Can You Sue Lyft for an Accident?

If you were recently injured in a Lyft accident, you may be wondering whether you have the right to compensation for your damages when someone else is responsible. The answer is yes, you can sue Lyft for damages.

There are several instances in which you might have a chance to file a lawsuit against the rideshare company itself or a claim with Lyft’s insurance carrier. An Atlanta Lyft accident lawyer will be ready to help you pursue your case across all avenues.

Why You Need an Experienced Lyft Car Accident Lawyer for Your Case

If you’ve been involved in a Lyft car accident, it can be overwhelming to have to deal with medical bills, insurance adjusters, and legal proceedings all at the same time. Whether you were a passenger in a rideshare vehicle or another driver involved in the accident, an experienced lawyer can help you secure maximum compensation.

Regular car accidents often result in severe injuries, and insurance companies may attempt to minimize your claim. A trusted law firm that is well-versed in Lyft accidents can work to ensure you receive fair treatment and full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Don’t let the insurance adjusters take advantage of you. Having an experienced lawyer on your side is crucial for achieving the best outcome.

Circumstances When Lyft May Be to Blame

Lyft hires independent contractors to transport its consumers. However, the process for hiring drivers is less rigorous than you might expect. Lyft may conduct a check of the applicant’s insurance records and driving history.

However, there are no background checks on driver candidates. When Lyft allows dangerous drivers to become a part of their platform, it puts passengers at risk.

Filing a Civil Claim

There are a few instances where you can file a civil lawsuit against Lyft. However, there are multiple other situations in which you could file a claim with their insurer. Lyft provides its drivers with $1 million in insurance coverage.

Unfortunately, this policy is only in effect during specific times, including:

• When the driver is logged into the app and waiting for a drive request
• When the driver is waiting to pick up a passenger
• While the driver is transporting a passenger

If the accident occurs during this time frame, Lyft insurance coverage should apply. However, if the accident happens outside this period, the Lyft driver’s personal auto insurance coverage goes into effect.

Many factors impact the decision of which policy applies, such as whether the rideshare driver caused the accident or another party is responsible for the collision.

Other Parties Who Could Be Held Accountable

Several parties could share fault for your Lyft accident injuries, depending on the specific details of your case. For instance, the Lyft driver could be at fault if they were driving negligently at the time of the accident.

Examples of careless driving or dangerous driving behaviors could include:

• Failure to stop
• Failure to yield
• Distracted driving
• Driving over the speed limit
• Driving while drowsy
• Drunk driving
• Drugged driving
• Reckless driving
• Negligent behavior
• Road rage
• Aggressive driving

If you’ve been in a rideshare accident, contact our experienced attorneys today. We can review your auto insurance policy, your accident report, and more to build a strong rideshare accident claim.

When Vehicle Defects Cause Lyft Accidents

There is also a chance a mechanical or vehicle defect caused the accident. In these situations, multiple parties could share fault, such as:

• Maintenance workers
• Auto parts manufacturers
• Auto parts designers
• Auto parts distributors
• Auto parts suppliers
• Motor vehicle dealerships
• Safety inspectors

When Dangerous Road Conditions Cause Lyft Accidents

Sometimes, dangerous road conditions have been known to cause devastating lift accidents. Examples of these causes could include:

• Unsecured road construction zones
• Missing street lights
• Failure to replace street signs
• Potholes
• Ice
• Heavy rain
• Oil spills
• Animals in the roadway

Suppose that hazardous roads caused your Lyft accident. Instead of filing a claim with Lyft’s insurance, you could file a personal injury lawsuit against the government agencies and municipalities tasked with handling road safety and maintenance.

You can find out more about who you could sue for your Lyft accident damages when you discuss the details of your case with your car accident attorney.

How to Recover Fair Compensation With a Lyft Accident Attorney

There may be limited opportunities to file a civil lawsuit against Lyft. However, there are multiple additional ways you can recover the compensation you deserve when someone else is responsible for causing your injuries.

File a Claim with Lyft’s Insurance Company

Filing a claim with the rideshare insurance company is one of the best ways to recover damages. Georgia is a fault state for motor vehicle accident purposes. Accident victims can file a claim with the liable party’s insurance company under these laws. However, the negotiation process could prove more challenging than you might expect.

How Lyft Insurance Claims Work

Filing a claim with the insurance company can take time and effort. Insurance companies lose money when they pay out on claims, so you can expect the insurer to attempt to deny you the compensation you’re entitled to or to reduce your settlement wherever possible.

It’s in your best interest to provide the insurance company with the evidence and information they need to process your claim. Doing so allows you to expedite the review process and access your insurance settlement sooner.

Damages Insurance Covers

When you file an insurance claim, you can only be repaid for your damages up to the policy limits. For example, if Lyft’s auto insurance coverage was in effect, you might have access to as much as $1 million in property damage and medical expenses.

However, this insurance coverage is unlikely to compensate you for your lost wages, emotional distress, physical injuries, and other economic and non-economic damages.

Recovering Your Lyft Accident Damages in Full

Bringing your Lyft accident case to court may be your best option if you hope to recover your damages in full. At trial, you are not limited by the policy limits of an insurance claim. There is no cap on the amount of compensation you can win in Georgia for economic and non-economic damages. Some examples of additional damages you can win in court include:

• Lost income
• Medical bills
• Diminished earning potential
• Skin scarring and disfigurement
• Personal property damages
• Psychological trauma
• Loss of household services
• Future medical expenses
• Loss of consortium

To protect your right to financial compensation, you should speak with your car accident attorney to determine what the statute of limitations is for your state. Many states require that you file personal injury lawsuits within one to three years after your accident.

This time can go quickly when your accident lawyer is gathering evidence to build your claim against a company like Lyft.

Contact John Foy & Associates for Help With Suing Lyft for an Accident

You may feel intimidated about filing an insurance claim or a civil lawsuit against a nationwide rideshare service provider like Lyft. However, with an experienced Lyft accident attorney at John Foy & Associates on your side, you do not need to worry about a thing. Take legal action now.

If you need to sue Lyft for an accident, our firm is here to be your legal advocate. Get the Strong Arm. Please fill out our convenient contact form or call our office to schedule your free, no–obligation consultation with our legal team as soon as today. Visit our FAQ page to learn more.