One of the first things you need to know if you get into an accident with a Lyft driver is that they are not considered employees by the rideshare company––they are considered third-party contractors. By doing this, Lyft’s liability in an accident is fairly limited. Because they do not own the vehicles or view drivers as employees, filing a claim for financial recovery can quickly become difficult, and relies on the details of your situation.
For example, if you were in a collision with a Lyft driver and they had not accepted a job or were currently driving a passenger, then you may be able to file a claim with the driver’s own insurance company. However, if they were actively driving a passenger, then you may have to contact Lyft and go through that channel of compensation.
Liability surrounding rideshare companies is still in its infancy, so there are not many legal precedents that establish fault in a collision. For that reason, many claimants choose to work with a personal injury lawyer when seeking compensation.
Compensation After Getting Into an Accident With Lyft
Under Florida Statute §95.11, you have four years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit. If a loved one passed away after the collision, qualifying representatives have two years from the date of their death to pursue litigation. For this reason, depending on the details of your situation, you may not have long to act.
Some compensation you may be able to recover if you get into an accident with a Lyft driver include:
Medical bills, such as prescriptions or the cost of treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering and inconvenience
Florida does not have a statutory cap for the amount of damages you can pursue following a car accident.
Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine Today
If you have been in an accident with a Lyft driver, the team at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help. We understand how to proceed in these types of situations by determining who is at fault for the accident and responsible for your losses.
Our goal is to provide responsive legal care to claimants who have been injured at the hands of a negligent driver, whether they were working for a rideshare company or not.
Some of the services your legal team can provide include:
- Initiating legal action
- Investigating the details of the collision
- Handling communications with the involved parties
- Negotiating for a fair settlement
- Evaluating your damages and assigning a monetary value
- Keeping you updated on the legal process
- Taking your case to court, if necessary
Our team offers services on a contingency-fee-basis. This means that you do not owe us any attorney’s fees unless we are able to secure compensation on your behalf.
To get started with a free case review, call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today at 1-800-747-3733.
