Lyft Accident Claims and Settlements
Lyft Accident Claims and Settlements
Lyft and Uber ride-sharing services have boosted traffic fatalities by 2-3% since 2011, with thousands of people hurt.
If a Lyft driver causes an accident, you probably want to know the kind of car accident settlement you can expect. This page details Lyft accident claims and payments and answers common questions about accidents involving Lyft drivers.
The most important thing to remember about Lyft accidents: Lyft accident insurance, up to $1 million in coverage, applies only if the Lyft driver was actively engaged in giving a passenger a ride or on the way to pick up the passenger when the accident occurred. If the crash happened when the driver was not driving a passenger, the driver’s auto insurance would probably be affected, which has lower coverage limits in most accidents.
Lyft also has a minimal Lyft liability coverage of $20,000 on its uninsured motorist policy that may be in effect if you are a Lyft driver on your way to getting a passenger, and an uninsured driver hits you.
Having a skilled car accident attorney in your corner for your Lyft accident claim can help you maximize your coverage in these complex cases.
- How Much Is Your Car Accident Settlement Worth?
Find out the maximum compensation you could receive.
- How Much Is My Car Accident Settlement Worth?
Ride-Sharing Safety Concerns
Many people rely on ride-sharing without giving it too much thought. You may assume that these drivers have your safety in the forefront of their mind. However, ride-share drivers do not have additional training in order to drive other people around. While taxi drivers are typically employees of an established business, Lyft and Uber drivers are independent contractors. This means that liability and training requirements are different for them.
A Lyft driver faces the same challenges that everyone else has on the road. The only difference here is that there is a rating on the line. But the weather, poor road conditions, and other drivers don’t care if that driver gets a 5 star rating. Even if your driver avoids distractions and drives safely, accidents can still happen.
On the other hand, you may be unfortunate enough to have a driver who is a little more reckless. Perhaps they are eager to finish your drive and pick someone else up, trying to make as much money as they can. Maybe they drive a little too fast or weave in and out of traffic. This isn’t safe or ideal, but a reality for many drivers. Pay attention to a driver’s ratings and take complaints about any reckless behaviors seriously.
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Lyft Accidents as a Passenger
Car crashes are scary for anyone. But as a passenger, there can be an added sense of helplessness. And when the driver of the car is a stranger, it adds another layer of stress. If you suffer serious injuries, it may impact your ability to work. You are facing medical bills and a loss of income. With any car accident, you will expect a settlement to cover these costs. However, getting compensation from an accident involving a ride-share driver is not always easy.
The matter of who is at fault for the accident is important to determine when figuring out who is going to pay for your damages. If the driver of the other vehicle involved is responsible for the crash, you would need to file a claim with their insurance. In the event that the driver has little or no insurance, you can seek compensation from Lyft.
Conversely, if the accident is due to your Lyft driver’s recklessness or poor decisions, getting a payout is even more complicated. You may need to take legal action against Lyft and/or the driver if you face difficulty getting paid to cover your damages. Having a lawyer on your case will help you choose the best course of action to pursue a settlement.
After a Lyft Wreck
Immediately after a car accident in a Lyft accident, you may be unsure of what to do. First, make sure that you are physically okay. Seek medical care if it obvious that you are injured. If you are safe and able to, you need to take steps to protect your rights. Take pictures of the accident. Collect contact and insurance information from all of the drivers involved. If there are any witnesses to the crash who are willing to talk to you, try to record a statement of what they saw. All of this information could make a difference in your Lyft claim or settlement.
Keep in mind that getting compensation from a Lyft accident is not easy or guaranteed. Make sure that you are assessed by a doctor or medical professional after that accident, even if you feel okay. If the crash was serious, make sure that there is a police report on file. Reach out to a car accident attorney to discuss your case and make sure that you are not being taken advantage of by Lyft or the insurance company.
An experienced attorney will be able to review your case and give you reliable guidance. They will help you recover the costs incurred due to the accident, including medical expenses and lost wages due to injuries. You may have prescription costs, therapy bills, perhaps even pain and suffering due to the crash. Without the help of a lawyer, you may not be able to get compensation from Lyft.
Why Hire A Car Accident Lawyer for a Lyft Passenger Settlement?
If you are hurt in an accident involving a Lyft driver and want a Lyft passenger settlement, you need a Lyft accident attorney. You probably are dealing with more insurance adjusters in a rideshare crash than in a regular car accident. Lyft auto insurance is complicated, and the company does not like to pay big claims.
You may be working with up to six different claims adjusters from various insurance companies in many cases. You might even have to work with up to nine! That means you must email and call a lot of people for a single claim.
You probably have to leave voice mail messages with different adjusters asking for a call back. You will be waiting a long time for several adjusters to get back to you. In the meantime, you are not getting compensation for your injuries, and you may be out of work.
It is easy to get discouraged and frustrated in this situation and even give you. Trying to juggle so many insurance adjusters is made more complicated because you probably do not have a case management program that sorts all auto claim information into the right locations. This makes taking notes easier when an adjuster calls you.
