Fort Lauderdale, FL Uber & Lyft Accidents Lawyers Giving Legal Services to Victims of Ridesharing Accidents
Getting a ride from an Uber or Lyft driver has become a popular, easy way to get to your destination any time you can’t or don’t want to drive. Many people who use ridesharing services on a frequent basis feel safe in an Uber or Lyft vehicle. But being involved in a rideshare accident can quickly change that.
If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Fort Lauderdale, you may be wondering what to do next. After all, involving an Uber or Lyft driver can complicate matters compared to a normal car accident involving your own vehicle since it’s not always clear whose insurance coverage should apply. That’s why you should hire a Lyft or Uber accident lawyer who knows how to handle cases involving rideshare drivers in Florida. Call Milano Legal Group, PLLC at 855-545-1777 to set up your free case evaluation so you can learn the steps you need to take for your insurance claim.
What Injuries Do Uber or Lyft Accidents Often Lead To?
The injuries sustained in Uber and Lyft accidents are the same as the injuries you might suffer in any other type of vehicle accident. That means they can vary quite a bit, from minor wounds that don’t take much time to heal to permanent injuries that can change your quality of life.
Regardless of how serious you think your injury is, you should get immediate medical care with a complete exam from your doctor, as injuries that seem minor to you may actually be serious or even deadly in the long run. There are some injuries that doctors see frequently after car accidents, including the following:
- Neck and back injuries
- Concussion
- Fractures
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Chest injuries
- Severe wounds to arms and legs
- Amputation
- Soft tissue damage
- Facial scarring
- Paralysis
Any of these injuries can be devastating to Uber and Lyft accident victims, as they can be debilitating, permanent, or even fatal. If you’ve suffered one or more of these injuries, or if you were injured in any other way during a rideshare accident in Florida, you should talk to an Uber or Lyft accident lawyer. The right legal representative will guide you in seeking damages from the insurance company of the at-fault party. At Milano Legal Group, PLLC, our Uber and Lyft accident lawyers will be happy to assist you in seeking financial compensation so you can easily pay any bills related to the rideshare accident. Come to our law firm for a free case evaluation as soon as you’re able to after a crash.
How Can You Protect Yourself After a Lyft or Uber Accident?
If you’ve ever been in a car crash where you were driving yourself, you might know what to do to get help after an accident. But when you’re a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, the steps you need to take to protect yourself will differ a bit, as you will need to get Uber or Lyft involved, as well. Take a look at what you can do to increase the chances that you’ll get the financial compensation you deserve after a crash.
Report the Ridesharing Accident
First, you should call the police and wait for them to arrive. Whether you were a passenger in a Lyft or Uber vehicle or were driving a car that was hit by a rideshare driver, you’ll need to stay at the accident scene. This is because you may need to fill out a police report or at least provide a witness statement when the police officer arrives.
If you’re a passenger in an Uber or Lyft vehicle and the rideshare driver has already called the police, your next step is to report the automobile accident to the rideshare company. Both Uber and Lyft have an in-app reporting system where you can report a car crash to the rideshare company within minutes. Completing this step covers your bases, so the rideshare company is aware of the Lyft or Uber accident you were involved in.
Get Medical Attention
Another critical move to make after a Lyft or Uber accident is to get any emergency medical care you might need. If you’re bleeding, have broken bones, or notice any other painful or potentially deadly injuries, you or somewhere at the scene of the accident should request an ambulance. Everything else can wait, as taking care of your own health at that moment is essential.
If you have whiplash, bruises, or other minor injuries, you might not need an ambulance, but you should still get medical care on the same day if possible. You can call your doctor to make an appointment or go to urgent care, depending on your medical needs. Just don’t neglect to get medical treatment for your wounds, as injuries that look and feel minor at first can get worse overnight. You’ll want to make sure your medical records show that you got treatment if you plan to seek compensation for your medical bills when you file a personal injury claim.
Collect Evidence
While you’re still at the scene of the Uber or Lyft accident, such as while waiting for the police to arrive, you should do what you can to gather evidence. This should only take a few minutes, as you can simply pull out your cell phone to take some pictures of your injuries and the damage to the vehicle you’re in.
If you have time and you’re able to walk around without pain, take pictures of the scene where the accident occurred. This might include skid marks on the ground that show where the Uber or Lyft driver tried to stop or traffic signals that one or more drivers involved in the Lyft or Uber accident may have ignored. The more evidence you have to back up your version of events, the better, as you never know when the Uber or Lyft driver will dispute what happened to avoid liability.
