Ridesharing is becoming increasingly popular in the US, but what happens if you are involved in an Uber car accident? Or hit by a Lyft driver?
People injured in Uber and Lyft accidents, as well as other rideshare incidents, are usually entitled to compensation. Our personal injury law firm consists of dedicated Boston car accident lawyers who work energetically to seek justice for our clients who have claims involving ridesharing companies such as Uber or Lyft. Our Uber accident attorneys have experience handling claims involving rideshare driver liability.
You can reach out to a rideshare accident attorney at Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers and request a free car accident evaluation. It will help you understand your legal options and what your personal injury claim may be worth.
Call today to speak directly to a knowledgeable Uber accident lawyer in Boston, MA.
- Steps to Take After an Uber or Lyft Accident
- Can I Sue Uber or Lyft for an Accident?
- What Are the Main Causes of the Rideshare Accidents in Boston?
- Main Types of Damages to recover After Uber and Lyft accidents in Boston
- Who Insures Uber and Lyft Drivers?
- Rideshare Accident Attorneys Near Me
- Uber Insurance Policy
- Lyft Insurance Policy
- Our Recent Case Settlements
- Statute of Limitations for Uber and Lyft Accidents in Boston
- How Can a Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Boston Help My Case?
- Client Reviews
- Contact Our Rideshare Accident Attorney Today
- Meet our team!
- Related Resources
- 30-Day, Risk-Free Guarantee
Steps to Take After an Uber or Lyft Accident
If you’ve never been involved in a car incident, you may have a vague idea as to what to do after a rideshare accident. There are a few basic steps that you can take to protect your legal rights.
Contact Law Enforcement
Report the accident to the police. Do not let the rideshare driver talk you out of calling the police. It is important to have a police accident report documenting the incident.
A police report describing the factors in the car accident will carry weight if you pursue a personal injury lawsuit. Without an accident report, it may just be your word against that of the Uber or Lyft vehicle driver.
Get Insurance Information
Exchange insurance and license information with the rideshare driver and anyone else involved in the accident. If the Uber or Lyft driver refuses to cooperate, wait for the police to arrive and gather the necessary details.
Take Pictures
Find a safe place to stand and use your phone camera to snap photos of the accident scene, including your injuries, vehicle damage, and any other details. After the Uber and Lyft accidents, you may not be able to take too many photos, yet you should try to capture as much as possible. Your photos may be useful as evidence when you file a personal injury claim.
Seek Medical Assistance If Injured
After a car accident, it is crucial to have a doctor examine you and document your injuries. If you do not require emergency medical care, you should still have a proper medical evaluation.
Some injuries are not apparent immediately after a crash. Having a doctor’s report describing your accident-related injuries is crucial to a successful Uber or Lyft accident claim.
Can I Sue Uber or Lyft for an Accident?
If you have been involved in a car accident caused by a rideshare driver, you may wonder whether you can claim any compensation for the sustained injuries. As an Uber or Lyft passenger, you have a few options available:
- Those injured while riding in an Uber would have their losses covered by the $1 million in liability insurance and bodily injury coverage that companies provide their drivers if the driver was at fault in the accident.
- In case other drivers cause Uber and Lyft accidents, you may need to file a claim against the other driver’s insurance company or sue the at-fault driver to recover compensation.
- You also have a legal right to file a personal injury claim against an Uber or Lyft driver.
It is always a good idea to consult an experienced taxi accident lawyer and ask them to review the specific details of your rideshare car accident and advise you on the appropriate legal steps to take to recover a fair settlement.
What Are the Main Causes of the Rideshare Accidents in Boston?
Over 40 million rideshares were recorded in 2021 across Massachusetts. The statistics prove how popular these services are. However, around 1.1K rideshare accident cases were reported only in Boston, which means that accidents involving either Uber or Lyft vehicles were growing in number. Mostly, the underlying causes of Uber and Lyft accidents are the following:
- Speeding: The average wage of most Uber and Lyft drivers usually depends on the number of passengers they take in a day. While trying to make a living, many Uber or Lyft car operators ignore speed limits and create dangerous road situations.
