Rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft, have become a popular trend in modern transportation. Unfortunately, accidents involving rideshare vehicles introduce some unique and troubling legal hurdles. For victims, these accidents can turn into a complicated web of laws, policies, and anxiety. Trying to juggle your legal and financial concerns while also hurting from a personal injury only makes things more challenging.
You may be owed financial compensation for your losses in a rideshare accident. A Lehigh Acres personal injury lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can build a case to represent your legal position after a collision.
On your behalf, we will communicate with rideshare drivers, company representatives, insurance agents, and other parties. In this process, we will also negotiate for any forms of financial compensation that you may be owed for your damages.
Examining Damages and Pursuing Financial Compensation
While rideshare services prevent drunk and reckless driving in some cases, they also pose some unique risks to drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services have put more vehicles on the roads, leading to more accidents. Research from the University of Chicago linked ridesharing services with a three percent annual increase in roadway fatalities.
As a victim involved in an accident with a rideshare vehicle, you might feel confused about how your rights protect you. First and foremost, our lawyers can protect you from:
- Saying more than is necessary to an insurance adjuster
- Being pressured into a low settlement
- Agreeing to a settlement before you know your full losses
- Having your injuries and bills questioned
- Manipulative tactics by insurance companies to avoid paying you
We know that rideshare companies are often confusing to deal with following a crash. Depending on the driver’s status as an employee or independent contractor and if they were transporting a passenger or in-between runs, this information could impact your ability to seek financial compensation after an accident.
Furthermore, the world of rideshare accident law is new and emergent, which can create some problems for victims. A lawyer who focuses on these cases from our firm can assist you by defending your rights, negotiating with other parties on your behalf, and going after any forms of monetary compensation you may be owed.
What You Could Receive After Suffering Harm
Despite the confusion inherent in rideshare accident cases, you could still recover some of the same damages as other Fort Myers Car Accident Lawyer claimants. Some potential forms of recoverable damages that you could receive after a rideshare accident include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Loss of income
- Loss of the ability to enjoy life
- Property damage invoices
- Physical therapy and rehabilitative treatment plans
- Psychological pain and suffering
Our rideshare collision attorneys work closely with you, your doctors, and experts (like economists and actuaries) to understand your injuries both now and in the future. We don’t just work to get some of your bills paid. We project your losses over time, analyze the harm to your personal life, and demand recognition for the unique pain you suffered.
Supporting Your Case for Damages with Evidence
Identifying the compensation you could receive is one aspect of your case. In addition to determining what you can recover, evidence can support how your accident happened.
A Lehigh Acres Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine will build a case to defend your rights using data culled from several areas. We will collect and examine key pieces of evidence as part of our thorough investigation, such as:
- Police reports
- Medical records
- The at-fault driver’s alcohol and drug test results
- Photos from the scene
- Traffic and bystander videos
- Eyewitness testimony
- Accident reconstruction data
- Analysis by experts
As we compile this information, we aim to keep our clients “in the know” as their cases progress, so you can expect frequent updates as things progress. We do the work to keep you in the loop; all you have to do is focus on your health and healing.
You may be entitled to collect various recoverable damages in your case, and our Fort Myers personal injury lawyers will fight to pursue them on your behalf.
We Consider and Explain Laws That Could Affect Your Case
As with many aspects of the law, several details enter the picture in a rideshare accident. Working with a lawyer who has experience in this realm will assist you in interpreting relevant laws. Your lawyer can also address your questions and navigate any unique details that pertain to your case.
For example, Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a) states those who suffer a personal injury in Florida resulting from negligence have up to four years after the incident to take legal action. If you pursue a lawsuit beyond this timeline, you will likely discover that there is little you can do to move your case forward.
Instead, it is helpful to get in touch with legal representation soon after an accident. A lawyer from our firm will guide you through your options and build up a case to help you progress through the legal system.
We Manage All of Your Case’s Necessary Communications
Not only will your legal team help by interpreting the law on your behalf, but they will also take care of all communications. This means that you will no longer have to worry about speaking to rideshare employees, insurance adjusters, or any other parties related to your case.
We help with:
- Drafting your official statement regarding the accident
- Answering calls and emails from adjusters and other parties
- Explaining the terms of any settlement offers
- Negotiating a settlement that reflects your situation
- Representing you in court if necessary
Our rideshare crash attorneys understand that legal jargon can be intimidating. We speak this language and can act as your translator whenever you need us.
The Complexities of Uber and Lyft Accidents
Uber and Lyft accidents are often more complicated than traditional car accidents. As such, if you are a victim of a rideshare accident, you might feel like giving up on seeking justice. However, when another party causes you harm, a lawyer from our firm who focuses on these kinds of cases will defend your rights and represent your position as you recover and focus on getting back to your life.
Our lawyers can help you figure out what options you have for pursuing compensation. Depending on the nature of your accident, these options may include a combination of:
- Your own personal injury protection (PIP) policy
- The at-fault driver’s liability policy
- Uber or Lyft’s insurance policy
- The liability policy of another at-fault party
It doesn’t help that many of the parties involved in your crash may try to point fingers at each other–– or even attempt to place blame at your feet. With everyone competing to avoid paying for your accident, our investigators can search for the truth.
We Identify Who To Hold Liable for Your Injuries
Note that both Uber and Lyft provide their drivers with different types of insurance depending on whether the rideshare driver was actively transporting a passenger or awaiting a request. Their drivers can also be left without any coverage from the rideshare company if they were logged out of the app at the time of the accident.
This system can add further complexity to a rideshare accident case. Yet, even if the rideshare company cannot be held responsible, we can still pursue the driver directly and even explore holding more than one party accountable.
For instance, other forms of negligence that could have played a part in causing your injuries include:
- Defective auto parts. Here, we could hold a car part manufacturer accountable through a product liability claim.
- Maintenance and installation errors made by a shop or dealership. In this situation, we could pursue the individual who made the error or their employer.
- A lack of road maintenance by a government entity or property owner. This would allow us to seek compensation from either a municipality or an individual.
These are just a few scenarios that could allow us to pursue an insurance claim or lawsuit against a third party. When we delve into the details of your case, we can identify these possibilities for you.
Contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine Today
A Lehigh Acres Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can defend you and your loved ones after an accident. Our team of lawyers will construct a case that looks out for your legal and financial interests. In doing so, we will strive to establish a liable party and hold them accountable for their actions.
As part of this process, we will collect appropriate forms of evidence, examine relevant laws, and fight to recover any forms of monetary compensation for which you may be eligible. To learn more, call our office today. At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, we go the extra mile.
We Can Help.