Call a Lyft or Uber Accident Lawyer
The last step should be to call an Uber or Lyft accident attorney who can provide legal assistance. Hiring a Fort Lauderdale injury lawyer who has dealt with rideshare companies and drivers is a good idea if you want to rest assured that your Uber or Lyft accident case is in good hands.
You can set up a free case evaluation with an Uber or Lyft accident lawyer at Milano Legal Group, PLLC, when you’re ready to discuss how to prove liability and recover compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Feel free to call our law firm once you get home from the Uber/Lyft accident you were in if you want to learn more as soon as possible.
Who May Be Liable for the Rideshare Crash?
One of the most complicated aspects of ride-sharing accidents is determining liability for the crash. After all, there are usually a few drivers involved, each with its own insurance policy. If you’re not sure which one you should pursue damages from, here’s what to consider.
You Can Start with Your Own Insurance Coverage
As you seek medical care and wonder how to pay for it, you should first remember that if you own a car in Florida, you’re required to have personal injury protection or PIP insurance coverage. This applies no matter whose vehicle you’re in when you’re in a crash, so even if you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft accident, you can go through your own insurance policy to pay for your medical care.
If you don’t have this insurance coverage, but someone in your household does, you can typically use their coverage. Of course, there are limits on policies of this kind, and it’s possible you’ll meet your limit if you have serious injuries that require surgery or ongoing care. At that point, you will need to file a claim against either the at-fault driver’s personal insurance or the insurance coverage provided by rideshare companies. An Uber or Lyft accident lawyer will help you with this step.
When Does Insurance Coverage from Rideshare Companies Apply?
Uber and Lyft offer their drivers’ insurance policies that apply any time the app is on. For example, if an Uber or Lyft driver turns on one of the ride-sharing apps and accepts your request, and there’s an accident on the way to your destination, the rideshare company’s insurance would apply. This means you can make a claim against their insurance for bodily injury, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other losses.
If you were driving your personal vehicle around Fort Lauderdale when you were hit by an Uber or Lyft driver whose app was turned on, the rideshare company’s insurance would apply to your crash, as well. After all, the Lyft or Uber driver who hit your car was working for a rideshare company at the time, so their employer’s insurance will be used to cover accidents.
Does Insurance Owned by Ridesharing Companies Apply When Drivers Are Not Working?
If an Uber or Lyft driver collided with your car while not signed into the app, then you would need to go through the driver’s personal insurance policy for your claim. The same goes if you were a passenger in a rideshare vehicle and were being given a ride unofficially while the driver was off the clock.
Basically, if the ridesharing app were off, Uber and Lyft alike would almost certainly refuse to cover the damages through their insurance. This means you’d need to find out the insurance information of the rideshare driver so you can go through that policy for damages to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
In this case, it’s recommended that you hire an Uber or Lyft accident attorney who can guide your claim toward a fair settlement. The right legal team for your case can help identify when Uber and Lyft drivers may be responsible for car accidents involving passengers or other drivers on the road. They can also help determine whose insurance policies will apply, including whether third-party liability coverage should kick in when it comes to Uber and Lyft accidents. If you want this kind of legal guidance after an accident involving rideshare services, come to Milano Legal Group, PLLC, for a free consultation.
What Can an Uber or Lyft Accident Lawyer Do for You?
If you’ve been in a Lyft or Uber accident, you deserve legal advice from the start. Car accidents involving Uber and Lyft drivers can be confusing, as it’s unclear whose insurance policy to use for damages. You then need to think about what kind of compensation to ask for from the insurance provider of the at-fault driver, as this will depend on your expenses after the crash.
This is why you need the assistance of experienced Uber and Lyft accident lawyers in Florida. Skilled attorneys who have successfully sought damages in Uber and Lyft car accidents in the past can guide your case along seamlessly. They know how to calculate the number of damages to ask for from the insurance companies that serve rideshare drivers involved with Uber and Lyft. So, if you want a chance to get fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more after a Lyft or Uber accident, come to Milano Legal Group, PLLC.
Our Uber and Lyft accident lawyers have helped numerous clients get damages for everything from medical bills to a wrongful death after a tragic Lyft or Uber accident in Florida. If you’re ready to talk to Uber/Lyft accident attorneys who care about your case, call our personal injury law firm today at 855-545-1777 to get free advice during your initial consultation.