Get a complimentary consultation with a Lyft car accident attorney to minimize your stress and worry.
How Long Does It Take Lyft To Mail You A Settlement Check?
When you reach an accident settlement with Lyft, they should send you the check within two weeks. Some states require the insurance company to send the check in a specific time frame. But the more challenging part is to get the payment. Lyft insurance providers are tough negotiators, but a skilled attorney should be able to get you a substantial settlement.
Can You Sue The Lyft Driver If the Driver Did Not Cause Your Injuries?
No. But you can hire a Lyft accident attorney to file suit for uninsured driver coverage if you should be covered by UM coverage. Perhaps you own a vehicle with UM coverage. If you reside with a loved one who has uninsured motorist coverage on a car, you could be entitled to use their UM coverage.
You could sue without an attorney, but this is a bad idea. Laws involving uninsured motorists in a Lyft accident are complex. You will get a better settlement and have much less stress if you call a lawyer.
What If You Were in a Lyft Car and Another Driver Hits You But He Had No Insurance?
If the Lyft car suffered damage, Lyft’s auto insurance company would put an insurance adjuster on the claim. The adjuster can check if the other driver had insurance when the accident happened. Auto insurance companies can access this information, but you cannot.
Remember that if the auto insurance provider for Lyft covers the damage to the Lyft vehicle, they will want to get this money reimbursed if another vehicle caused the crash. If you are hurt because another driver was reckless, you also want to know if the other vehicle has bodily injury liability insurance.
This is important because Lyft’s uninsured driver coverage does not apply unless your claim is worth more than the other driver’s bodily injury coverage.
Sample Lyft Accident Settlements
Below are some Lyft accident settlements from other attorneys across the country. Your payment could be for more or less. Be sure you talk to a licensed attorney about your case for more information about a potential claim. You can locate a personal injury attorney in your area with Lawsuit Info Center’s attorney finder tool.
$70,000 Lyft Accident Settlement
A car rear-ended another car that had a Lyft passenger in it. The Lyft passenger claimed the crash caused his back, wrist, neck, and ankle injuries.
Fortunately, he did not have a herniated disc or required surgery. Geico insured the other vehicle, and it had $25,000 in bodily injury coverage. Geico issued the check for $25,000 just one month after the crash.
Geico issued the check quickly because their covered driver received a ticket for speeding.
However, the at-fault driver was underinsured. The injured Lyft passenger had more injuries and damages than $25,000. So, the driver and his attorney made an uninsured driver claim with Lyft. Lyft has $1 million of underinsured driver coverage for its passengers.
Lyft’s insurance company paid $45,000 to settle the case, with a total settlement of $70,000.
An Example of When Lyft’s Auto Insurance Company Is Most Likely to Pay Policy Limits for Your Injuries
Let’s say John is a Lyft driver who accepts a new ride request. He is driving to pick up his passenger when another driver rear ends John. John’s car suffers massive damage.
John takes an ambulance to the hospital. He complains of pain in the back, knee, and neck. Over several months, John gets therapy for his back and neck. But he does not receive an MRI of his injured back or neck.
In this case, Lyft’s auto insurance provider will probably pay policy limits. The reason is the uninsured driver limit is a mere $20,000. That $20,000 is perhaps much less than the injuries and damages John has. He should hire a Lyft accident attorney right away to check for all possible coverage, so no money is left on the table.
Get Legal Help With Your Lyft Passenger Settlement
If a Lyft driver or other driver hurt you in an accident, talk to a personal injury attorney today to discover if you have a case. You can find a licensed attorney on the Lawsuit Info Center website with its attorney finder tool.
Get medical care right away, even if you do not think you need it. If you wait to get care, your settlement will be smaller because you did not get prompt medical care. To get a claim going, the crash needs to be reported to Lyft. The claim is set up fastest if the passenger or Lyft driver reports the Lyft accident on their app. After your accident is reported, Lyft’s insurance company sets up a claim for you. You receive a claim number, and all contact from that point is with Lyft’s insurance provider. The time it takes to settle hinges on the facts of the case. If the Lyft driver was engaged in a ride, then the insurance company for Lyft does not face pressure to settle the claim quickly. Some attorneys say they do not settle rapidly in 80% of cases. This is because the Lyft car probably has a $1 million insurance limit, and most cases are worth much less. This translates into their insurance company taking their time on settlements. If the Lyft passenger owns a vehicle, their Personal Injury Protection coverage pays up to $10,000 in medical costs. But PIP only is in effect in no-fault states such as Florida and several others. If the Lyft passenger does not have a car, their relative’s PIP should cover up to $10,000 in medical costs. Yes, if the Lyft driver had a collision policy on their auto insurance policy. Lyft says this is contingent collision auto insurance coverage. Also, the collision coverage for Lyft only applies from when the person accepts the ride until the person exits the vehicle. However, Lyft’s coverage does not apply if the driver has not accepted a ride. Worse, the coverage has a $2,500 deductible. Factors that will determine your Lyft settlement amount include:
Lyft Accident Settlements
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