It’s convenient and seemingly carefree to use a rideshare service to get around Birmingham, but you should talk with a Birmingham Lyft accident lawyer if you get hurt in a collision. It can be tricky to understand who can be held liable and whose liability insurance would cover your losses.
Our trusted rideshare accident lawyers sort out the insurance coverage questions and advocate on your behalf. When we handle your rideshare accident injury claim, you can rest easy and focus on getting better because our lawyers will be taking care of your legal matters.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Your Injuries From Lyft Accident in Birmingham
There is no hard and fast rule on who will be liable for your injuries in a Lyft accident. Liability gets determined on a case-by-case basis. The party whose negligence caused you to get hurt will be liable for the harm you suffered.
Depending on the facts of your situation, the Lyft driver, another driver, or some third party on the road could be liable for causing the vehicle accident that hurt you. The rideshare company could be responsible for negligent hiring or supervision of the driver. Some other party could bear some fault in the collision as well.
For a free legal consultation with a lyft accidents lawyer serving Birmingham, call 877-562-0000
Whose Insurance Can Pay for My Losses After a Lyft Accident in Birmingham
The issue of whether the driver’s auto insurance or Lyft’s liability policy will pay your losses will depend on whether the driver is on duty for the rideshare company. Lyft provides liability coverage to protect passengers, but not 24/7. The driver still has to maintain personal automobile liability insurance.
When the Driver’s Auto Policy Applies
When the rideshare driver’s Lyft app is off, Lyft’s liability policy does not cover that driver. Also, at that time, any passengers or other people who could get harmed by the driver’s negligence must look to the driver’s auto insurance policy for compensation for their losses.
When Lyft’s Liability Policy Applies
Lyft has third-party liability insurance coverage for qualified accidents if the following conditions are met:
- The rideshare driver’s personal insurance does not apply
- The driver has the app on while waiting for a ride request
In this state of limbo, Lyft errs on the side of protecting people who get injured in rideshare accidents. Lyft’s third-party liability insurance can pay for those losses for a covered accident—even during pick-up or drop-off. The coverage from Lyft is different depending on whether the driver was:
- Waiting for a ride request with the app on
- Transporting passengers through the app’s instruction
The Amount of Coverage for Rideshare Passengers Under Lyft’s Liability Policy
There are two levels of coverage under Lyft’s third-party liability policy:
- When the driver has the app on and has not yet received a ride request, Lyft’s policy can pay up to $50,000 per person for bodily injury; $100,000 per accident for bodily injury; and $25,000 per accident for property damage if the driver’s personal insurance does not apply.
- When the driver is transporting passengers, Lyft’s policy can pay up to $1 million for third-party auto liability; uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily liability and/or first-party coverage; and contingent comprehensive and collision up to the actual cash value of the car with a deductible of $2500. This even counts for picking up and dropping passengers off.
State law can modify the terms of the rideshare company’s liability insurance. Your lawyer will inform you of any changes Alabama law makes to these conditions.
Birmingham Lyft Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-562-0000
How Much Money You Can Get to Settle Your Birmingham Rideshare Claim
Rideshare accident claims do not come with automatic or flat-rate injury settlements. The amount of compensation you could pursue for your losses will depend on the unique facts of your Birmingham vehicle crash. An accident lawyer could explore your Lyft accident to determine the fair amount of your settlement value.
We can negotiate with the claims adjuster for you. If the insurer does not agree to pay what you deserve for your injuries and losses, we could file a lawsuit to seek a compensation award from a jury.
Here are some of the losses people often seek in these injury claims:
- Medical bills for the necessary treatment of wounds
- Lost income (wages, salary, self-employment, and other types of regular income) the injured person did not get paid because of the accident and injuries
- Pain and suffering for the physical discomfort and emotional distress the injured person experienced
- Other intangible losses, like disfigurement from scarring, loss of the enjoyment of life, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
These are just a few examples of how money damages a person could seek for the losses they sustain from a collision that was someone else’s fault.
Contact our Birmingham Rideshare Accident Lawyers today
How You Can Hire a Lyft Accident Lawyer Serving Birmingham
We handle personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis, so you do not have to pay any fees up front to get our help. Instead of getting paid during the case, we keep working and wait until the end of the matter. Our fees will come out as a percentage of the settlement or jury award.
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You Have a Deadline to File a Lawsuit for Your Losses
Every state sets a deadline, called the statute of limitations, for filing lawsuits. Alabama is no different. AL Code § 6-2-38 generally gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation from the defendant. If your close relative died because of a rideshare accident, you might have a wrongful death claim.
In both types of lawsuits, the deadlines are strict. If you miss the statute of limitations for your case, the law will prevent you from seeking compensation from the person whose carelessness injured you or took the life of your loved one.
How to Get Legal Help for Your Birmingham Rideshare Collision
At Cory Watson Attorneys, we are passionate about helping people who get hurt because of someone else’s carelessness. We will fight tirelessly to help you get the financial recovery you need to rebuild your life.
Our firm is happy to offer a free initial consultation at no obligation. You can call us today at (205) 328-2200 to get started. Our past client testimonials can give you an idea of what to expect from our professional team.
Call or text 877-562-0000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form