Winchester Uber + Lyft Accident Lawyers

Rideshare apps like Lyft or Uber have made getting a ride easier than ever, but many passengers take their safety for granted when they hop inside an Uber or Lyft vehicle. If an accident occurs, you should talk to the police, get emergency help, and call a lawyer for legal help as soon as possible.

Getting financial compensation after an accident is never simple, but you may be entitled to significant damages. Insurance can be helpful for many, especially if your accident is covered by insurance through Uber or Lyft. You might instead file a civil lawsuit or work out a private settlement. Whatever the case may be, we must accurately calculate your damages so that no compensation is left unclaimed. This may include economic losses, non-economic injuries, and more.

For a free initial case review, call our Uber and Lyft accident attorneys with Mitchell Rogers Injury Law at (702) 702-2622.

How to Get Financial Compensation After an Uber or Lyft Accident

A vehicle accident can result in high medical bills, extensive property damage, and other injuries and associated costs. You may need serious financial compensation to cover all these bills, and you might have more legal options than you realize.

Insurance

One of the first options many injured victims look into is insurance. Whether you were in your own car when you were struck by an Uber or Lyft vehicle, or you were a rideshare passenger, you should be able to file an insurance claim.

You may file a third-party claim with the at-fault driver’s liability insurance. This requires that we present evidence to the insurance company demonstrating how the other driver is at fault.

Depending on the facts of the case, Uber or Lyft’s insurance may cover your accident, and we can file a claim with them. It might be possible to combine multiple insurance claims, and our Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can assist you in coordinating benefits.

If the other driver is uninsured and Lyft or Uber’s insurance does not apply, you might have uninsured motorist coverage that may cover some of your costs.

Civil Lawsuit

Insurance can be very helpful for some, but it does not always pan out as we hope. If insurance is unavailable or insufficient in your case, talk to our legal team about beginning a personal injury lawsuit.

While a lawsuit may take more time than an insurance claim, plaintiffs often can recover greater damages. Insurance policies may be limited and might not cover certain kinds of injuries or losses. In a lawsuit, all damages are on the table, and we only need to prove them to get fair compensation.

Preparing a lawsuit may be done in tandem with an insurance claim. If insurance falls through, your case may be ready to be filed or may already be filed.

Private Settlement

Considering how time-consuming and difficult lawsuits can be, many people, both defendants and plaintiffs, are eager to work out private settlements to avoid protracted legal battles.

Perhaps the defendant’s insurance does not cover all your damages. In that case, we might persuade them to agree to a private settlement where they agree to pay the remainder of your damages in exchange for you dropping or foregoing a lawsuit.

Settlements are not mandatory, and both parties must mutually agree upon the terms. Once a settlement is reached, it may be legally binding, and you cannot file a lawsuit if you later change your mind.

Can I Sue Uber or Lyft After an Accident in Winchester?

While you might be able to sue someone who drives for Uber or Lyft, suing the rideshare companies themselves is a bigger task.

Generally, the rideshare companies are shielded from liability in most circumstances, so suing them is likely not possible. Employers are typically liable for injuries caused by negligent employees, but Uber and Lyft drivers are independent contractors, not employees.

However, there may still be grounds to sue these companies. If their business practices somehow played a significant role in the accident, we might have a reason to include them in the case.

For example, if a dangerous driver with a history is reckless driving violations is permitted to drive because of the company’s insufficient screening process, the company could be held liable for an accident.

Potential Damages in a Lyft or Uber Accident Case

We must take a thorough account of your damages before beginning any legal action. Your damages will likely fall into two broad categories: economic and non-economic injuries.

Economic damages may be proven with evidence of how much they cost you. Medical treatment for injuries, property damage, and even lost income from being unable to work due to your injuries may be claimed. Even small expenses, such as the cost of gas to travel to multiple doctors’ appointments, can add up to significant damages and compensation.

Non-economic damages typically cannot be proven by things like cost. Instead, these damages are more subjective and rooted in your painful, personal experiences from the accident. Your physical pain, emotional distress, psychological injuries, humiliation, the loss of enjoyment of your life, and other experiences may be grounds for significant compensation.

Can I Sue if I Am Partially Responsible for an Uber or Lyft Accident?

We must prepare for the possibility that the defendant will argue that you contributed to the accident. This is not uncommon, and plaintiffs sometimes share some responsibility, but they may still recover damages.

If the court believes the defendant’s arguments have merit, it may apply laws of comparative negligence. Under N.R.S. § 41.141(1), being partially responsible for an accident should not bar a plaintiff from recovery unless their share of fault exceeds 50%.

If a plaintiff is deemed partially responsible, their damages may be reduced according to their share of blame. If you are found to be 15% responsible, your overall damages may be diminished by 15%.

Again, if your share of fault is more than the defendant’s (i.e., more than 50%), you cannot recover any damages.

Contact Our Winchester Uber + Lyft Accident Attorneys for Help Now