, you need legal representation to help you maximize the value of your claim. Hiring a car accident attorney often leads to more financial compensation than you would have received if you handled your own claim. The Brick Uber and Lyft accident lawyers at Kitrick, McWeeney & Wells have a three-decade track record in delivering successful results for clients. Our Uber and Lyft rideshare accident attorneys can do the following for your case:
The Brick Uber and Lyft accident lawyers at Kitrick, McWeeney & Wells, LLC are tough legal advocates who know how to deal with insurance companies. We go the extra mile for our clients injured in rideshare accidents. Call 732-655-3168 or contact us online for a free consultation. Our offices are in Manasquan and Brick, New Jersey, and we serve clients in Middlesex County, Atlantic County, Mercer County, Monmouth County, and Ocean County.
Address
Hours of Operation
Contact Us