When getting into an Uber or Lyft vehicle, we expect to arrive at our destination safely. Unfortunately, Uber and Lyft drivers, or others on the road, cause accidents that may leave passengers severely injured.
After an Uber or Lyft vehicle accident, you can hold the person who caused the accident liable for your injuries. In many cases, the liable party is the Uber or Lyft driver. In other cases, a different driver on the road is to blame. A combination of multiple drivers might also be responsible for the crash. Your damages may include costly medical bills, the value of damaged property, excruciating pain, emotional suffering, and more. Depending on how your accident happened, Uber or Lyft might have insurance covering some or all aspects of the crash. Our attorneys can help you determine if your accident is covered and what kind of evidence you need to support your claims.
You deserve compensation for your painful injuries and the various expenses you have incurred because of the accident. Our Mississippi Uber and Lyft accident attorneys can help you get your case started now. For a free case review, call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
Figuring Out Who is Liable for an Uber or Lyft Accident in Mississippi
Liability can be complicated, especially if you decide to pursue your case alone. Our Mississippi Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help you piece together the details of the accident and figure out which driver or drivers are responsible.
Whether you were a passenger in the ridesharing vehicle or a driver in another car, the Uber or Lyft driver might be to blame for the accident and your injuries. In either case, these drivers owe a duty of care to drive with reasonable safety under the circumstances. If this duty is breached, they may be liable for the collision.
Sometimes, the negligent actions of multiple drivers come together to cause an accident. For example, while you were a passenger in an Uber, perhaps your driver was speeding well above the speed limit. Next, suppose that the driver in the car in front of your Uber suddenly slammed on their brakes. Both the Uber driver and the other driver may be liable. The second driver caused the accident by unnecessarily hitting their brakes very suddenly, and your Uber driver made the accident worse by speeding.
It should be noted that in the majority of these cases, plaintiffs cannot sue the ridesharing companies Uber or Lyft. Ordinarily, a company may be vicariously liable for the negligent actions of its employees. Uber and Lyft drivers are legally not considered employees but are independent contracts, making Uber and Lyft off limits in a lawsuit.
Damages You Can Recover After a Lyft or Uber Accident in Mississippi
Your case revolves around your claims for damages. Your damages are the losses, injuries, and expenses you have experienced because of the Uber or Lyft accident. You must discuss all your damages with our Mississippi Uber and Lyft accident lawyers because even several minor damages may add up to a significant sum of money.
Medical bills are notoriously costly, especially for people who might not have health insurance. After a bad accident, an injured victim might be thousands upon thousands of dollars in debt for medical treatment. All the medical bills you incurred after the accident and any future medical costs you anticipate should be added to your damages.
Car accidents tend to have ripple effects across all areas of your life, including your job. If you are so injured that you cannot return to work, you can claim the value of any lost earnings as part of your damages. Similar to medical expenses, you can also claim expected future lost earnings if you cannot return to work in the near future.
Insurance for Uber and Lyft Accidents in Mississippi
Before filing a lawsuit, our Mississippi Lyft and Uber accident attorneys can help you sort through your options regarding auto insurance claims. Mississippi is a fault-based state where you must file a third-party claim against the other driver’s insurance and prove they were at fault for the accident before getting any compensation. When an accident involves an Uber or Lyft vehicle, the ridesharing companies might have insurance for their drivers that covers your accident.
Both Uber and Lyft offer similar levels of coverage for accidents. However, the amount of coverage depends on the circumstances of the accident. If the Uber or Lyft driver had their driving app turned off, they are considered off duty, and the accident is not covered.
If the driver had the app turned on and was waiting to be matched with a passenger, Uber and Lyft provide $50,000 for bodily injuries per person, $100,000 in bodily injuries per accident, and $25,000 in property damage per accident.
Suppose the driver was engaged with a rider at the time of the accident (i.e., on their way to pick up a rider or with the rider already in the car). In that case, Uber and Lyft provide insurance coverage of $1,000,000 in third-party liability, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and vehicle repair coverage up to the car’s value.
Evidence Needed for Lyft and Uber Accident Cases in Mississippi
When filing a lawsuit or an insurance claim for an Uber or Lyft accident, you need evidence to support your claims for damages. It might be difficult for an injured accident victim to gather evidence on their own, especially if they are recovering from painful injuries. Our Mississippi Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help you find the evidence you need and use it to your advantage.
If possible, you should take photos and record videos of the accident scene right after the accident occurs. Law enforcement will arrive on the scene quickly, and they will begin clearing things away while attending to injured drivers and passengers. Your photos and videos might be the only records of the accident scene.
You should also speak to anyone in the area who might have seen the accident. People walking by may provide important eyewitness testimony. In addition, nearby homes or businesses might have security cameras that recorded the accident on video.
Your medical records are extremely important because we will use them to establish the extent of your injuries and the value of your medical damages. The sooner you get medical treatment after a crash, the more accurate your medical records will be.
Contact Our Mississippi Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers
Remaining safe in a rideshare car is certainly the least you should be able to expect when using the Uber or Lyft apps. If you were injured in an accident, our Mississippi Uber and Lyft lawyers can help you hold the responsible parties accountable. For a free case evaluation, call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
