Auto accidents are one of the most common causes of serious injury. If you were not driving at the time of the accident, then there is little to no way you could be accused of fault, but holding dangerous drivers responsible can still be an uphill battle. Many Uber and Lyft passengers involved in serious accidents encounter issues getting compensation.
If you were involved in a crash while riding in an Uber or Lyft, having a lawyer help with your case can mean the difference between getting the compensation you need or footing the bill on your own. Moreover, if you were driving another car and you were hit by an Uber or Lyft driver, it will be vital to have an attorney on your side to protect you from any claims that you were partially at fault.
To have our Uber and Lyft accident lawyers review your case for free, call the Uber and Lyft accident lawyers at Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357.
Getting Compensation in an Uber/Lyft Accident in Hoover, AL
Pursuing damages in a car accident case in Alabama often means filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance and, if they refuse to pay full damages, taking them to court. In an Uber or Lyft accident, the case is somewhat similar, but there are potentially multiple insurance policies at play and restrictions on who our Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help you sue.
Filing Through Insurance
The at-fault driver in a car accident is usually the one whose insurance pays for your injuries. However, Uber and Lyft provide insurance that could cover you regardless of who caused the accident. All-in-all, there are five or six potential insurance policies that might cover your accident.
As mentioned, Uber/Lyft have insurance that could cover you, but there are two possible policies they could use. The first is a $1 million policy that covers crashes when there is a rider in the vehicle or the driver is on the way to a pick-up. If the driver is simply on duty but has no rider, then a $50,000 policy might cover instead, but only if the driver’s other policies are insufficient to cover the case.
In addition to these, the driver will have their personal driver’s insurance policy, and they should also have a commercial or rideshare driver policy. Typically, only the commercial/rideshare policy will cover if the driver is working; if they are off duty, then their personal driver’s policy should cover you.
Further, another driver’s insurance policy might cover your case if they caused the crash. If you were riding in an Uber or Lyft and your driver did everything they were supposed to do to drive safely, then the crash might be another driver’s fault. Their insurance should help pay for the damages Uber or Lyft does not cover.
Lastly, if you were driving another car that was hit by an Uber or Lyft driver, then your own insurance might have some first-party benefits like uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage or medical coverage that could supplement your coverage, when applicable.
Who to Sue for Injuries
If insurance companies withhold fair compensation, then you might need to file your case in court to get full compensation. In a lawsuit, you can hold the at-fault parties responsible, and their insurance companies can be ordered to pay damages, along with other potential out-of-pocket damages paid by the responsible party.
When suing for an accident caused by a commercial driver like a truck, bus, or taxi driver, the company they work for can often be reached with this lawsuit. This can help victims get more compensation for their injuries since the company is often in a better position to pay for the damages their drivers cause.
When it comes to Uber and Lyft accidents, you typically cannot sue the company and are only allowed to sue the driver. Uber and Lyft hire their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, making it harder to reach the company with a lawsuit. However, if Uber or Lyft did affirmatively do something negligent in the screening or hiring process that ultimately contributed to your accident, then they could be held partially at fault – but this is rare.
Calculating Damages for Injured Uber/Lyft Riders in Hoover, AL
Determining how much your accident case is worth means looking into the specific effects you faced in your case. Damages can be broken down into two major areas: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are issued to pay back auto accident victims for the financial effects of the accident. This covers both the expenses you had to pay because of the crash, such as the cost of vehicle repairs and the cost of medical care. It also covers the cost of other economic losses you suffered because of the accident, such as lost wages from missed time at work.
These damages can be calculated by looking at bills, statements, and other financial records showing what these harms cost you. In some cases, projecting the ongoing lost wages and lost earning capacity for an Uber or Lyft accident victim will be more complex.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, and other harms that are not based on the impact to your wallet or bank account. Instead, these harms flow naturally from an accident. The evidence used to prove how bad your injuries and other non-economic damages were will come down to testimony from you, your family, and your caregivers discussing how the injuries impact you and your daily activities.
These damages can often make up the largest portion of your injury case, but insurance companies are often unwilling to accept the calculations injury attorneys use. As such, you might need to go before a jury to get a fair payout for pain and suffering.
Reach Out to Our Hoover, AL Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers Today
Contact Howe Law’s Uber and Lyft accident lawyers for help with your case by calling (844) 876-4357.
