Boca Raton Lyft Accident Attorneys

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.

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 App Status and How it Affects Your Case

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
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, personal injury protection, MedPay, and/or occupational accident coverage

Types of Lyft Accidents

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.