If you or someone you know was injured in a rideshare accident, we encourage you to reach out to an Atlanta Lyft accident lawyer as soon as possible. Your legal rights matter, and an Atlanta rideshare accident lawyer can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
When you hire an attorney through Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer, you can rest assured that a dedicated law firm with experience representing victims of rideshare accidents is on your side. Over 20 years, we have recovered more than $1 billion in damages, and we’re ready to help you seek justice.
What Causes a Rideshare Accident to Occur?
When you hire an Atlanta personal injury lawyer, we will look at the circumstances of the collision you were involved in and determine what led to the car crash. While not all incidents happen for the same reason, some factors are more common than others.
Here are some of the more prevalent causes of accidents involving rideshare drivers:
- Using a smartphone or GPS device while operating a vehicle
- Communicating with passengers instead of focusing on the road
- Getting distracted by text messages received while in transit
- Falling asleep at the wheel due to long hours and minimal breaks
- Speeding due to the pressure of staying on schedule
- Driving recklessly to meet tight deadlines
Types of Compensation Available for Victims of Rideshare Accidents
If you’re racking up bills after being hurt in a Lyft crash, you might be asking questions like, “Who pays for medical bills when there is a car accident?” In many cases, legal counsel strives to recover compensation to help victims pay fees associated with the crash.
If you were injured in a car crash, a Lyft accident attorney in Atlanta, GA, can help you understand if you are entitled to the following avenues of compensation:
- Hospital bills
- Surgery expenses
- Rehabilitation fees
- Ongoing medical care
- Income you lost
- Potential future earnings
- Emotional distress
- Physical pain
- Coverage for repairs
- Replacement of your property
- Psychological damage
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Lyft Accident?
If you are interested in pursuing compensation, it’s important to file your claim by the deadline in your state. But what is the car accident statute of limitations in Georgia?
In Georgia, the statute of limitations for claims following a Lyft accident is two years from the date of the collision. This means you have a two-year window in which you can initiate legal action against the parties responsible for the crash.
If you fail to file a claim within this time frame, you might lose your right to compensation. While this two-year period may seem like it’s ample time, you should still act sooner rather than later for two main reasons:
- Evidence can be processed faster: Over time, memories may fade, witnesses might be harder to locate, and physical evidence could disappear. By starting your claim as soon as possible, you’ll naturally maximize your lawyer’s chances of building a strong case.
- The claims process takes time to carry out: Filing a claim is often a lengthy process. It might entail your lawyer negotiating with insurance companies, which can extend the timeline by several months in some instances. So, if you wait until the last minute to file your claim, you could find yourself racing against the clock to settle by the deadline outlined in the statute of limitations.
Please note that you may be able to take advantage of exceptions to the statute of limitations if they apply to your situation. For example, if the injured party was a minor at the time of the accident, the statute may be paused until said minor reaches legal adulthood.
Challenges That Victims of Lyft Accident Cases May Face
We want to advise you to prepare for a long legal process when pursuing compensation as a Lyft accident victim. It’s not uncommon for lawyers to face an array of challenges when building a case for you as their client.
These issues may arise unexpectedly, but an attorney with experience handling rideshare accident cases should know how to handle these matters. Let’s take a closer look at two challenges victims of Lyft accident cases may face in the process of seeking justice.
Determining the Driver’s Insurance Coverage
One of the difficulties that may pop up pertains to insurance coverage. While Lyft drivers are mandated to maintain specific insurance policies and meet minimum state requirements, it can be hard to understand the nuances of these insurance policies fully.
This is particularly true with collisions that involve multiple vehicles. That’s why it can be difficult to understand which insurance policy applies when an accident occurs.
Lyft typically bases its insurance coverage on three distinct phases:
- Offline mode: If the rideshare driver is not logged into the Lyft app at the time of the accident, they will only be eligible for coverage under their personal insurance policy. Unfortunately, this might mean they do not have coverage for situations in which they are liable for a collision.
- Online mode without a passenger: If the driver is logged into the app at the time of the collision—but has not accepted a ride request yet—Lyft covers the driver with a plan known as contingent coverage. This means that, in the event of an accident, Lyft’s insurance can cover up to $50,000 per person for bodily injuries with a total coverage limit of $100,000 per accident. This plan also includes up to $25,000 for property damage.
- Online mode with a passenger: Once a driver accepts a ride request, Lyft provides significantly greater coverage. If the driver currently has or is en route to pick up a passenger at the time of the incident, Lyft may offer up to $1 million in coverage for bodily injuries and property damage caused by the crash.
These layered insurance coverages can create an added confusion. It can be hard to determine the appropriate source of compensation, and that’s why it’s essential to work with attorneys like us who have experience pursuing justice in Lyft accident cases.