- Distracted driving: Although Massachusetts abides by hands-free driving regulations, some drivers tend to ignore the laws, checking up their apps for new orders or finding the best routes to access a location.
- Fatigue: Some drivers work night shifts or extend their working hours to earn more. Driving while tired has a direct impact on vehicle operators’ reactions, which sometimes leads to tragic Uber and Lyft accidents.
- Unknown roads: It is hardly possible to know every corner of Boston like the back of your hand. Unfamiliarity with the streets, traffic signs, and overall driving conditions can trigger a traumatic car accident.
Main Types of Damages to recover After Uber and Lyft accidents in Boston
The effects of a car accident may have a lasting impact on your life, especially if you’ve sustained severe damages in the crash. The fact that you’re just a passenger on a rideshare trip does not mean that you can’t have your injuries and other losses fully compensated.
In fact, most injured parties in Uber and Lyft accidents can claim monetary and non-monetary damages. The latter may be more challenging to recover, but there’s nothing a professional rideshare accident lawyer wouldn’t help you receive.
Economic Damages
All the financial expenses that derive from the Uber or Lyft accident can be settled in full. These include, but aren’t limited to, the following:
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Medical expense
Whether it is an emergency room visit, an injury-inflicted surgery, or any other type of medical manipulation, physical therapy, and consequence medical care can be rightfully reimbursed.
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Lost income
If an Uber passenger sustains traumas that prevent them from going to work, the insurance coverage compensates lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and other related tangible damages.
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Property damage
Various valuable personal items can sustain damages in Uber and Lyft accidents. Whether it is your phone, luggage, or other belongings, you can claim the cost of repairs or complete replacements.
Non-Economic Damages
Intangible losses are often more challenging to recover. Suppose you want to receive fair compensation for your pain and suffering inflicted by a car accident in a maximal equivalent.
In that case, a trained rideshare accident attorney may be your best bet to succeed. These are major non-economic damages to opt for:
- Emotional distress: Severe physical traumas, along with the general incident aftermath, can lead to serious mental conditions, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. While the effect of these mental health problems isn’t exactly measurable in a monetary equivalent, a victim deserves a fair reimbursement.
- Loss of joy in life: Many car accident victims suffer from apathy and overall loss of enjoyment due to physical or mental inability to do what they like most.
- Loss of consortium: Suffering from an incident-inflicted mental distress, the injured parties may restrain from their loved ones. That is yet another complicated condition that only a skilled rideshare accident lawyer can assist in compensating.
Punitive Damages
This type of damage is usually the rarest due to what lies in the core of it. Punitive damages are additional measures taken against the at-fault party with the sole aim of punishing them. The reason why it is so infrequent is because the other party had to be highly negligent, aggressive, and vile, intentionally causing harm to the victim.
Punitive damages also serve as a precaution to inform society of the potential consequences and prevent such acts from happening in the future. They are applied on top of the established monetary and non-monetary losses.
Who Insures Uber and Lyft Drivers?
It depends on whether or not the ridesharing driver is on the clock. Uber and Lyft provide insurance coverage for liability, uninsured motorists, collisions, and comprehensive and personal injury protection to their on-the-clock drivers along with the passengers in the vehicle. Drivers who are transporting passengers or who have accepted a ride request are covered by Lyft’s or Uber’s insurance companies.
When ridesharing drivers are not logged into the app, they are technically off the clock. As independent contractors, drivers also have to pay for their personal car insurance policy. Our experienced rideshare accident lawyer can help you understand the applicable insurance policies — contact us for a free consultation!
Rideshare Accident Attorneys Near Me
Uber Insurance Policy
Uber requires that its drivers have personal auto insurance in accordance with Massachusetts law. Drivers may also have commercial auto liability coverage on their vehicles.
In addition, the rideshare company maintains auto liability insurance. While an Uber driver is online before accepting a ride request, the driver is covered by Uber’s insurance if they cause a car accident. The company’s coverage is at least $50,000 in injury liability per person, with $100,000 in total liability per accident and $25,000 in property damage liability per accident.
