South Florida’s Best Uber and Lyft Ride-Share Car Accident Personal Injury Lawyers
Being involved in an auto accident can be very stressful, often taking a toll on both your physical and mental health. Unfortunately, you might be at a higher risk of injury when you use a ride-share service. Having to rely on a GPS app can often distract drivers, taking their attention away from the road. In addition, ride-share apps usually don’t have rigorous vetting procedures for their drivers. Though Florida lawmakers have attempted to change this, requiring drivers to get a background check. However, there is still a long way to go and some people who aren’t skilled drivers might make it onto the platform. Because this technology is so new, many governments around the world are trying to find the best way to regulate these services. Sadly, this means that there is a chance that you will be involved in an Uber car accident. When you’re recovering the last thing that you want to worry about is whether your injuries will be covered by insurance. However, if you were in a ride-share vehicle at the time of the accident, getting financially reimbursed for costs like medical bills can be complex, often requiring a ride-share car accident lawyer to help you understand the legal circumstances around the crash. Let’s look at some of the challenges associated with this kind of claim and how your Lyft accident lawyer or Uber accident lawyer might help you overcome them.
First, though, let’s briefly discuss what a ride-share app is and how it is different to a taxi service. Rideshare services use your phone’s GPS to get a driver to come to your location and take you where you want to go. Many people appreciate how simple it is to use this service. Some people believe that these services could be the next evolution of the taxi service. However, there is one critical difference between ride-sharing companies like Lyft and Uber and the services offered by the taxi industry. A taxi driver is employed by a taxi company. This means that the taxi company is responsible for an accident caused by their negligence. In contrast, the people who work for a ride-share company are contractors, usually using their private vehicles. This limits the amount of responsibility that ride-sharing companies have. To make the matter even more complex, different stages of the journey place different levels of responsibility on the ride-share company. For example, whether the driver was using the app and what stage they were on in the journey may influence how liable the ride-share company is. Now that we understand a little more about the critical differences between taxis and ride-share companies let’s look at the steps you go through to make a claim.
Types Of Uber and Lyft Ride Share Accidents
Let’s start by talking about some of the different types of accident scenarios we can help you overcome. First, you might be a passenger in a ride-share vehicle when the driver gets involved in an accident. Another common Uber car accident scenario is when the ride-share driver crashes into a pedestrian due to their negligence. You should also be able to get compensation if you were a pedestrian that gets injured because of a Lyft driver’s negligent actions. Regardless of which scenario you’re involved in, there are some important things that you should do after the crash.
What To Do After The Ride Share Accident
Let’s look at some of the things you should do after being involved in a ride-share accident. One of the first things you should do is start gathering evidence at the scene of the accident. Though the reports filed by the police will be helpful, you should also have your own evidence. You should take photos of the scene and any damage to the car. Also, you should get the contact information of any witnesses. This information will help you later, as you try to prove that your version of events is true. It’s also very important that you don’t admit that you were at fault because this can have huge implications for the future of your claim. There are many ways of deciding who is responsible for the accident. While you might feel that you were to blame, this might not be true according to the law. So, before you make an admission like this, it’s important that you consult with a personal injury lawyer to discuss your options.
Once you leave the scene the first thing that you should do is talk to a doctor to make sure that you didn’t sustain any major injuries during the crash. For example, the force of the impact might cause you to suffer broken bones or brain injuries. In addition, it could be a few days before injuries like soft tissue damage become apparent. This might cause you to develop symptoms like headaches or stiffness when moving that section of your body. If you notice these symptoms you should contact a doctor or chiropractor. If you notice any injuries, seeing a doctor promptly is very important. Under Florida law, you need to contact a doctor within 14 days to make an insurance claim to get your medical bills reimbursed. Treating injuries can very expensive, especially for more severe injuries so it’s important that you can include these in your ride-share accident claim. Another important thing that you should do after a car crash is to contact your personal injury lawyer.
Even if you weren’t injured in the accident, you might still want to consider talking to a lawyer after a car crash. This will give them the ability to get key information while your memories about the incident are still fresh. It might also be a good idea to write down your experience shortly after the crash. This will ensure that you have an accurate account of what occurred. If you were injured talking to a personal injury lawyer will allow them to start preparing your case and researching the accident. This is important because the circumstances of the case could affect how they choose to handle the case. It’s also important that you consult with your lawyer before you talk to an insurance adjuster.
Talking To An Insurance Adjuster
In the days after an accident, you will probably be contacted by an insurance adjuster. They work for the insurance company. They want to determine whether their client is liable for the crash and how serious your injuries were. Usually, they will ask you for permission to record the conversation.
The reason why you should see your lawyer’s advice before this conversation is because they might frame their questions to get you to respond in a certain way. For example, when asking about your injuries they might ask questions like, “Are you feeling better.” This type of question is worded to produce a more positive response. Potentially the answers you provide can compromise your case. The good news is that a car accident lawyer will be able to talk to the insurance adjuster for you, so you don’t have to worry about these problems. Your lawyer will also be able to investigate the case to determine how responsible the ride-share company is.
