Rideshare accidents are more complicated than ordinary traffic accidents in terms of determining who will be held liable for your injuries. This is why it is essential to have a law team like ours that has extensive experience in this particular area and a strong track record of successful outcomes. Known for our litigation talents, we have what it takes to win your case, including:
- Sharp investigation capabilities
- Well-developed communication skills
- Persuasive negotiation strategies
- Network of experts to call upon to testify on your behalf
Though we prefer to arrive at a negotiated settlement to avoid the delays and costs associated with a courtroom trial, we are always prepared to litigate knowledgeably and aggressively.
Rideshare Drivers May Put Passengers
and Other Drivers at Increased Risk
There are several reasons Uber and Lyft accidents may be more likely to occur than other collisions:
Uber and Lyft drivers, because they navigate by GPS and must constantly text customers and managers while driving, are likely to be more distracted than the average driver.
Drivers who may have as little as one year of driving experience are hired.
Drivers are not carefully vetted (e.g. Uber drivers, unlike taxi drivers, are not finger-printed).
Drivers are not specially trained by their companies in safe driving or navigation.
Drivers tend to work long hours and may have other jobs in addition to rideshare driving, so they are more likely to be fatigued or sleepy on the road.
In addition, Uber and Lyft drivers are no less prone to reckless driving than others on the road. They may speed, weave, fail to signal, pass traffic signals or even drive while impaired. Also, the fact that Uber and Lyft vehicles increase traffic congestion makes all accidents more likely.
Serious Injuries Suffered in Uber and Lyft Accidents
Although many Uber and Lyft accidents occur on congested urban streets, that doesn’t mean they are all just fender benders. Far too many result in serious, even catastrophic injuries. For those who suffer severe harm, and sometimes permanent disability, Uber and Lyft accidents can be life-changing. When you contact Perez Mayoral, you know that you will have not only accomplished lawyers in your corner but compassionate human beings who want to see justice served.
Among the serious injuries you or a loved one may have suffered in an Uber or Lyft accident are:
- Whiplash
- Bone fractures
- Organ damage or loss
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Amputation
- Loss of vision or hearing
At Perez Mayoral, we are acutely aware that severe injury of one member of the family, upends the lives of all of their loved ones, and that any serious injury may result in financial, as well as physical and emotional, distress. For this reason, we charge you no attorneys’ fees until we have won your Uber or Lyft accident case and held the party who caused your suffering fully accountable.
The Complexities of Uber and Lyft Liability
The fact that there is likely more than one insurance company involved in an Uber or Lyft accident case, makes it crucial that you connect with personal injury attorneys like ours who have in-depth knowledge of how Uber and Lyft liability works.
In addition to the $1 million each of these companies carries in insurance for each of its drivers, Lyft and Uber also require their drivers to carry private insurance. Nevertheless, rideshare insurance companies, like all insurance companies, try hard to protect their bottom line by paying out as little as possible on all claims. Since Florida law considers Uber and Lyft drivers independent contractors (as opposed to employees), liability issues can become complicated.
In deciding who is liable for injuries in an Uber or Lyft accident, much depends upon whether the driver was actively engaged in transportation service at the time of the collision. If the driver was not logged into the company app at the time of the accident, neither Uber or Lyft will take any responsibility.
However, once the driver is logged into the app, even if that driver has not yet accepted a ride request, the rideshare compare is liable for an accident that is the fault of their driver, up to $50,000 per person injured in an accident, and $100,000 total injury liability per accident, and $25,000 for property damage liability. Once the Uber or Lyft driver is actually transporting a customer, either company will provide up to $1 million dollars in coverage.
In some cases, we may be able to sue a third party who may be liable, such as a government agency that has failed to maintain the roadway properly or a car company that has produced and sold a defective car part.
Fortunately for victims of Uber and Lyft accidents, Florida’s pure comparative negligence policy entitles you to damages even if you bear partial, or even a majority, of responsibility for the accident in which you were injured.
Clearly, this principle will not come into play if you are a passenger in an Uber or Lyft accident, but may very well affect the outcome if you are another driver. If it does apply in your case, you should note that your court award will be decreased by the percentage of blame the court assigns you.
Our experienced Uber and Lyft lawyers will fight hard to obtain the resources you need going forward to compensate you for losses including:
- Medical and rehabilitation costs
- Psychotherapy
- Lost income/ lost earning power
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If your case involves the wrongful death of a close family member, we will work diligently to ensure that final medical costs and funeral and burial/cremation costs are paid and that you receive damages to compensate you for your loss of companionship and emotional/financial support.
Contact Our Experienced
Uber and Lyft Attorneys Now
You likely feel overwhelmed by all you have been through and continue to endure. Let us lift the legal and logistical burden from you so that you can concentrate on recovering by getting in touch with us as soon as possible.
