How Much Can You Get From An Uber Or Lyft Accident? Claims And Settlements
Ridesharing apps have become increasingly popular in recent years. With companies like Uber and Lyft, you can get a ride from just about anywhere with the click of a button. However, as ridesharing becomes more popular, there has also been an increase in accidents involving Uber and Lyft vehicles. If you’ve been in a car accident involving either an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you may be wondering how much can you get from an Uber or Lyft accident.
Unfortunately, there is no one answer to this question because every case is different. The amount of money you can get from a ridesharing car accident will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of the accident, the extent of your injuries, and whether or not you were at fault. In general, however, you can expect to receive more money if the Uber or Lyft accident was severe and you were not at fault.
This article will discuss some of the factors that go into determining a car accident settlement amount. It will also talk about the steps that you need to take in order to file a claim and receive compensation for your injuries.
If you’ve been in a car accident while riding in an Uber or Lyft vehicle, it’s important to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your case and find out how much you may be entitled to receive. Be sure to get in touch with an experienced lawyer from the firm of Jared Spingarn, P.A. Your lawyer will help you file an accident claim and pursue a settlement on your behalf.
What is the average settlement for an Uber or Lyft accident?
No one wants to be injured in a car accident. But if you are an Uber or Lyft accident victim, you deserve to receive fair compensation for your injuries. In Florida, car accident settlements often depend on the extent of the injuries and damages sustained by the victim. How much money do you get from a crash? Settlements can range from less than $15,000 to as high as $500,000. In more severe cases, the car accident settlement amount can reach seven digits.
How much is a fair settlement? It would be difficult to determine what defines a fair settlement after an Uber and Lyft accident. In most cases, the defendant’s legal team will do their best to argue for a low settlement amount. You must prove the extent of the injuries you sustained as well as economic and non-economic damages to argue for a higher settlement.
Many Uber or Lyft accident victims are not aware of how much a fair settlement is. Most of the time, this question arises once a settlement has already been reached. A fair settlement will depend on the amount of economic and non-economic damages you sustained due to the car accident. These damages include medical bills, lost wages, financial losses, pain and suffering, future medical treatment, and more.
The best way to get a fair settlement is to consult with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer who can help you with your case. At the law offices of Jared Spingarn, P.A., experienced personal injury lawyers are ready to take your case to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.
Who will be held liable in the Uber and Lyft accidents?
Rideshare drivers for Uber or Lyft work as independent contractors. This means that an Uber or Lyft driver is not considered a regular employee. The only time they are contracted is when the Uber or Lyft driver is online in the app. Due to this policy, Uber or Lyft may not be held directly liable for all accidents that involve the rideshare drivers. Thus, depending on the details of the Lyft or Uber accident, either the company or the rideshare driver can be held liable.
Types of Coverage for Uber or Lyft Accidents
Since Uber and Lyft drivers are considered independent contractors, they are not provided with the same insurance coverage that regular employees would have. As a result, there are different types of coverage for rideshare accidents.
Personal Auto Insurance Coverage
The first is a personal auto insurance policy. This type of policy will cover the driver when they are not working for Uber or Lyft, meaning the app is offline at the time of the car accident. With both Uber and Lyft, rideshare drivers are required to have personal auto insurance policies. This is a strict requirement that must be complied with before being allowed to work as a rideshare driver.
If you were involved in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver and the driver was not logged into the app, the driver’s insurance coverage would cover the damages. However, if you were involved in rideshare accidents with a Lyft or Uber driver who was logged into the app, their personal auto insurance policy would not cover the damages.
In this case, you would have to file a claim with Uber or Lyft’s insurance company. It is important to note that Uber and Lyft’s insurance policies have different coverage limits for car accidents.
The amount of liability insurance will depend on the details of the rideshare accident. This means that the coverage will vary between the two situations below:
- When the rideshare accident occurs while the driver is logged into the app and carrying a passenger or traveling to pick up a passenger;
- When a Lyft or Uber accident occurs while the driver is waiting for a ride request.
Uber and Lyft’s Insurance Coverage
The second type of coverage is Uber and Lyft’s insurance policy. As mentioned earlier, this type of policy only covers accidents that occur while the rideshare driver is logged into the app.
