In Boca Raton, Florida, tourists and residents of the city use Lyft to get from place to place. Lyfts are often used when the passenger is drunk, doesn’t want to worry about finding parking, or doesn’t drive. There are many different types of people who use Lyft, from young to old.
Unfortunately, with the increase in the popularity of ridesharing apps like Lyft, accidents have been on the rise as well. Lyft may vet their drivers, but an accident can happen to anyone at any time. If a Lyft driver is speeding to get their passenger somewhere quicker, they may be putting everyone (including themselves) at risk.
If you or someone you love was injured while in a Lyft or by a Lyft driver, please contact us online or at (561) 293-2600 to learn more about the Lyft accident lawsuit process.
Video Transcript
So you've been in a car accident. What happens next? There are many things that you should do but here are the three most important:
Number One: See a doctor immediately.
A broken bone is easy to see, but some injuries are not. The most common injuries from car accidents happen in the neck, back, or head. The only way to diagnose and treat them is by seeing a doctor. A doctor can help ease the pain, provide medication, reassure you of how your injury may impact your daily life, and tell you what not to do to make it worse.
A visit to the doctor can also give you legally protected time off to recover and rest your body after an accident, and it documents and provides the evidence you may need for your case. Even a five-mile-per-hour car accident can cause a serious injury. So whether you've had a severe accident or a minor collision, see a doctor. And if you don't have medical insurance, let us know and we'll make sure that you receive the proper care.
Number Two: Write everything down.
Even if it seems small, during times of stress or injury it is common to forget the little details. Make sure you keep note of the pain that you're in. With neck, back, and head injuries, sometimes simple activities such as walking up the stairs or picking up a toddler may cause severe pain.
You may not be sleeping well at night. Documenting how much you sleep and how often you wake up due to pain is also very important. And lastly, if you have any cuts or bruises, take daily photos as you heal. This will provide visual evidence of the injuries that you've suffered.
Number Three: Do not speak to an insurance company until you've spoken to a lawyer.
Please understand that the insurance adjuster works for a billion-dollar corporation and not for you. Their interests are solely for their insurance company, and their goal is to provide you with the least amount of financial settlement as quickly as possible. When you do speak with them, remember they will record the conversation. Why do they do this? Because they've been trained to ask questions that may confuse you. So talk to us before you talk to them.
So remember: See a doctor, document everything, and call us before calling the insurance company for your free private consultation. We are here for you. Real tough lawyers fighting real tough issues.
Steps to Take if You’re Involved in a Lyft Accident
If you’re involved in a Lyft accident, do your best to remain calm and stress-free. We understand how tense these situations can be, but we’re here to help you get through this. After an accident occurs, you’ll want to do the following:
Exchange information with all involved parties, including the Lyft driver and any other involved drivers
Take pictures of all involved vehicles, your injuries, and the scene of the accident
Contact the police to file a police report
Get the contact information of anyone who witnessed the crash and encourage them to stick around and speak with the police
Follow the steps on the Lyft app to alert them that an accident occurred
Seek immediate medical attention
Contact an attorney before you speak with any insurance companies. By speaking to an attorney first, you can easily prevent mistakes that may damage your case in the early stages
Lyft Accident and Injury Statistics
Research shows that ridesharing services (including both Lyft and Uber) are to blame for a 3% increase in car accident fatalities since 2011. There are approximately 1000 ridesharing accident fatalities every day throughout the United States.
Because Florida is one of the more dangerous states for car accidents, likely, a good portion of those fatal accidents occur here. Unfortunately, Lyft hasn’t published its car accident statistics, so we don’t have a good idea of how many accidents are caused by Lyft drivers specifically per year.
Lyft offers two levels of car insurance coverage for its drivers depending on the status of the driver's application. Depending on the driver’s app status when they hit you, Lyft may offer more or less coverage for your damages. For example,
If the driver has their Lyft application offline, Lyft does not offer any coverage.
If the driver has their Lyft application online and they’re waiting for a ride request, Lyft offers the following coverage:
$50,000 per person for bodily injury
$100,000 per accident for bodily injury
$25,000 per accident for property damage
If the driver is on their way to pick up a passenger or has a passenger in their vehicle, Lyft offers the following coverage:
At least $1,000,000 for third-party auto liability coverage
The type of Lyft accident you’ve been involved in will also play a huge part in how we craft your lawsuit. In most cases involving Lyft, we’ll be filing a lawsuit against Lyft’s insurance company. You may also receive some compensation from the driver’s personal insurance coverage as well. Here are the three main types of Lyft accidents.