Establishing Liability of the At-Fault Party
When asking questions like, “Can you sue Lyft and the Lyft driver for an accident?” it’s important to understand that liability is not always clear-cut. This is especially true in multi-vehicle collisions where more than one party may share fault.
For instance, if a Lyft driver is rear-ended by another vehicle while stopped at a red light, your lawyer might need to prove the extent of each party’s responsibility. Additionally, if the Lyft driver violated traffic laws by speeding or driving recklessly, their behavior can further complicate matters.
It all comes down to understanding who is responsible for the collision and how they caused the crash in the first place. However, it’s not always the Lyft driver who’s solely at fault for the accident. In many cases, these other parties might also be liable:
- A negligent driver who was operating another vehicle at the time
- The party responsible for properly maintaining the quality of the road
- A vehicle manufacturer or car repair shop that installed defective parts
Ultimately, we need to properly identify liable parties to maximize your compensation claim. This can be difficult enough in car accident cases, but the process of determining liability when rideshare companies are involved can be even more complicated.
The rideshare company might deflect responsibility by arguing that the Lyft driver is an independent contractor, not an employee of the company. This distinction may impact your case by influencing the avenues you can pursue when seeking compensation.
Thankfully, lawyers with experience representing Lyft accident victims are familiar with these subtleties, and they know how to handle the claims process effectively. We are determined to help you understand your rights while advocating for your best interests every step of the way.
Why Should You Contact an Atlanta Lyft Accident Law Firm?
It’s important to contact a Lyft accident lawyer in Atlanta, GA, because the aftermath of a rideshare accident can feel incredibly overwhelming. You shouldn’t have to try to figure out the legal system on top of already having to deal with physical pain and emotional distress.
Victims of such accidents are often burdened with medical bills for their injuries, lost wages due to time away from work, and the stress of recovering from the crash. Handling these issues by yourself can be difficult, particularly when insurance companies and multiple parties are involved.
In fact, insurance adjusters may try to employ tactics aimed at reducing the payouts they owe you or shifting blame onto you. This can leave victims feeling confused and unsupported, but an attorney with experience representing rideshare accident victims knows how to combat these tactics.
Experience With Rideshare Regulations
Rideshare companies operate under specific regulations that can both affect how liability is proven and influence how compensation is determined. These laws often vary by state, and they can be hard to understand.
An attorney who has experience working with these types of regulations can be instrumental in securing a favorable outcome for victims like you. After all, even a base-level understanding of these rideshare-specific laws can make a significant difference.
We are well-versed in rideshare regulations. We stay updated on any regulatory changes and also monitor adjustments to industry standards, as we know these could impact your case. As a result, we can offer valuable insight and guidance.
What Else Can a Lawyer Do to Help Rideshare Collision Victims? Identifying Responsible Parties
As your attorney, we can also help you in the following ways:
- Identify the parties responsible for the crash
- Seek to maximize your compensation package
- Serve as legal representation in and out of court
- Defend your rights and advocate for you
How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Atlanta Lyft Accident Lawyer?
When you’re looking to hire an attorney, legal fees will likely be a concern. After all, how much do car accident lawyers charge in Georgia?
Many Lyft accident victims are already under a lot of financial stress as a result of the collision. So, if the thought of putting more money into the situation overwhelms you, know that you’re not alone.
The good news is that we operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you will not have to pay us anything upfront. You’ll only owe us money if we successfully secure compensation for you. Let’s take a closer look at how the contingency fee pricing model works.
What Is the Contingency Fee Pricing Model?
If your attorney works on a contingency fee basis, it means they will take a predetermined percentage of the total settlement you are awarded if they win your case. This percentage typically ranges anywhere from 25% to 40%, depending on the details of your case.
However, you will enter into an official agreement with your attorney prior to working together, as this ensures both of you agree on how much they can take from your compensation package. It’s important that you clarify this fee structure during the initial consultation.
There are many benefits of the contingency fee pricing model:
- Your interests are aligned with those of your attorney.
- Lawyers are even more motivated to achieve the best possible outcome.
- You will not pay any legal fees if your legal counsel does not recover compensation.
- As the client, you can focus on your recovery while your attorney advocates for you.
- You get to evade the stress associated with upfront legal costs.
Keep in mind that other costs may be associated with pursuing a personal injury claim, such as filing with the court and paying witnesses for the time they spend testifying on your behalf. Your attorney will likely outline these potential costs and how they will be handled in your case.
Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation With an Atlanta Lyft Accident Attorney
There’s no question that collisions involving rideshare services can be distressing, especially when you are the victim. If you are facing the consequences of an accident you did not cause, you might feel overwhelmed, but reaching out to a law firm is a great place to start.
At Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer, we can explain your rights, help you defend them, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call us at your earliest convenience to schedule a no-obligation consultation and start your journey towards recovery.
