Lyft Accident Lawyer

Lyft is a convenient way to get around, but what happens if you end up in a car accident as a result of your ridesharing experience? Lyft car accidents do happen, so knowing what your rights are and what your next steps should be can help you get the compensation that you deserve. A Lyft accident alawyer can help you through the process, working with you every step of the way. When Lyft drivers get in an accident with you in the car, a Lyft accident lawyer is the best asset you can have on your side.

Safety Requirements for Lyft Drivers in Florida

Laws are starting to catch up with technology in the case of ridesharing apps. There are now some pretty strict requirements for people who are going to become Lyft drivers. First of all, Lyft drivers are required to pass a background check at both the county and national levels in order to become Lyft drivers. While this was an important part of the laws that have been recently passed, this isn’t the only thing in these laws.

There are also laws regarding insurance coverage for Lyft drivers. The laws vary depending on whether or not there is a passenger in the car.

If they have no passengers in their Lyft car, they do still need to have insurance coverage of up to $100,000/incident for bodily damage and death, $50,000 /person for bodily damage and death, and to have $25,000 per accident for property damage liability. They need all of this additional coverage as well as the PIP (Personal Injury Protection) and UIM (Uninsured Motorist) coverage that is already required by Florida law.

If the Lyft driver has passengers in the car, the Florida law says that they need to have a minimum of $1 million for bodily damage, death, and property damage. This is also in addition to the UIM and PIP that is already required.   

Compensation You May Be Entitled to in a Lyft Accident

The exact amount of compensation that you may be entitled to can depend on several different factors. These factors include:

• How severe the injuries are.
• Any out-of-pocket expenses including lost wages and medical bills.
• If the injury will impact you and your family in the long term.
• If you can return to your job in the same capacity as you did prior to the accident.
• Any physical pain and suffering and emotional damage that you suffer.

You will also want to consider the amount of compensation from the insurance companies that is available at the time of the accident. While Lyft does offer third-party liability coverage, Lyft drivers are actually independent contractors that are required to have their own insurance coverage. The issue is that it can be hard enough to fight with a single insurance company for the compensation that you deserve. It can be even harder when you are dealing with multiple insurance companies.

Now that you understand how they determine the amount of compensation that you are entitled to, it’s important to understand the type of compensation to which you are entitled. There are 2 types of compensation: economic and non-economic damages.

Economic

When talking about economic damages, this is focused on any past and future financial issues especially as car accident injuries can be financially devastating. Different types of economic damages include:

• Current and future medical bills
• Current and future lost income, lost wages, and any employment benefits
• Costs of rehabilitation
• Nursing care and any in-home aides that may be necessary
• Property damage

These are just some of the types of economic damages that you can recover in your case.

Non-Economic

When talking about non-economic damages sustained in your Lyft accident, this is a type of compensation that can not be as easily quantified by receipts. Examples of non-economic damage include:

• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of being able to enjoy your life
• Loss of consortium
• Mental health conditions caused by the accident (PTSD, depression, anxiety)

Other Damages

Economic and non-economic are the primary types of damages that you can be compensated for after an accident. However, there is also punitive damages that you can consider. These types of damages aren’t always available for every case. The whole point of this type of compensation is to punish the party that was at fault for the Lyft car accident for any intentional and/or malicious behavior. You would only be able to sue for this, for instance, if the Lyft driver was under the influence when they were driving you around.

Common Injuries in a Lyft Car Accident

Car accidents can cause a variety of different injuries, some more severe than others. Common injuries that can occur in a car accident include:

• Broken bones
• Back/spinal injuries
• Internal injuries
• Soft tissue damage
• Concussions/traumatic brain injuries
• Damage to internal organs
• Catastrophic injuries like amputations and burns

Whatever your injuries are, it’s important that you take any offer for medical attention as soon as possible after your accident. If you don’t, this will tell the Lyft driver and other parties that you aren’t as injured as you say you are.

Proving Negligence After a Lyft Car Accident

When you work with a Lyft accident lawyer, they can help you prove any negligence. You should be sure to get the contact information of any witnesses in your accident so that the Lyft acciident lawyer can contact them later on. You should also take pictures of the accident and your injuries. Keeping all of your medical records and any other reports that can help your case. Other things that can help prove negligence include:

• Testimony from eyewitnesses
• Video footage (from surveillance or dashcam footage)
• Accident/police reports

Conclusion

If you suffered from a Lyft passenger injury, The Injury Firm is the team to help you. We have the knowledge and experience to help you get the best outcomes possible for your case. Our team will look closely at the evidence, which helps us to determine whether or not you have a viable claim against your Lyft driver. We offer free no-obligation consultations for potential Lyft car accident clients, giving them valuable legal advice during this claim.