How long will it take for Lyft to settle an accident claim? How long does it take for Lyft’s insurer to settle a personal injury claim? How much time does…
Miami Lyft Accident Lawyer
Lyft is the primary competitor with Uber in the ride sharing industry. At the present time there are thousands of Lyft and Uber drivers in Miami and all-over South Florida. Both Uber and Lyft are thriving in South Florida. But with all of those drivers on our roads, accidents are bound to happen. When Lyft car accidents happen in Miami and South Florida, injuries are likely.
If you or a loved one were involved in a car accident involving a lyft accident, contact the accident injury attorneys at Suarez & Montero and ask about receiving a free consultation so that we can see how we can help you with your lyft accident claim. Our skilled rideshare accident lawyers have the experience necessary to handle all aspects of you rideshare case to make sure you secure the compensation that you deserve.
Common Cases of Injuries with Lyft Vehicles
More than 50% of all lyft accidents in Florida result in an injury to the driver or his or her passengers. Our lawyers are familiar with the many types of injuries that a car accident can cause. At Suarez & Montero, our knowledgeable lawyers understand that serious injuries can significantly impact your quality of life for you and your family. When you or a loved one sustain injuries in a car accident, you and your loved ones deserve to be compensated appropriately by the at fault party. Our attorneys are familiar with the various types of injuries that are caused by car accidents including:
- Catastrophic Injuries
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Bruising
- Whiplash
- Concussion
- Eye injury
- Chest injury
- Degloving injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Amputation
- Paralysis
- Wrongful death
- Soft Tissue Injuries
Immediate Actions to Take After Lyft Accident
Call the Police
Even though you are not the driver, it is good to assess yourself and the persons around you. If the Uber car accident was very severe, there may be varying degrees of injuries. Similar to when you are in an accident in a private car, when you are a passenger in an Uber accident call 911 if necessary and seek medical attention. Like any type of car accident, you should call the police if there’s significant damage and once it’s safe to do so. The officer will file an official report, which will be crucial evidence if you intend to pursue damages against the parties responsible.
Document the Event
The police will gather evidence in an official report, but you should also make note of what happened for your own records. Again, when it’s safe to do so, write down or record a message or video explaining what happened. Note the road and weather conditions, if anyone was speeding, the rideshare company involved, your driver’s name and information, any other involved parties’ names and their contact information, insurance information and all other details relevant to the accident. If issues arise when you file a claim, the information that you collect can be very helpful in proving your case.
Get Medical Attention
It’s important that you see a doctor if you were involved in any type of lyft accident. Some symptoms may not manifest immediately, and if you delay, it may look like the pain was caused by some other event or that the accident wasn’t serious since you didn’t go to a hospital initially. Plus, a doctor’s official documentation of any injuries will be key to receiving compensation for personal injury damages.
Insurance Requirements for Lyft
Lyft’s insurance policy can be a bit complicated. Generally, drivers are covered by their own car insurance during the times when they are not available to pick up passengers. When they are on duty, they carry their own car insurance plus liability coverage from Lyft. When the drivers do have passengers in their cars, they are covered by a $1 million liability policy and an additional $1 million uninsured motorist policy. That’s much more than the minimum required amount in most states.
While this may seem like you’d be covered in an accident, it’s worth noting that Lyft drivers are considered independent contractors. An independent contractor means that the drivers are not technically employees of these companies, and as such, Lyft may deny responsibility for accidents that are caused by the drivers. Because of this, receiving the compensation you deserve can be difficult without the help of an experienced Uber accident lawyer. Things can get complicated quickly when you are an Uber car accident passenger or if you were hit by a Lyft driver. That’s why if you are injured in a car accident caused by a Lyft driver, you need to seek legal help immediately.
What Compensation is Available for Miami Lyft Car Accident Victims?
When you’re injured in a Miami Lyft accident and someone else is to blame, you have the right to demand compensation. In Florida, accident victims are typically entitled to both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are paid to compensate for your financial costs (e.g., medical bills), while non-economic damages are paid to compensate for intimate and hard-to-value injuries (e.g., chronic pain).