Determining The Responsibility Of The Ride Share Company
One of the biggest reasons why these cases are so complex is because the responsibility of the ride-share company varies based on the circumstances of the accident. For example, if the driver wasn’t using the app at the time, the ride-share company is not liable, and the lawyers will need to prepare a claim against the driver’s insurance company. Alternatively, they might decide to prepare a claim against your insurance company, which still provides protection even if you aren’t driving. But what happens if the driver was on duty and you were their passenger at the time of the crash?
There are two options that might occur if the ride-share driver was on duty at the time of the accident, depending on who was at fault. If another driver caused the incident, your lawyer would make a case against their insurance company. If your driver was at fault, your lawyers would make their claim against the ride-sharing app the driver was using. Florida law was recently changed to adjust the size of the insurance policy that ride-share companies are required to supply. Let’s look at some of these changes.
Insurance Requirements for Ride Share Companies
New laws stipulate the insurance requirements that ride-share companies must follow, depending on the circumstances around the accident. If the ride-share driver didn’t have the app on at the time, the ride-share company doesn’t have any responsibility. If the driver had the app on and was looking for a passenger, the ride-share needs to provide $50,000 to $100,000 for injuries that occurred in the accident. They also need to provide $25,000 to help you restore any property that was damaged because of the accident. If the driver had the app on and had a passenger in the car at the time of the accident the ride-share company might be liable for around $1 million. Your lawyer will be able to help you determine how large the claim should be. However, for you to get any money you will need to prove which driver caused the accident.
Proving Negligence
With these kinds of cases proving which party was at fault is key. This is especially important in cases involving ride-share companies, where the circumstances around the crash are key to determining which insurance company your lawyers make a claim against. For this reason, talking to your lawyer after the accident is very important, as it can help give them a clearer picture of the circumstances surrounding the crash. This conversation might also help inform what evidence the lawyers try to find. If, for example, you mention that police officers went to the accident scene your lawyer knows that the police report could be a crucial piece of supporting evidence. Let’s look at some of the other ways that your lawyer will prove which driver caused the accident by engaging in negligent behaviors.
Your lawyer will need to find pieces of evidence to corroborate your version of events. For example, security cameras or dashcam footage that captured the crash might be key to proving which driver was at fault. In addition, eyewitness reports might be helpful in court. If your ride-share vehicle or property was damaged in the accident your lawyers can use photographs of the damage to help advance your case. Finally, they might be able to use records from the ride-sharing company to prove that the driver was on duty at the time. Your lawyer will also need to provide evidence of your damages and injuries, so you can claim them.
Proving Damages
To claim for damages your lawyer has a few elements that they must prove for your claim to be successful. Let’s start by looking at how they will handle damage to your vehicle or property. First, they will need to establish that that damaged occurred because of the accident. Then, they will need to determine the value of the property damaged. This can be done by determining how much it will cost to repair or replace the damaged items. Another common area of damages is any injuries that you sustained because of the car accident.
There are a few factors that your lawyers must prove to claim for these damages. First, they need to show that these injuries were sustained because of the car accident. They also need to prove that you sought medical help within 14 days of the car accident. In addition, they need to establish that the treatment you received was adequate to treat the injuries that you sustained. To give an example, let’s look at how this might work if you received whiplash because of a Lyft car accident. Whiplash is damage to your soft tissues and can be caused when your head jerks violently in a car accident. To treat this injury, you will usually need to consult a chiropractor. Your lawyer might use your medical records to show that you set an appointment with the chiropractor within 14 days of the crash. They can use receipts to show how much you spent on getting the treatment. Finally, they can get the chiropractor to testify about how effective the treatment was and some of the effects that you might have experienced if you didn’t receive the treatment. While physical injuries are easy to verify, it can be harder to prove any emotional distress you suffered after the accident.
After an accident, it’s common for people to develop mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and insomnia. These can be difficult for your lawyer to prove, but they are real impacts and should be included on your claim. One of the best things you can do is contact a therapist who can help you overcome these issues. Your lawyer can also get them to provide a statement of your distress. You should also consider getting your friends and family to provide statements about how your behavior has changed after the accident. In addition, you should keep receipts of any drugs that you are prescribed, as you might be able to get compensated for these purchases. Finally, it might be good for you to keep a journal detailing your experience. Now that we know what lawyers need to do to prove the damages you suffered in the crash let’s look at some of the damages you can claim for.
Claiming Compensation for Damages
Your lawyer will be able to work with you to ensure that you get the best possible compensation for the damages that you suffered in the ride-share crash. As we discussed above, you will be compensated for any property damage that you suffered in the crash. However, there are some other things that your lawyer might be able to claim for.
