Ridesharing services are popular in Lakeland because of their convenience and cost-efficiency. Nonetheless, you are still susceptible to accidents while commuting in a rideshare vehicle.
If you were involved in a rideshare accident and suffered injuries or damage to your property, you might wonder how to seek financial compensation from the at-fault parties. A Lakeland rideshare accident lawyer with the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help you understand your rights and take appropriate legal action for your situation.
Lyft Accidents Differ from Usual Car Accidents
One important thing to remember about accidents involving Lyft and other ridesharing drivers is that they are not as straightforward as vehicular accidents involving private motorists or taxis. Florida law considers Lyft drivers as independent contractors, unlike employees of taxi companies. Moreover, they do not classify as private motorists when they are in service or on their way to picking up a passenger.
What you may pursue as compensation for injuries and how to do so will depend on your situation. Consider the following scenarios.
Injured As a Lyft Passenger
When you suffer injuries while aboard a rideshare vehicle, the company’s commercial insurance policy covers your losses up to $1 million. You may receive monetary compensation for bodily injury and destroyed property. As an injured passenger, filing a claim against Lyft’s liability coverage should be your primary option.
Injured As a Lyft Driver
Because Lyft drivers are independent contractors, your coverage for accidents differs from what an employee would receive. Moreover, it also varies depending on your status when the incident occurred:
- With an assigned passenger, either en-route to them or their destination, you might qualify for Lyft’s full liability coverage of up to $1 million for injuries and damaged property.
- If you’ve logged on to the app but have no ride request, Lyft offers partial protection—$50,000 in bodily injury per person, $100,000 for injury per accident, and $25,000 in destroyed property.
- If you’re not logged into the digital network, your insurance policy kicks in—personal injury protection (PIP) of $10,000 and property damage liability of $10,000.
Although contracted drivers qualify for Lyft’s substantial insurance policies, they must still have personal auto insurance coverage as part of responsible vehicle ownership.
Injured By a Lyft Driver
If you are an ordinary motorist who got into an accident with a Lyft driver, your recourse is to file a claim against your auto insurance policy. Florida is a no-fault state, so your insurance carrier will reimburse your injuries regardless of responsibility for the crash.
Under the state’s minimum insurance requirements, PIP only reimburses up to 80 percent of necessary medical expenses from a covered injury.
Pursuing Compensation for Your Lyft Accident Injuries Beyond PIP Insurance
An insurer cannot resolve every accident claim, especially if your injuries exceed the applicable policy’s limit. In such cases, you might need to file a personal injury lawsuit to obtain fair compensation from those liable.
Although Florida is a no-fault state, it does not limit your legal right to seek greater damages if you sustained serious injuries from the accident. An injury meets this threshold when it alters your life because of:
- Substantial or permanent loss of essential body function
- Permanent disability
- Irreversible scarring or disfigurement
Often, insurance companies try to limit their payouts as much as possible, so it is common for them to offer a settlement that doesn’t adequately meet your needs. However, a Lakeland lawyer familiar with Lyft accidents can counter these efforts and get you the money you need to maintain your financial situation.
Awarded Compensation for Lyft Accident Injuries Varies for Every Case
Whether you pursue a personal claim yourself or with a Lakeland Lyft accident attorney following your crash, understand that compensation varies from case to case. There is no average amount you can use to assess your case’s value.
Several factors like your injuries’ severity and evidence quality will affect your financial recovery. In addition, if the insurance adjuster or jury finds you partly responsible for the accident, while it won’t bar recovery, your award is diminished by your percentage of contributory fault.
Economic Damages In Lyft Accidents
Simply having injuries from a car accident does not automatically entitle you to damages. Instead, you must show how the other party’s negligence makes them liable for what you have suffered.
If proven, you may receive economic damages for your injuries, such as:
- Medical expenses, including treatment, laboratory expenses, and doctor’s appointments
- Repairs or replacement of damaged property
- Lost income
- Compensation for future wage losses from injury-related disability or disfigurement
- Future medical costs due to permanent or partial loss of body function or disability, including long-term care and treatment
The average person may not know how to calculate the amount of compensation they deserve. Therefore, you might benefit from seeking the help of a Lakeland rideshare accident lawyer who could break down the value of your losses.
Noneconomic Damages In Lyft Accidents
Sometimes, the accident leads to emotional and psychological damage. Thus, you may also receive compensation for the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Mental anguish
- Deterioration in quality of life
- Loss of consortium
Noneconomic damages are often difficult to quantify in monetary terms. However, while difficult to prove, our car accident lawyers have extensive experience calculating the value of these intangible losses.
You Have Limited Time to Pursue a Lyft Accident Case
Remember that time is of the essence when seeking a fair settlement for your injuries. Therefore, you shouldn’t wait until you have fully healed from your Lakeland Lyft accident, as it may be too late to pursue a claim. Instead, consider working on your claim with an attorney as soon as possible.
In Florida, those injured by negligence only have four years from the incident date to take legal action per Florida Statutes § 95.11. Once the deadline lapses, you can no longer seek compensation from those liable in court, even if you have compelling evidence against them.
Working With a Lyft Accident Lawyer in Lakeland May Improve Your Chances of Recovery
You do not need a lawyer when seeking compensation for injuries and damaged property from a Lyft or rideshare accident. However, having an attorney on your side offers many benefits. For example, our team can handle communications with insurance adjusters, allowing you to focus on recovering from your injuries.
We make ourselves available 24/7 to answer questions and ease your mind about your Lyft accident case. So, when you’re ready, let the professionals at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine help you pursue the compensation you deserve to maintain your lifestyle. Call us today to schedule a free no-obligation initial consultation.
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