Lawrenceville Lyft Accident Lawyers

Causes of Lyft Crashes and Injuries

There are many different reasons why Lyft vehicles might crash, as is the case with any type of traffic accident.

Different parties might be at fault, and the following are only some of the many possible causes of an accident:

• Distracted drivers – Lyft drivers rely on the Lyft app to get passengers, so they are constantly plugged into their phones while they are driving. The app also directs them to pick up and drop off points, so they are watching maps as they are on the road. Even though drivers might mount their phones in their vehicles to be hands-free, it is still highly distracting to have to check the app constantly, and it requires taking their eyes off the road.
• Fatigued drivers – Lyft restricts the hours a driver can work in a single shift to try to curb fatigued driving. However, many people drive for Lyft as a side job, so they might begin driving after they work a long day at their full-time jobs. Many Lyft drivers work late into the night, and they might be exhausted while driving. This can lead to a lack of focus or even falling asleep behind the wheel.
• Impaired drivers – Lyft is usually busiest when bars and other establishments close, as many people rely on rideshare services to get home safely after drinking. However, even if you are taking a Lyft, many other people chose to drive while intoxicated. These drunk drivers might crash into your Lyft and cause injuries. There is also always the chance that your Lyft driver might be under the influence.
• Violating traffic laws – Lyft drivers do not have to obtain a special license or undergo special training to begin working. They are regular drivers who, like anyone else, might speed or violate other traffic laws that cause a crash. Other drivers might also commit violations that result in an accident with your Lyft.
• Defective vehicles – Lyft vehicles must meet certain requirements for a driver to start working, though many drivers then neglect maintenance on their vehicles. There is also the chance that the vehicle has defective parts that malfunction while you are riding along.

If someone else’s negligence caused your Lyft accident, you should speak with a Lawrenceville Lyft accident lawyer at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC as soon as possible about your legal rights and options. The right lawyer will be able to begin investigating the accident and handling the claim process, allowing you the time that you need to rest, recover, and recuperate from the injuries you sustained in your accident.

Moreover, if a representative from Lyft calls you and insists upon a recorded statement, you should make sure that you have your lawyer present in person or on the phone with you when you give the statement. These statements are not required, and the only reason that an insurance company might request one is to try and see if there is a basis for denying liability in your Lyft accident case.

Insurance Limits of Coverage in a Lyft Accident

Individuals who drive for Lyft have to meet certain requirements. One of the most important requirements that they have to meet is that they must have their own motor vehicle insurance policy in place while they are driving for Lyft.

Just like all other motor vehicle operators on the road, individuals who drive for Lyft must follow all applicable traffic laws and regulations in Georgia, and that while they are on the road, they are operating their motor vehicles safely and carefully at all times. Negligence occurs when a driver acts unreasonably under the circumstances, and as a result, the accident and subsequent injuries occur.

In many cases, in the event of an accident, a Lyft driver’s own insurance policy is primary. Specifically, in cases where a driver’s Lyft app is off, and he or she becomes involved in an accident, the driver’s own personal automobile coverage will apply and will come into place if the accident victim suffers an injury.

If a driver’s Lyft app is on and the driver is waiting on a request for a ride, third-party liability insurance is provided by Lyft corporate. The policy limits of coverage in these cases are $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 per accident for property damage.

In cases where a Lyft driver has his or her app on and is either picking up passengers or is in the middle of a ride, Lyft provides $1,000,000 for third-party liability coverage, contingent comprehensive and collision coverage up to the car’s maximum value (with a deductible of $2,500 that is in place), and underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage.

Uninsured motorist coverage comes into play when the driver who caused the accident does not have coverage on his or her vehicle (or in accident cases that involve phantom vehicles and drivers who leave the scene right away). In that instance, the accident victim’s motor vehicle insurance coverage can come into play and provide the necessary compensation for injuries and damages sustained.

On the other hand, underinsured motorist coverage comes into play when the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage is insufficient to compensate an accident victim for his or her medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. In that instance, the accident victim’s own insurance policy may come into effect, to make up the difference.

An experienced Lawrenceville Lyft accident attorney OR Lawrenceville Uber accident attorney at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC can help you determine which insurance policy or policies may come into play to supply the coverage that you need in your case. Our legal team is fully committed to helping you maximize your potential recovery for injuries and damages you sustained in your Lyft motor vehicle accident.

Multiple Liable Parties in Lyft Accident Cases

In some instances, especially in multi-vehicle accidents, it can be difficult to determine exactly who was at fault for the accident and who caused the damage. If you were a passenger in a Lyft that crashed into another car, both the Lyft driver and the other driver might each be partially to blame. It is important to have a lawyer who can identify when you might need to file multiple insurance claims against multiple liable parties. The insurance companies can then determine which driver had which percentage of fault. Each liable driver (or Lyft) will pay their share of your damages.

If you fail to file all the necessary claims against all negligent parties, you might lose out on the compensation you deserve. Determining liability is a complex legal issue, so you want the right Lyft accident lawyer on your side. Part of our job is to identify all parties – individuals and companies – that should compensate you for your losses.

Recovering Damages From a Lyft Accident

Despise the ease and convenience associated with Lyft and other rideshare vehicles, accidents can and oftentimes do occur. When these accidents happen, and the accident victim can prove the legal elements of his or her case, then the accident victim may be eligible to recover monetary compensation in the form of both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages compensate an accident victim for out-of-pocket costs, lost wage earnings, and medical expenses, including treatment costs and surgical procedures, that are related to the injuries sustained in the accident.

In addition to these economic damages, a Lyft accident victim may be able to recover non-economic damages for inconvenience, loss of use of a body part, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, and physical pain and suffering associated with the injuries sustained in the accident. In cases where the at-fault driver behaves in a particularly reckless, careless, or egregious manner, the accident victim may file a claim for punitive damages.

The main purpose of a punitive damages claim (and award) is to deter other individuals from committing similar wrongdoings and to punish the individual who was at fault for the accident. Punitive damages may be available in a Lyft accident case where the driver who is operating the Lyft vehicle was intoxicated or under the influence of drugs at the time when the accident occurred.