Ridesharing services, like Lyft, have completely changed the way people travel. Those without their own cars can get from point A to point B with little to no hassle. They help reduce traffic and save tons of money on gas. Some ridesharing services also come with carpooling options, greatly benefiting everyone involved and the environment as well.
As convenient as they are, rideshare drivers are still humans, and humans are prone to making mistakes.
And when accidents do happen, they’re usually a mess.
The main reason why they’re so is because rideshare accidents involve all the complications of a car accident and then some more. It is specifically for this reason that expert Lyft accident lawyers exist.
Then comes the next thought. “Why shouldn’t I handle my Lyft accident case alone? Hiring an attorney is just an additional expense.”
This article is aimed at helping you with that. It lists some of the reasons why you should consider a lawyer for your Lyft accident case.
Reason 1: Determining liability in a Lyft accident is complicated
Determining liability in Lyft accidents isn’t as simple as in other motor vehicle accidents.
In other auto accidents, the liable parties are usually:
- The other driver
- The car manufacturer
- The car part’s manufacturer
- The car’s mechanic
But this is not the case with Lyft accidents.
Lyft can be held liable for its driver’s actions, but it depends on the status of the Lyft app at the time of the accident.
Lyft doesn’t take responsibility for the accident if the driver wasn’t logged on to the app.
There are also different coverage amounts depending on whether the driver was
- Logged on to the app and waiting for a ride
- Logged on to the app and was in the middle of a ride
All this is impossible without legal assistance.
Reason 2: You may miss important components of damages
Rideshare accident victims experience a range of injuries and losses. The problem here is that they may request only a few common ones when it comes to rideshare accident claims. These include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Property damages
What most victims don’t know is that there are additional damages that can be recovered through a rideshare accident claim. These damages are:
- Future medical expenses
- Future lost wages
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
The above-mentioned damages tend to severely disrupt the victim’s life. Omitting them in a claim can make complete recovery difficult.
Reason 3: You will have a hard time handling the insurance adjuster
The at-fault driver’s or Lyft’s insurance provider will investigate the accident claim from their end using an insurance adjuster. The objective of the adjuster is to go through the claim, prepare an estimate that allows the company to make a profit, and make the victim accept the offer.
This is where insurance adjusters turn evil. They will try a range of tricks to convince the victim. The tricks include:
- Shifting the blame to the victim
- Stalking the victim’s social media profiles to find something incriminating
- Downplaying the victim’s injuries
- Delaying claims on purpose
An experienced rideshare accident attorney is the perfect counter to insurance adjusters. Once hired, the attorney will handle all communication with the insurance adjuster. This eliminates the chances of the victim falling prey to the insurance adjuster’s scams.
Reason 4: You don’t have experience with settlement negotiations
This comes in the later stages of the rideshare accident claim.
All the parties involved in the accident will meet at a private location to discuss the settlement the victim ought to get.
Without an experienced rideshare accident lawyer, the victim will walk out of the discussion with a minimal settlement.
That’s because insurance adjusters are skilled negotiators. They know what to say and how to say it to convince the victim.
But that’s not the case with a rideshare accident lawyer. They know how to respond to the statements made by the insurance adjuster and will make sure that the victim gets a favorable deal.
Final Thoughts
The chances of acquiring fair compensation for a rideshare accident go down considerably without an experienced lawyer.
The lawyer will tackle all the complications involved in determining liability and get in touch with the concerned individuals/organizations. They can also represent the victim in court if settlement negotiations fail.
Ingrid Maldine is a business writer, editor and management consultant with extensive experience writing and consulting for both start-ups and long established companies. She has ten years management and leadership experience gained at BSkyB in London and Viva Travel Guides in Quito, Ecuador, giving her a depth of insight into innovation in international business. With an MBA from the University of Hull and many years of experience running her own business consultancy, Ingrid’s background allows her to connect with a diverse range of clients, including cutting edge technology and web-based start-ups but also multinationals in need of assistance. Ingrid has played a defining role in shaping organizational strategy for a wide range of different organizations, including for-profit, NGOs and charities. Ingrid has also served on the Board of Directors for the South American Explorers Club in Quito, Ecuador.