Damages Available to Miami Lyft Accident Victims
At Suarez & Montero, our car accident attorneys will aggressively pursue all damages to which you may be entitled, including compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Anxiety and depression
- Disfigurement
Injured in a Lyft Accident? Know Your Rights
Even a minor accident can have far-reaching implications for your health, employment and long-term well-being. Knowing what to do after a rideshare accident can help you protect your rights and ensure you get the best possible outcome in your case! Don’t agree to an insurance settlement immediately after filing your insurance claim! If someone from the insurance company contacts you on behalf of the organization or individual that injured you, be very wary of speaking to them. Also, keep in mind that insurance companies are known for trying to extend injured car accident victims extremely low settlement offers before the extent of their injuries is truly known.
Why Hire Us to be Your Lyft Car Accident Lawyer in Miami?
Companies such as Uber and Lyft have their own insurance, you may carry your own insurance, and other drivers involved in a collision may have their own insurance. Gathering evidence and facilitating a claim between all these parties can be complex, and it’s easy for your needs to be minimized or totally ignored. Work with an attorney to ensure this doesn’t happen. Being in a collision is scary, and when you’re just a passenger at the mercy of a rideshare company, it can feel like you have no legal recourse for your injuries. Let the injury attorneys at Suarez & Montero review the circumstances of your accident and discuss your legal options.
Our attorneys have represented clients who have been injured in rideshare accidents and are ready to provide proven legal representation in pursuing your claim and stand ready to protect your rights. There is no substitute for quality legal advice after being involved in a car accident. The car accident attorneys at Suarez and Montero would love to have an opportunity to clarify the law in Florida and assist you in presenting a strong claim against the at fault party. Every firm is distinctive and auto accident victims have needs that are also distinct. needs are different. The Florida auto accident attorneys at Suarez & Montero encourage you to reach out so that we can explain more about the different ways that our law firm and attorneys can provide legal assistance and direction after an auto accident.
Make an appointment with us at one of our many locations. Remember, we work on a contingency basis so you will owe us nothing If we are unable to obtain successful results for your case.
The Law Offices of Suarez & Montero Car Accident Attorneys represents accident victims injured in various types of accidents including:
Can You Sue After a Lyft Accident?
Although ridesharing services are very popular and convenient for everyday use, ridesharing services are not without risk. It is important to understand that lyft drivers are not specially trained drivers.…
Frequently Asked Questions
A ridesharing company is an entity that operates in Florida using a digital network to connect riders and drivers for prearranged drives. Additionally, ridesharing companies or their drivers are not considered to be common carriers.
No. Under Florida law, ridesharing companies are not deemed to own, control, operate, direct, or manage the vehicles or drivers that connect to its digital network, except where agreed to by written contract.
Under Florida law, a digital network like the one used by ridesharing services like uber and lyft is any online-enabled technology application service, website, or system offered or used by a transportation network company which enables the prearrangement of rides with transportation network company drivers. A “prearranged ride” is the provision of transportation by a driver to a rider, beginning when a driver accepts a ride requested by a rider through a digital network controlled by a ridesharing company, continuing while the driver transports the rider, and ending when the last rider exits from and is no longer occupying the driver’s vehicle.
A driver is an individual who receives connections to potential riders and related services from a ridesharing network and in return for compensation, uses a vehicle to offer or provide a prearranged ride to a rider upon connection through said digital network.
Rideshare requirements for vehicles are consistent across the state of Florida. The car must have at least four doors, must have between five and eight seats, have a valid license plate, and should be listed on a personal insurance policy or rideshare insurance policy issued in Florida. The car’s model year needs to be 2002 or newer, unless you’re driving in Miami, Orlando, Bradenton, Jacksonville, Naples, Port Charlotte, Sarasota or Tampa. In these cities, your car’s model year must be 2006 or newer. Uber’s car requirements in Florida are determined by city, but the actual requirements are primarily based on the services offered.