Whether taking a Lyft during rush hour to get to work or at the end of a night out on the town, an accident could occur. We put our lives and the lives of the people we care about into someone else’s hands when using rideshare services such as Lyft.
Rideshare companies hire drivers without much knowledge of their background and driving history. They are engaging their drivers as independent contractors. This means your driver is not an actual employee of the rideshare company, which offers the company protection and certain benefits.
An experienced rideshare accident attorney from Barrios & Virgüez could protect you as the passenger. Call today to schedule a free consultation with an Augusta Lyft accident lawyer.
What to Do After Being Involved in a Lyft Accident
Car accidents are sometimes inevitable. Accidents are serious, whether you are in a typical vehicle accident or a rideshare. These accidents often result in injuries that can be severe and even life-threatening.
The steps you take following your involvement in a Lyft accident are essential. However, there are things you should and should not be doing following an accident according to our car accident lawyers.
What You Should Do:
- Contact the local police Immediately to file a police report
- Seek medical attention for any injuries sustained (this is important regardless if you are visibly injured or not)
- Collect evidence of the accident (photos, statements, road conditions, contact information of involved parties)
- Contact an experienced Lyft accident lawyer in Augusta
What You Should Not Do:
- Never claim fault for the accident
- You do not want to decline medical attention even if you feel and think you are ok
- Speak to the insurance companies without adequate legal counsel
It is important to know these do’s and don’ts and keep them in mind after being involved in a Lyft accident. This will reduce the possibility of you putting your claim at risk. To ensure proper handling, consult a personal injury lawyer today.
Lyft’s Required Insurance
Like many rideshare companies, Lyft does not consider its drivers to be actual employees. Instead, the drivers are hired as contractors. This is a measure of security solely in their favor.
They do this to avoid liability in the event their driver is involved in an accident. They might be able to prevent specific liability, but not all. For the unavoidable, Lyft requires its drivers to purchase rideshare insurance.
This insurance must meet state-enforced requirements and carry the minimum monetary liability coverage. In addition to this mandatory driver’s insurance, Lyft has insurance that covers its drivers. They require the driver’s insurance to be the first to be filed against.
What if the Claim Is Denied?
If the filed claim is denied, Lyft’s insurance will come into play. This is to protect the company. Lyft is defending itself in this instance, so why should you not do the same for yourself? You absolutely should do the same and ensure you are protected. An experienced Lyft accident attorney can help.
Rideshare Accident Claims
Filing an accident claim following such accidents is your legal right. You have rights that you may be unaware you have. We caution against accepting the first figure offered to you.
Rideshare companies are like many other companies and look out for their best interests rather than the accident victim. You may be unaware of all that could be owed to you. Often it is a lot more than you may think.
For the best odds, it is common practice to file a claim against the rideshare company and its insurance company, then consult an Augusta Lyft accident attorney to take on your claim.
Recoverable Damages You Should Include in Your Claim
Due to the possibility of severe loss that can result from a vehicle accident, you may have the right to recover damages. This will mainly depend on the investigation the insurance company will conduct to determine fault. Some of the recoverable damages include:
- Damages to your property
- Loss of wages due to inability to work
- Medical expenses for treatments needed as a result of the accident
- Pain and Suffering
- Rehabilitation costs, if necessary
- Prescription expenses for sustained injuries
- Damage to your personal belongings
- Emotional, mental, and physical distress
- Future wage loss brought on by the accident
We know that an injury is not the only possible outcome of a rideshare accident. In the extreme instance where death results from an accident, the victim’s family is entitled to wrongful death damages. There are restrictions around the relation of the victim, but an experienced Augusta Lyft collision injury lawyer will be able to give more information regarding your rights and negotiate exact damages pending the evaluation of your claim.
Compensation Awarded for Accident Claim
Compensation is not something that is easily determined. Our main goal is to get you a fair settlement in as little time by avoiding lengthy litigation. The compensation details cannot be determined until an experienced attorney has evaluated the details of your claim.
Typically, compensation is usually dependent on multiple factors. This usually means we will seek both economic and non-economic damages for you.
It is against our recommendation to accept offers for compensation without consulting a lawyer. We make sure to do our due diligence in identifying all sustained damages when approaching the insurance companies. This includes even going after future damages due to prolonged care and loss of wages.
We are focused on ensuring you are getting your fair compensation. Reach out to an Augusta Lyft crash attorney to have your claim evaluated today.
Speak to an Augusta Lyft Accident Attorney and Take Legal Action
Deciding on entrusting your claim to an attorney is important. Please make sure you are aware of your rights and that you are also exercising them when dealing with your accident claims. You will likely have a long road to recovery ahead, which should be your primary focus.
It would be best if you did not have the burden of researching how to handle such claims; your focus should be on your recovery. Trust our Augusta Lyft accident lawyer to take on your case. We have a respected reputation for litigating Lyft accident claim cases.
Trust that we will not only be fair but also diligent in seeking proper compensation for you following your involvement in an accident. Contact our offices today to schedule a consultation to discuss your claim. One of our lawyers would be happy to give you more information on what we can do for you.
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