You’re Hit by a Lyft Driver
If you’re in your personal vehicle and you’re hit by a Lyft driver, you may receive compensation from their personal insurance or Lyft’s insurance, depending on the status of the driver’s application.
You’re a Passenger in a Lyft, and the Lyft Driver is at Fault
These are the trickiest of lawsuits, especially because many people who use Lyft don’t have their own car insurance and, therefore, can’t claim personal injury protection benefits. In these circumstances, victims must rely on Lyft’s insurance coverage to pay their damages. It’s essential to hire an attorney for these types of lawsuits. We can ensure that you get the maximum compensation so you can pay for your damages.
You’re a Passenger in a Lyft, and the Other Driver is at Fault
If you’re the passenger in a Lyft, but another driver is at-fault for your injuries, you may be able to receive compensation from both Lyft and the other driver’s insurance companies. These cases can also be complex, as multi-party liability may come into play.
What Damages Can I Recover?
The term “damages” refers to any losses that you’ve incurred as a result of the accident you were in. Damages can be associated with a monetary value or not. The damages you can recover include:
Economic damages (losses with a specific monetary value):
Doctors visits
Specialist visits
Physical therapy
In-home care
Surgery
Ambulance rides
Medical equipment
Future medical care
Past and future lost wages
Lost earning capacity
Non-economic damages (losses without a specific monetary value):
Pain and suffering
Loss of consortium
Emotional distress
Scarring and disfigurement
Your settlement will be calculated based on your total damages. While economic damages are fairly straightforward, non-economic damages can be more difficult to quantify. Oftentimes, these damages are calculated based on the change to your quality of life. If your quality of life has drastically changed because of the car accident, your damages will be higher.
If you are seeking a lawsuit due to a loved one’s passing after a Lyft accident, you may also receive compensation for burial costs, funeral costs, loss of companionship, and more.
T. Andrews
“Attorneys Greg Francis and Ryan Fletcher at Osborne & Francis Law Firm represented me in my personal injury case.The defendant drew a line in the sand and was adamant on a settlement amount I was almost willing to accept. After the dust settled and the smoke cleared, we settled for 3 times that amount!!! When they say ‘Real Tough Lawyers,’ they mean it.”
C. Smith
“I am so thankful for EVERYONE, the entire staff at Osborne & Francis Law, for mentoring me through the mediation process with my hip replacement failures. I didn't realize how MUCH pressure they relieved me of by helping me deal with the reality of this traumatic time in my life, as it was OVER so quickly with a positive result. My family is grateful to have their mom HAPPY & FOCUSED on the future, rather than worrying over what happened in the past! FAST FORWARD, we are LIVING LIFE to the fullest once again!”
Erica F.
"Best personal injury attorney around, I could not be happier! I was seriously injured in a car accident and Osborne and Francis helped me through the entire process. I was blown away by how knowledgeable the staff and attorneys are at this incredible law firm. I would not hesitate to recommend this law firm to friends and family!"
E. Holland
Dennis and the other Osborne & Francis staff were amazing! Our case was HUGE and required tender loving care. Everyone on our case did their part by putting all the puzzle pieces together. We were given step by step updates and put at ease when our nerves got the best of us. For every inquiry we made we received a timely response...You are appreciated!
J. Davis
“I couldn’t have asked for a better lawyer/ firm — everything was done professionally exactly how I wanted. Due to COVID my personal attorney Mr. Garcia was still able to make things work in a timely manner and he never made me feel like he wasn’t working. Overall I’m happy with how my case turned out and I would recommend him and this law firm to anyone. 100% satisfied.”
Alfred
Quick and fair resolution to a unique case. On advice of my own attorney, I engaged Joseph Osborne of Osborne & Francis of Boca Raton, FL. Mr. Osborne had considerable experience in cases such as mine and the results showed that. Mr. Osborne and his staff were very helpful, kept me up to date, and listened to my input. The settlement was very fair as far as I am concerned.
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Contact Osborne & Francis to Have All Your Lyft Accident Questions Answered
If you’ve been injured in a Lyft accident or a loved one has passed away, please contact us as soon as possible to discuss your case. Contact us online or at (561) 293-2600.
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