Tampa Rideshare Accident & Injury Attorney
Were you injured while riding in an Uber or Lyft?
The use of ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft increases every year. And with it, the number of people involved in accidents while ridesharing grows as well. The injuries a victim suffers in these sorts of rideshare accident cases are very similar to a typical car accident. However, the insurance coverage and liability coverage available can be very different.
One of the most important factors to know is that rideshare drivers are independent contractors. Therefore, they are not employees of Uber or Lyft. Instead, they do not receive any of the protections an employee of a company would receive and your claim is not the same as a claim made against a company whose employee caused your injuries.
A Lyft driver or an Uber driver is required to carry liability insurance on their vehicle by the state of Florida. But Uber and Lyft drivers are required to inform their insurance companies if they’ll be ridesharing. Insurance carriers will deny coverage if their Uber or Lyft driver did not inform them that they were ridesharing.
It is vital to know the status of the ridesharing vehicle at the time of the accident. The insurance coverage will likely be greater if the rideshare driver had a passenger at the time of the Uber accident (or Lyft accident). While the available insurance coverage will be quite a bit smaller if the driver was on his or her way to pick someone up at the time of the crash.
In order to obtain the greatest compensation for your rideshare accident, you’ll need legal advice from a qualified personal injury attorney with experience pursuing Uber and Lyft for their clients. Alexander Knapp is an experienced rideshare accident lawyer and is prepared to handle your rideshare accident case. Contact him today by calling (813) 568-3724.
When should I hire a Rideshare Accident Attorney?
When involved in a ridesharing crash involving an Uber or Lyft, the first thing you should do is to go see a doctor to assess any potential injuries.
In order to seek compensation for injuries suffered in a ridesharing accident, you’ll need evidence of your injuries. In order to succeed in your claim for injuries, you’ll need to prove that you were injured and that your injuries occurred as the result of the ridesharing accident.
You’ll also want to take photographs of your vehicle and the ridesharing vehicle. One of the most persuasive arguments insurance companies often make to juries is that the vehicles only suffered minor damage in a crash and therefore, the victim cannot be very hurt. The best way to defeat this argument is by obtaining proof that the damage to the vehicles was serious.
Next, you’ll need to report the accident to the rideshare company and the insurance company. As with most insurance policies, you are required to promptly notify them of any injury claim.
Finally, contact an experienced rideshare accident attorney or law firm. Uber and Lyft are large corporations with powerful insurance companies working for them. You will need to hire an attorney that has experience fighting them to seek compensation for your injuries.
An Experienced Rideshare Accident Attorney can tell you what your Rideshare Case is Worth?
In any accident case, the first question a client usually asks is “how much is my case worth?”
This is an incredibly complicated question, and the answer is: “it depends.” Some of the factors that go into determining the answer are: age and injury history of our client, the facts of the accident, the available insurance coverage (for rideshare cases, this is dictated by whether the driver had a passenger at the time of the crash), and the future prognosis of our client.
Knapp Accident & Injury Law is a law firm with experience navigating rideshare accident claims and will answer all of your questions and will help you obtain fair compensation for your claim.
Some of the common components that help determine the value of your rideshare injury case are:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost ability to earn wages in the future (loss of future earning capacity)
- Out of pocket expenses
- Previous injury history
- The nature of your injuries from this incident
Additionally, as with a traditional car accident claim, you are able to recover for your:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability of disfigurement
You may think that as these factors are the same as a typical car accident claim, that any injury attorney can handle your Uber or Lyft injury case. However, you need to hire a rideshare accident lawyer with experience fighting for their clients. Alexander Knapp has years of experience fighting for clients that were injured as the result of Uber or Lyft driver’s negligence.
No Fees Unless There is a Recovery
Knapp Accident & Injury Law offers free consultations. The firm also handles all matters on a contingency fee basis. This means that the firm does not get paid unless you receive a settlement or a recovery from Uber or Lyft’s insurance company.
Call Knapp Accident & Injury Law After Your Uber or Lyft Accident
If were injured as the result of the negligence of an Uber or Lyft driver, or if you are unsure if you have an injury claim, Knapp Accident & Injury Law is here to serve you. Please call or text (813) 568-3724 for a free consultation.