It is natural to have many questions after sustaining injuries in a Lyft accident. Who should you sue, the driver or the rideshare company? How much money are your injuries worth? How much time do you have to begin a lawsuit?
A Brandon rideshare accident lawyer from our firm can not only answer those questions, but they can also represent you with the insurance companies or even in court, if necessary. We go the extra mile to ensure our clients are well represented and well cared for.
Why Sue After a Lyft Accident?
There are two main reasons why an accident victim would consider filing a lawsuit: to recover compensation and to hold the negligent party who caused the accident responsible for their thoughtless behavior. If you want to accomplish either or both of these objectives, a lawsuit is a good way to do it.
Filing a lawsuit can be stressful, but it does not have to be. A Lyft accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help you with your Brandon lawsuit by:
- Giving you their phone number so you have constant access to your attorney
- Helping you make doctor’s appointments, get your car fixed, or other such tasks that you have not been able to do on your own
- Collecting evidence from as many sources as are available, including surveillance tapes, eyewitness testimony, and police reports
- Identifying the liable party or parties—for example, is the Lyft driver solely responsible, or can you also sue Lyft itself?
- Filling out and submitting all necessary paperwork throughout the process
- Serving as a go-between by delivering messages from you to the liable party and vice versa
- Contacting the insurance company and negotiating with them for an appropriate and just amount of compensation
- Taking your case to court, if recovering a pretrial settlement is not possible
- Updating you frequently throughout your case and helping you decide how to respond to each new development
According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), there were over 12,000 injury crashes in Hillsborough County (including Brandon) in 2021. Those crashes resulted in over 18,000 injuries. If you were one of the many thousands of Floridians injured by another party’s carelessness, we want to help you get the compensation and fair treatment you deserve.
What to Sue for After a Lyft Accident
You can seek compensation for bodily harm, financial losses, and property damages caused by a Lyft accident. Common examples of compensatory damages include:
- Pain and suffering: This can refer to both physical and psychological consequences of your accident injuries, such as physical pain or public humiliation.
- Disability: For example, you now have chronic back pain, you lost the use of a limb or your suffered permanent brain damage.
- Diminished quality of life: Your life as you knew it is over. You may need help with everyday tasks, or you may be unable to socialize or engage in favorite activities the way you used to do.
- Disfigurement: Some injuries are so serious that they leave permanent scars. If you have scars that affect your appearance or range of motion, we can figure out how much you can ask for them from the liable party.
- Loss of wages: If your injuries kept you away from work for any length of time, the liable party could be responsible for any income or benefits you lost.
- Medical expenses: Lyft accident injuries can be devastating and require medical and/or psychological treatment. The cost of any such professional treatment is a compensable injury.
- Repair expenses: If you were a passenger in someone else’s car, you may not have to worry about this category. If, however, your own car was damaged in the crash, you can seek reimbursement for the cost of fixing it.
- Loss of earning capacity: You will never be able to earn as much or get your career back on the track it was before the injury. We can estimate the worth of your future lost income and job opportunities.
How much can you ask for in compensation? That depends on:
- How serious your injuries are
- What types of injuries you suffered
- What the liable party’s insurance policy covers
- Whether the insurance company can successfully argue that you contributed to the accident in any way
Each case is different, so it is not possible to estimate an “average” amount that you can reasonably expect to receive. Instead, our team can carefully investigate and review your case to calculate an appropriate amount for you to seek from the insurance company.
When to Begin a Lyft Accident Lawsuit
How much time you have to file a suit against a negligent driver or rideshare company depends on the specifics of your accident. As a general rule, you have four years to start your case, per Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a). However, if you are filing a wrongful death suit, or if you are suing a particular kind of party, the deadline may be shorter.
It is usually best to start researching your legal options as soon as you have received medical care for your injuries. This way, you:
- Ensure your case still falls within the statute of limitations
- Give us more time to collect evidence, build a strong case, and determine who the liable parties are
- Give yourself more time to thoroughly explore your options without having to rush into a decision
- May be able to get your money faster
The legal process for recovering compensation can be quite lengthy. If we have to take your case to court, it could last for a year or more. The sooner you exercise your right to seek compensation, the sooner you can get the money you need and hold the liable party accountable for their actions.
Call Today to Get Started
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine is eager to provide you with a free case review regarding your Brandon Lyft accident. A lawyer from our firm can then get to work on your lawsuit by collecting evidence, meeting with the insurance company, and fighting hard for the settlement or jury award you need.
We Can Help.