Uber’s Insurance Policy
Uber’s liability insurance covers an Uber driver who was logged in the app at the time of the car accident. While waiting for a ride request, the Uber driver is covered by the following amounts:
- $100,000 per Uber accident
- $50,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $25,000 for property damage liability
These coverage amounts will only be provided if the personal auto insurance coverage of the Uber driver will not cover the accident. In Florida, this includes personal injury protection as required by the state. The Uber driver can also get an optional underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage policy for further protection.
If the Uber accident occurs when driving with a passenger or traveling to pick up a passenger, higher coverage applies. In this case, you can file an Uber accident claim for the following:
- Third-party Liability Coverage: For bodily injury and property damage, with a coverage of at least $1,000,000
- Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage: In case the other party does not have insurance. This also applies if the Uber accident was caused by a hit and run.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Applies only if the Uber driver has personal comprehensive coverage on the vehicle. Requires a $2,500 deductible before Uber’s coverage applies.
Lyft’s Insurance Policy
Lyft’s insurance policy is similar to Uber’s. When rideshare accidents occur while driving Lyft, the accident victims can file rideshare injury claims with the company’s insurance policy. If the accident occurs while the Lyft driver is waiting for a ride request, the following coverage applies:
- $100,000 for bodily injury coverage per accident
- $50,000 for bodily injury liability per person
- $25,000 for property damage per accident
Similar to Uber, personal injury claims for car accidents that occurred while a ride was in progress or when a driver was en route to pick up a passenger have higher coverage amounts.
- Third-party liability coverage of at least $1,000,000 per accident
- Underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage
- Comprehensive and collision coverage with a $2,500 deductible amount. The actual value of the coverage is up to the value of the vehicle or its repairs.
What if the Uber or Lyft driver does not have insurance?
If the rideshare driver does not have insurance or has an expired policy, you may be able to file a claim against Uber or Lyft. Since these two companies require their drivers to have coverage, liability can fall with the companies. For a claim to be successful, you will need to prove that the driver was working for Uber or Lyft at the time of the accident and that they did not have an updated insurance policy.
To ensure that you receive the right compensation in a car accident claim, make sure to hire the services of Jared Spingarn, P.A. Jared’s team of personal injury attorneys will assist you in a personal injury case and make sure to get all the details needed if the claim will turn into a Lyft or Uber accident lawsuit.
What are the damages that can be claimed after an Uber or Lyft accidents?
The details of your accident will determine the amount that you can claim in a personal injury lawsuit. Several factors will affect how an Uber and Lyft accident settlement is determined. These include the incurred and future medical expenses, current and future lost wages, property damage, and non-economic damages.
As settlements can vary depending on the situation, and no situation is exactly the same, it is best to hire the best legal representation for your case from the Law offices of Jared Spingarn. Getting into a rideshare accident that resulted in serious injuries is a traumatic experience, so it is recommended to get a good lawyer from the team of Jared Spingarn, P.A. Jared’s team can help you feel at ease while building a healthy attorney-client relationship with you. They will help you obtain a clear understanding of the details of your rideshare accident claim and settlement.
What is the difference between economic and non-economic damages?
The damages that you can successfully file a claim for are categorized into economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages refer to financial losses that are perceptible and easily accounted for. These include medical bills, property damage, and lost wages.
On the other hand, non-economic damages are those that are subjective, non-financial losses, and may be difficult to quantify. Some examples of non-economic damages are disfigurement, loss of joy in life, loss of companionship, and pain and suffering.
For instance, if you were driving a car that collided with a rideshare vehicle, your front fender may have been damaged. The cost of the damaged fender is quantifiable, economic damage. You must get an estimate from an auto repair shop to get the exact cost of the damage sustained.
After the same accident, you experienced anxiety while driving, leading you to experience mental anguish while out on the road. This is a type of non-economic damage that cannot be easily quantified because your anxiety and emotions are subjective, and no one else can measure it for you.
Economic Damages
The following are the different types of economic damages that you can sustain after a rideshare accident. Because economic damages are quantifiable, you must have a complete list of all the expenses down to the last cent. This record can help you successfully file a claim.
