Personal Injury Lawyer
Lyft rideshare service provides transportation for people from all walks of life, whether they need a quick ride to an appointment or their car is in the shop for repairs. While it can be a convenient way to get around, you may find yourself with serious injuries and property damage if a Lyft driver happens to collide with your car. Filing a personal injury claim could help you recover damages to cover medical bills and damage to your car, and there are a few steps you can take to begin building your case.
- Hire an Attorney
Even if your personal injury case seems cut and dried to you, Lyft may try to avoid paying you because the drivers that work under their app are considered independent contractors and not actual employees of the company. This allows them to pass much of the responsibility on to the driver. Hiring an attorney can help you to better navigate Lyft’s rules and regulations so that you can name the responsible parties without too much trouble.
- Review PIP Coverage
Depending on your state of residency, you may have personal injury protection attached to your car insurance policy. PIP is mandatory in some states and available as an addendum to your insurance in others. This insurance may cover several thousand dollars in medical costs or possibly more if the accident caused life-threatening injuries.
- Review Lyft’s Insurance
While Lyft does offer insurance to its drivers, each must have his or her own insurance as well. The conditions of the insurance also depend on whether the driver was carrying a passenger and whether he or she was signed into the app at the time of the wreck. The driver must usually depend on personal insurance if the app was not in use at the time of the crash.
- Gather Evidence
One of the most effective ways to strengthen your personal injury case with a Lyft accident is to gather evidence to present to your attorney. Text messages, witness accounts and police reports might all serve you this way. You may also want to retain copies of medical reports that prove the injuries you suffered in the crash. If possible, take photos of your damaged vehicle and any repair estimates you might have.
When a Lyft driver collides with your car and causes you personal injury, you may not know where to turn. However, there is help available. Contact a car accident lawyer, like from Hickey & Turim, SC, today for further advice and information.
