Huntsville Lyft Car Accident Attorney

Unfortunately, the data and research regarding Lyft and other ridesharing service accidents are unclear and even contradictory, in many cases. As of November 2020, the President of Lyft said there were one million active Lyft drivers. Pre-Covid, Lyft had as many as two million drivers on the road, so it is likely that number has risen since November 2020. These figures are for the United States and for Toronto. Below are Lyft statistics from carinsurance.com:

• As of January 2019, the Lyft app had been downloaded 65 million times.
• About 50 percent of Lyft customers use Lyft more than they use their own vehicles.
• A Lyft rider makes, on average, $12.53 per ride.
• Since Lyft first began (2012), through 2020, the company completed more than one billion rides. Uber, which began earlier (2009) and is found across the globe estimates more than 10 billion rides since 2009.
• About 32 percent of those who use rideshare services use Lyft.

If you have been involved in a Lyft accident that left you injured, perhaps even unable to return to work, it could be very beneficial to speak to a car accident attorney from Martinson & Beason for a free consultation.

What Should You Do Following an Injury from a Lyft Accident?

If you are involved in a Lyft accident with injuries, you should do the following:

• Make sure you move to a safe location; most rideshare accidents occur on busy city streets and intersections.
• Call 911. Clearly explain your situation, including your location. Ask for an ambulance and a police officer so you will have a police report.
• Unless you are absolutely sure there are no injuries, you and any other passengers should be checked out by a medical professional. Remember that the adrenaline rush you get during a car accident can mask injury symptoms.
• If you are physically able, take photographs with your phone, recording as much information as possible about the accident, what caused the accident, and the damage to the vehicles.
• All parties should exchange contact information. This includes your Lyft driver, yourself and all other passengers, and the driver of the other vehicle.
• You can report the Lyft accident through the Lyft app as a passenger.
• When you get home, notify your own insurance company, then take the time to jot down everything you can remember about the accident. The smallest detail could be more important than you think, so write down as much as possible.
• Contact an experienced Lyft car accident attorney from Martinson & Beason, P.C., as soon as you are able. The quicker one of our attorneys is in your corner, protecting your rights and your future, the better chance of a positive outcome.

What Are the Insurance Policy Limits of Lyft?

According to the Lyft website, you can open your Lyft app, tap the vehicle you want to see the insurance for, then tap “Lyft insurance,” to see the specific coverage for that vehicle. For the Lyft driver, his or her personal auto insurance coverage applies when the app is off. When the app is on, and the driver is waiting for a ride request, third-party liability is available for covered accidents.

That insurance includes $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 per accident for property damage. When the Lyft app is on, and the driver is picking up passengers, or during the ride with those passengers, Lyft provides the following for covered accidents:

• $1,000,000 for third-party auto liability
• Contingent comprehensive and collision up to the actual cash value of the car ($2,500 deductible)
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury and/or first-party coverage

Certain modifications to Lyft policies may exist when compliance with state or city insurance requirements is required. You can expect Lyft to attempt to avoid any liability for the accident whenever possible, therefore having an experienced Lyft car accident lawyer is virtually a necessity if you want to be paid what your claim is worth. 

What are the Three Types of Lyft Accidents?

There are essentially three different types of Lyft car accidents. The first involves injuries resulting from the negligence of a Lyft driver, i.e., the Lyft driver hits another vehicle, but is carrying no passengers at the time. The second scenario involves passengers who are injured in a Lyft when the Lyft driver is at fault. The third scenario could involve just a Lyft driver hit by another at-fault driver, or the Lyft driver with passengers hit by an at-fault driver.

If you are a passenger and your Lyft driver was at fault, depending on the circumstances you will likely be filing your claim against Lyft. If you are a Lyft passenger and another driver hits you, you will be filing your claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance. Under certain circumstances, Lyft may not cover the accident, even if the Lyft driver was at fault, and you might file your claim against the Lyft driver’s insurance. The situations can be complex—do not try to handle it on your own, rather seek legal assistance. 

What Compensation Can Potentially Be Recovered from a Rideshare Accident?

Depending on the extent of your injuries, you could be entitled to the following compensation:

• You are likely entitled to medical expenses, both current and future. This includes ambulance charges, hospital charges, physician expenses, rehabilitative therapy expenses, prescription medication expenses, and more.
• If your accident caused you to be unable to return to work, you are entitled to be reimbursed for lost wages. If you are unable to return to work for a significant length of time, you could be entitled to lost future wages.
• Pain and suffering cover both physical pain resulting from your injuries, as well as mental and psychological trauma.
• While punitive damages are rare, if the at-fault party acted in a particularly malicious or deliberate manner, you could be awarded punitive damages.

How Long Do I Have to File a Rideshare Accident Claim?

Each state operates under statutes of limitations which govern the window of time you have in which to file a claim for your injuries. In the state of Alabama, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a claim. If you fail to file your claim within that period of time, you will be barred from recovery. You have plenty of things to worry about following your Lyft car accident Do not try to handle the legal side of the accident as well. The highly skilled attorneys at Martinson & Beason treat every client with care and respect, fighting on their behalf for a fair settlement.

How the Martinson & Beason Lyft Car Accident Attorneys Can Help

The law firm of Martinson & Beason, P.C. was founded in 1937. With more than 85 years of dedication to our clients, we consistently provide each client with a professional, compassionate, knowledgeable team approach. We go the extra mile to be available to our clients, whether by phone, email, text, or in person. We will handle your Lyft car accident on a contingency fee basis, meaning if there is no recovery, we charge you nothing. If you have been involved in a Lyft car accident, contact the experienced, dedicated Huntsville, AL injury attorneys for a free, confidential evaluation.