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses are one of the economic damages that can be settled in a lawsuit. Although a person’s insurance coverage should cover minor injuries, the coverage amount is likely not enough to cover more severe injuries. Many car accident victims file a lawsuit for their injuries especially if they resulted in a loss of mobility, even if only temporary.
Fractures
Broken bones or fractures are common injuries sustained by motor vehicle accident victims. These are considered severe injuries because they will need immediate medical treatment. When a car collides with another vehicle or an obstruction on the road at a high speed, there is a high possibility that the passengers of both vehicles will sustain serious injuries. Broken bones occur because the victims are thrown about inside the car and can even be thrown from the vehicle upon impact.
Brain or Spinal Cord Injuries
Injuries to the brain or spinal cord are some of the worst injuries in a car accident. If the victim’s head, neck, or back sustains injuries from the crash, it can have devastating effects. Brain injuries can lead to loss of motor function, paralysis, and even death. Even a simple bang on the head can lead to severe concussions that can affect an individual’s physical and mental state. Spinal cord injuries, meanwhile, can lead to paralysis or loss of mobility. Because the backbone protects several nerves that are critical for motor function, an injury to the spinal cord can lead to a lifetime of assistive care.
Future Medical Expenses
When filing a claim, you need to present a complete record of all the medical expenses you incurred due to the accident. Often, rideshare accident settlements should also include future medical expenses. For instance, a traumatic brain injury may require a course of treatment that lasts for several weeks or months. An expert car accident attorney from the firm of Jared Spingarn, P.A. can ensure that these expenses are included in the settlement that you will be receiving.
Lost Wages
Lost wages are also considered economic damages that you are entitled to receive compensation for. When you get into an accident, you may sustain injuries that limit your ability to work. This means that the wages you should have received if healthy are lost. Although some employers still pay injured employees on their time off, not all companies implement this practice.
You will need to provide information about your lost wages to include it in your settlement amount. The law firm of Jared Spingarn, P.A. can help you collect all the pertinent information to back up your case. Generally, you will need to include your tax returns or pay slips with your medical records to prove your lost wages.
As mentioned, your injuries may need additional medical treatment depending on their severity. This means that you will not only lose wages in the few days after the accident. You may not be able to work for several weeks or months after. In the worst cases, the victim is forced to switch careers or stop working altogether. Thus, in rideshare accident settlement, your future lost wages are also taken into account depending on the severity of your injury.
Property Damage
Property damage is another economic loss that can be compensated for in a rideshare accident lawsuit. If the accident caused damage to your vehicle, you can file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. The settlement amount will cover the repairs or replacement of your vehicle.
You will need to present receipts or other documentation of the damage to your vehicle. An experienced accident lawyer from the law offices of Jared Spingarn, P.A. can help you determine the value of your property damage and ensure that it is included in the final settlement.
Non-economic Damages
In addition to economic damages, you may also be compensated for non-economic losses. These are more difficult to quantify but are just as important. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship.
Pain and suffering refer to the physical pain that you experience because of your injuries. Emotional distress, on the other hand, refers to the psychological effects of the accident such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
If your spouse or child was killed in the accident, you may also be able to file a wrongful death claim. This type of lawsuit allows the surviving family members to recover damages for their loss.
The amount that you can receive for non-economic losses will depend on the severity of your injuries and the impact that they have had on your life. An experienced accident attorney can help you prove the extent of your damages and ensure that you are compensated fairly.
How long does it take to settle a rideshare accident lawsuit in Florida?
In general, the case can be settled within three to six months. If the case needs to go to trial, it will take much longer. How long your case takes also depends on how serious your injuries are and how many people were involved in the accident. If you have suffered severe injuries, it is important to speak with a personal injury lawyer from the firm of Jared Spingarn, P.A. as soon as possible so they can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Conclusion
A motor vehicle accident involving Uber and Lyft can have a major impact on your life. How much can you get from an Uber or Lyft accident? If you have been involved in such an accident, it is important to know what types of compensation you may be entitled to. Be sure to get in touch with Jared Spingarn P.A. – an experienced accident lawyer who can help you understand your rights and ensure that you are fairly compensated for your losses.
>> If you’re involved in a rideshare accident in Florida, don’t hesitate to reach out to Jared Spingarn, Accident Attorney at 1-954-781-2316 or drop a message on our Contact Us page.
