For most people in Bessemer, rideshare services are a Godsend. They offer a convenient, cost-effective alternative to taxis when we need a quick ride using private transportation. Car broken down at the repair shop? No problem. Simply take a rideshare home instead of renting a car. When the repairs are done, have the rideshare take you back. Had a few too many drinks at a local bar? Don’t risk driving drunk, just call a rideshare.
The only downside here is that the more rideshare vehicles and drivers there are in Bessemer, the higher everyone’s chances of being involved in an accident with one of them. Then things can get complicated. Whether you got hit by the rideshare driver, were a passenger in the rideshare, or you’re a rideshare driver yourself, your accident case will need to be handled carefully. That’s why you may need a rideshare accident lawyer.
Cory Watson Attorneys-Personal Injury Lawyers Serving the Bessemer Community
When you’ve been hurt in a rideshare accident in Bessemer, one thing becomes very clear to you right away. You need someone on your side who knows how to handle complex cases. Cory Watson Attorneys has been serving accident victims in Alabama communities like Bessemer for nearly 40 years. In that time, we’ve handled thousands of different cases, many of which involved rideshare accidents.
Our team of attorneys is dedicated to making sure that our clients needs are met and that they receive proper compensation after a rideshare accident. We don’t work for the rideshare company or the rideshare company’s insurance carrier. The truth is, neither of those two entities will be on your side. They will be protecting their own interests, even if doing so has a negative effect on your recovery
Our firm on the other hand, works for you and only you. When Cory Watson Attorneys takes your case, your well being is our main priority. Some of the things we do for our clients include:
- Evidence gathering and accident investigation to determine liability
- Interviewing of witnesses
- Depositions
- Representing your interests vs. the rideshare company’s insurance carrier
- Collecting and organizing your medical bills
- Corresponding with opposing counsel
- Preparing your case for trial and representing you in court
How does Insurance Work in Rideshare Accidents?
If you’ve been involved in an accident with a rideshare driver, they are required to have liability insurance whether they are working or not. Oftentimes, the basic liability insurance carried by rideshare drivers does not cover them for commercial use, which means many rideshare drivers have separate policies to cover them when they’re working.
So, the question of which insurance company covers them in an accident boils down to the circumstances of your accident. Generally, if you were hit by a rideshare driver who was not actively working for the rideshare company at the time of the accident (e.g., rideshare app was off), then the driver’s private insurance company will be liable for damages up to the policy’s coverage limits.
However, the rideshare company’s insurance carrier will probably be liable if the accident occurred while the driver was actively working with the app engaged. These rideshare company insurance covered activities include but are not limited to the following:
- Picking up passengers
- Dropping off passengers
- Transporting passengers
- Waiting for a ride request
How Much Is a Rideshare Accident Case Worth?
Determining the potential value of a rideshare case involves a lot of different variables. The biggest factor in that determination is the total amount of recoverable damages you suffered as a result of the accident. The types of recoverable damages you may demand after a rideshare accident include, but would not be limited to the following:
- Accident-related medical bills
- Transportation to the hospital
- Lost wages
- Property damage (if you were hit in your car by the rideshare driver)
- Long-term medical care (if necessary)
In order to accurately estimate the potential recoverable damages in your case, we’d need to sit down and have a consultation with you. The most important thing we want you to understand is that Cory Watkins Attorneys will always fight for the maximum recoverable damages in every case we take.
Does Cory Watkins Attorneys Charge High Fees to Represent Rideshare Accident Clients?
In our experience, most people we represent in personal injury accident cases don’t have enough spare cash on hand to put a lawyer on retainer. That’s why our firm handles rideshare cases on what is known as a “Contingency” basis. That means our fee is contingent on our performance.
If we represent you on contingency in a rideshare accident case and don’t recover damages for you, you won’t be billed for our services. After all, you didn’t hire us to take your case, you hired us to win it. If we’re not able to win your case, there is no fee.
We work like this because we don’t believe concerns about legal fees should stop clients from seeking proper legal representation. That also means you have absolutely nothing to lose by calling our office for a consultation or letting us take your case. Cory Watkins Attorneys is here to help you out of a jam, not give you another bill to pay.
Time is of the essence, however, because there is limited time to take legal action. Personal injuries have a limit of two years from the time of the accident to take legal action per AL Code § 6-2-38.
How Can I Consult with Cory Watkins Attorneys About My Case?
If you’d like to talk to one of our attorneys about your case, we’d like to talk to you. You can simply call our office for a free consultation. Once we receive your message, we’ll contact you as soon as possible to schedule a meeting and discuss the facts of your case.
Cory Watkins Attorneys: A Personal Injury Firm That Can Fight and Win Rideshare Accident Cases
When you’ve been injured in an accident with a rideshare driver, it can feel as if your life has been flipped on its ear. One minute you’re going about your business and then boom, you’re dealing with medical bills, lost wages and all too often, an insurance company that would prefer for you to just go away quietly.
Obviously, you can’t afford to do that. Instead of going away quietly or accepting a low-ball settlement, you need to find an attorney who knows how to fight, and win rideshare accident cases. The good news is that Cory Watkins Attorneys has won over $4 Billion for our clients. If you call us after your Bessemer rideshare accident, we’ll do everything we can to win for you too!