A good car accident lawyer should be able to ensure that you get adequate compensation for any injuries you sustained in the crash. As we discussed, this may include medical expenses like hospital fees and doctor’s appointments. But it also includes any rehabilitation costs that you might need. It will also be able to cover any medical devices that you require. To ensure that you get the maximum amount owed to you, you should keep all the recipients you receive. Depending on the severity of the injury it might be several years before you can overcome your injuries. In these cases, your lawyer has two options. If it will only be a few months before you’ve recovered, they might decide to wait until they bring their case and get the full amount. If it’ll be a long time before you’re recovered, they might decide to estimate how much medical expenses will be and try to get that amount, though you might need to settle for less.
Your lawyers will also try to make sure that you are compensated for any impacts that the accident has had on your life. For example, if you were unable to work for an extended period your lawyer might be able to claim for lost wages. They will also be able to help you if your injuries will prevent you from returning to your old job. In addition, after a serious car accident, it’s common for people to experience pain or emotional distress. This can manifest in many ways, such as anxiety attacks or depression. Also, you might be forced to miss out on important family occasions like birthdays or anniversaries. Though it’s difficult to put a monetary figure on these experiences, your lawyer will be able to factor them into your claim.
You might also be able to claim for punitive damages, which are designed to punish someone for their conduct. Sometimes, the behavior after a car accident can be so malicious that it adds to the pain you feel. For example, if the negligent driver were to become irate and punch you, you might be able to claim for punitive damages. For these damages to be awarded your lawyer needs to prove that their conduct is directly related to your injuries. Thankfully, these kinds of cases are very rare. Now that we know a little more about how a lawyer will prepare your case and some of the things you can get compensated let’s look at the two ways that cases are resolved.
Resolving Your Ride Share Case: Settlement Vs Court
All your hard work has been to ensure that your case gets a good resolution. Generally, these cases are only resolved either by reaching a settlement or going to court. Let’s look at how each of these two methods work.
Let’s start by talking about settlement. In this scenario, your lawyer will meet with the other party’s lawyers. They’ll discuss the case and eventually they’ll make an offer. Your lawyer will present this offer to you and recommend whether you should accept it. This is the most common way for cases to get resolved, as the ride-share lawyers are reluctant to risk the company’s reputation by going to court. Also, if you must go to court the process becomes more expensive. However, if your lawyer feels that this method will produce the best results, they will take the matter to court.
The second method of resolving your case is by taking the matter to court. There are positives and negatives to this approach. Let’s start by looking at some of the benefits. First, if you win the case you might have a chance of getting all your damages. In addition, it will give you a chance for your story to be heard and for people to better understand your experience. However, there are also some drawbacks about going to court. One of the biggest problems is the ride-share lawyers. The ride-share company doesn’t want to lose, so they are willing to spend a lot of money to hire the best lawyers possible. Also, your lawyer will be required to prove that the ride-share driver was at fault and that your claim is reasonable. Finally, if you lose the case the ride-share company won’t be required to pay you any money.
Choosing The Best Car Crash Lawyers
As we’ve seen, these cases can quickly become very complex and you will require someone with an in-depth knowledge of the law to make sure that you are fairly compensated after the ride-share accident. You’ll be relying on your lawyer to act on your best interests. But how can you be sure that you are hiring the best possible ride-share car accident lawyer. To help you make this decision, let’s look at some of the factors that you should consider when selecting a ride-share car accident lawyer.
One of the most important considerations is how comfortable you feel discussing your accident with your lawyer. After a car accident, it’s common for you to have injuries like broken bones or soft tissue damage and to experience mental health problems like depression. You want a lawyer that is compassionate and can sympathize with your situation. You should also think about how much the lawyer cares about your case. As we’ve seen, helping you prepare your case after an Uber or Lyft ride-share car accident can require a lot of effort. You should select a lawyer that will put in the work to get you the best possible result. Another important area to look at is how much experience they have in personal injury claims.
You need to find a car accident lawyer that will be able to find the best legal representation. They should be able to demonstrate that they have a lot of experience working with personal injury claims and providing excellent results for their clients. As we’ve seen this is a very complex legal area so they will need to have an in-depth understanding of state law to get the best result for you. Finally, you should consider how much you trust them. When you hire a lawyer, you are trusting them to make important decisions on your behalf. So, you need to be confident that they have your best interests at heart.
Conclusion
Getting involved in an Uber or Lyft ride-share car accident can have a devastating on your life, with the potential to cause serious injuries and trigger mental health issues like depression. The most important thing is that you take the time to focus on yourself and your recovery. The last thing that you want to be doing is to worry about whether you will be reimbursed for your medical expenses. For this reason, you should consider hiring a ride-share car accident lawyer from The Injury Firm. When you hire one of our car accident lawyers you can rest easily knowing that your case is in good hands. We can help you navigate this complex legal area to get adequate compensation for your damages and injuries. So, if you or someone you know has been involved in an Uber or Lyft ride-share car accident contact us today and learn how The Injury Firm can help you.