Uber’s insurance covers three things for its drivers if they are involved in car accidents while driving to pick up a rider or carrying a passenger:
- Liability to another party (such as the rider in the car) if they crash into another motorist, a pedestrian, a bicyclist, or another property. Uber’s policy provides at least $1,000,000 in total liability coverage.
- Any injuries sustained due to an uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist, or hit-and-run driver. The policy provides $1,000,000 of total coverage for bodily injury.
- Contingent collision and comprehensive coverage to pay for damage to the vehicle as long as the driver maintains collision coverage for the car while not on an Uber trip.
Lyft Insurance Policy
Lyft provides its drivers with commercial auto liability insurance of up to $1,000,000 per accident and coverage for bodily injury caused by uninsured and underinsured motorists when drivers are engaged in a ride.
The Lyft insurance policy will provide coverage in excess of the Lyft drivers’ commercial auto liability policy. The company also offers contingent collision insurance for drivers who carry collision coverage on their personal auto policy.
Our Recent Case Settlements
Statute of Limitations for Uber and Lyft Accidents in Boston
Statute of Limitations is a state-specific regulation that determines the deadline for every type of settlement claim. Sustaining injuries and losses in Uber and Lyft accidents fall under the category of personal injury cases. According to Massachusetts statute, an injured party has three years from the date of the car accident to file a corresponding claim and recover their damages.
If you fail to initiate your request within the given timeframe, you will lose your right to fair compensation. However, some cases may contain underlying conditions that can alternate the deadline, so it is always a wise idea to consult a professional Uber or Lyft accident lawyer.
How Can a Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Boston Help My Case?
No matter how handy rideshare services are, some trips end up with palpable damages and serious traumas. A reliable legal assistant has a lot to bring to the table for those injured in various Uber and Lyft accidents. Let’s browse the main ways an experienced lawyer can contribute to a successful outcome of your settlement case:
- Field background: To untangle any car accident, you must possess in-depth knowledge of the legal system and corresponding industry expertise. Rideshare laws are anything but simple, not to mention that different rideshare companies hold individual policies when it comes to insurance coverage. A skilled field attorney knows how to navigate those to ensure the best outcome of your case.
- Evidence attainment: Most legal advisors have unobstructed access to potential evidence that a claim holder may not know of. They can investigate the driver’s background, collect various digital evidence, and build a solid claim while the victim heals and recovers from the incident.
- Compensation maximum: Any insurance company acts in its best interests, often offering the lowest reimbursement possible. A well-versed attorney knows how to deflect lowball settlements and negotiate maximum reimbursement instead.
Client Reviews
I want to express my immense gratitude to the Michael Kelly Lawyers! Especially to Steffanit she is amazing! Thank you guys for your professionalism and support in my case! Thanks for the expert approach and careful attention to my concerns, I achieved the desired outcome. I highly recommend this company to anyone in need of quality legal services!
Alina Zolotova
Contact Our Rideshare Accident Attorney Today
Rideshare apps are a convenient and cost-effective solution for many people across the state. However, not every trip turns out to be safe, and sometimes Lyft or Uber passengers sustain serious injuries due to reckless driving, inattention, or driver’s fatigue. In fact, more and more Uber and Lyft accidents are taking place on the streets of Boston, and you must ensure that your rights are protected.
At Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers, we’re well-versed in the legal intricacies of rideshare incidents and fully equipped to face the challenges. No detail escapes the attention of our legal advisors, and we make sure that your losses, damages, and expenses are paid in full. Moreover, our team works on a contingency basis so that you don’t have to worry about upfront fees and hidden charges until your case is won.
Call us for a free consultation today and discover legal options you didn’t know you had!
Meet our team!
Related Resources
If you want to gain more insight into Uber and Lyft accidents, our experts have compiled a collection of valuable resources you may want to check out. Whether you are interested in local rideshare statistics or care to learn more about the existing regulations, follow the links below:
- Massachusetts Rideshare Accidents Statistics
- Massachusetts Rideshare Company Regulations
- Rideshare Company Laws
- What to do after Uber accident
