If you or a family member was injured in an accident with a Lyft or Uber rideshare driver, a personal injury lawyer from our firm can help you recover compensation for your medical costs, pain and suffering, and loss of income.
You can file a claim or lawsuit to recover compensation if you were struck by an Uber or Lyft driver or if you were in an Uber or Lyft when the accident occurred. A Hialeah Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine will fight for your rights after another driver’s negligence leaves you hurt.
If You Were Struck By a Rideshare Driver in Hialeah
To recover compensation on your behalf, we will need to prove that you were owed a duty of care to be kept safe, that the rideshare driver failed to meet this duty of care, and that this failure is what caused your accident and injuries.
Duty of Care
First, we will prove that you were owed a duty of care. This means that you had a reasonable expectation of safety. You may have been owed a duty of care if you were the driver or passenger in another vehicle or if you were on a motorcycle, bicycle, or traveling as a pedestrian.
Negligence
Next, we will prove that the rideshare driver who struck you was negligent. Examples of negligent behavior behind the wheel include:
- Fatigued driving: Drowsy drivers can experience similar physical side effects as drunk drivers. Rideshare drivers may be at particular risk of drowsy driving if they have been driving for long periods of time or at odd hours of the night or morning.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol: If the rideshare driver who caused your accident was intoxicated, they may be liable for your injuries.
- Distracted driving: If the rideshare driver who struck you was in any way distracted from the road at the time of your accident, they may be held liable for the resulting accident and injuries. Common distractions for Lyft and Uber drivers include their passengers, the rideshare app, their GPS, texting, calling, eating, and adjusting the radio.
- Aggressive driving: Sometimes, rideshare drivers feel the pressure to finish their rides as quickly as possible to make the most of their time. If the driver who struck you was speeding, ignoring traffic signs and signals, weaving, tailgating, or otherwise driving aggressively, they may have negligently caused your accident and injuries.
Causation of Accident and Injuries
Finally, we will prove that the rideshare driver’s negligence was what caused your accident and injuries.
Even if you believe that more than one party contributed to the accident, you should still consider hiring a personal injury lawyer from our team to discuss your options. As long as you can prove that the rideshare driver carries the majority of the blame for what happened, you can still recover damages.
If You Were a Passenger in a Rideshare Accident
If you were a passenger in a Lyft or Uber at the time of the accident, then your case will proceed much as it would if you were struck by a Lyft or Uber.
The difference lies in the party or parties who may be liable for the accident, as well as the insurance details of the rideshare driver.
Determining Who Was at Fault
If you were struck by a Lyft or Uber, your lawyer will generally try to prove that the rideshare driver caused the accident by investigating for evidence of their negligence.
If you were the passenger, then it is possible that the rideshare driver was not at fault; the other drivers, motorcyclists, truck drivers, bicyclists, etc. who were involved in the accident may have been the ones responsible for what happened.
Only through investigation and thorough examination of the case can we decide who is to blame for your accident. Once we know, we may suggest you bring a claim or lawsuit against any number of negligent parties: your rideshare driver, the rideshare company, the other drivers involved, or even the government or one of its agencies.
How Your Status as a Passenger Impacts Rideshare Insurance
Uber and Lyft require that their drivers carry the state minimum insurance coverage. However, there is also special coverage that rideshare drivers can purchase to protect against accidents (Lyft, Uber). Oftentimes, the amount of coverage this offers is increased during the duration of a ride or when there are passengers in the vehicle.
This means your lawyer may be able to help you recover the compensation you need without a lawsuit. Your lawyer can give you a better idea of how rideshare insurance coverage can impact your claim or lawsuit going forward after reviewing the specifics of your case.
Damages in Hialeah Rideshare Accident Cases
Damages refer to the legal compensation you can recover for your losses caused by someone else’s negligence. There are two types of compensatory damages you can recover after a rideshare accident, and they are economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages include your past financial losses, as well as those you can prefect facing in the future. Some common economic damages in rideshare accident cases include the following.
- Doctor’s visits
- Hospital stays
- Surgeries
- Prescription medications
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Lost income
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Funeral and burial expenses
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are compensation for your intangible losses. This involves you and your loved one’s mental, emotional, and physical pain and suffering.
If you lost a family member in a rideshare accident, you can pursue compensation for not only their physical pain and suffering between the time of the accident and their passing but also your own emotional and mental suffering due to the accident and their passing.
Our Rideshare Accident Lawyers are Eager to Work for You
Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today at 1-800-747-3733 to receive your free consultation. You will learn more about how a Hialeah Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer will fight for you and your loved ones after your accident in the Miami metropolitan area.
We Can Help.
