As our society has adopted ridesharing over the last several years, more and more people use services like Uber and Lyft every year. Just like taxi drivers of the past, rideshare drivers are human beings and do make mistakes.
Billions of Lyft and Uber rides happen every year, and while this is great for helping care for the environment and our planet, this means that thousands of accidents happen involving rideshare drivers and passengers every single year. While these accidents are normally non-fatal, the amount of fatal rideshare accidents has been increasing as the number of rideshare trips increased.
If you've been involved in an accident while using a rideshare service, there are Lyft and Uber accident lawyers that can help. At Marks Law Group, we specialize in all aspects of traffic law and represent many traffic accident victims and their personal injury claims every year. We take our job as personal injury attorneys seriously and do everything we can to ensure that our clients who are victims of rideshare accidents receive the settlement they deserve.
Who is Liable for My Injuries?
As with any other passenger, even in a regular personal vehicle, whichever driver is at fault is liable for the physical injuries of everyone else involved. This can get a little tricky when it comes to having several parties involved. The police report about the accident should decide who is at fault for the accident, and that driver is whose insurance will largely be footing the bill for all injuries parties medical bills or personal injuries, or property damage.
If your Lyft or Uber driver is at fault, this could mean dealing with their insurance, though sometimes companies like Lyft and Uber have extra insurance on their drivers and you may be dealing with the companies insurance policy and company also.
Is My Case Worth Pursuing?
Without speaking to an attorney, this can be hard to discern, as every case is different. But for the most part, the worse the accident and your injuries, the more likely you are to be offered a settlement or win a fair settlement in court. For example, if your rideshare driver gets bumped from behind, you have slight bruises, and a couple of days of soreness, there is a close to zero chance that you will receive a settlement at all, even if you go to court.
However, if your rideshare driver is hit from behind by a vehicle going 40+, and the vehicle you are in is pushed into another car, a median, or off the road, you could be looking at a sizable accident. Especially if you sustain injuries that require medical attention or a hospital stay. The only way to know for sure is to contact a Decatur car accident attorney and get their opinion on your case.
Learn More: What Does Uber Pay for Accidents?
Do I Have to File My Own Insurance Claim?
While you're waiting for a settlement, or if you have been denied a settlement, you may have to go through your own insurance in order to receive some relief. However, being denied a settlement by the at-fault driver's insurance company is not the end of the line. You may be eligible to sue the insurance directly if you have sufficient proof and evidence that your injuries came from the car accident.
If you or your rideshare is hit by uninsured or underinsured motorists, the rideshare companies insurance will normally also cover your settlement and medical bill needs. Or you may end be eligible to sue the uninsured or underinsured driver personally in civil court.
How Do I Sue the Insurance Company or Other Driver?
If you have been denied a settlement, or simply offered a quick settlement that is much too small, you can sue the insurance company personally. You can also sue the at-fault driver personally if the insurance payout was too small, or nothing was offered. In either case, you need legal representation for help filing a lawsuit against the insurance company or the at-fault party.
At Marks Law Group, we handle cases like yours every day, and we know how to navigate the legal process of suing the insurance company and getting what you deserve. While you can sue the other party yourself, without representation, you are more likely to win with an attorney on your side, and more likely to increase the size of your settlement. Call us today to learn more about your legal options.
How Much Does a Traffic Accident Lawyer Cost?
While hourly costs vary from attorney to attorney, for a Decatur Uber or Lyft accident attorney you can expect to pay somewhere around $100 to $500 an hour, depending on the attorney's experience and specialization.
Our firm operates on a different payment plan. We work on a contingency fee, which means our personal injury lawyers do not charge anything upfront, instead, we take our payment as a percentage of your settlement.
We find this method beneficial to our clients since they are already having to cover injuries and other damages caused by the accident.
Learn More: How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
Marks Law Group is Here for You
If you have been injured in a rideshare accident in Decatur, it's time to call Marks Law Group for your no-obligation consultation. We offer free consultations and flat-rate pricing so there is never any risk involved when you contact us.
Our goal is to help you get the compensation you deserve, and we work hard to make sure our clients walk away with the maximum amount possible. Ridesharing should be safe, and if you've been the victim of reckless driving by either your rideshare driver or another driver on the road, you shouldn't have to bear that weight alone. Whatever the medical attention you needed, or the loss of enjoyment you have suffered, we are here to help.