Louisville Lyft Accident Lawyer

Lyft accidents are especially challenging. Multiple parties are involved in each accident, and one of them is a large company with several insurance coverages. This is why having experienced legal representation in these cases is essential, even more so than in personal car accidents. 

Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to securing the maximum compensation for clients involved in Lyft accidents. Our experienced legal team specializes in rideshare accident cases and has a proven track record of obtaining substantial settlements and verdicts. 

We meticulously investigate each detail of your case to ensure all medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering are fully addressed. Our deep expertise in handling Lyft accident claims allows us to effectively navigate the complexities of these cases and fight vigorously for your rights. 

How Our Louisville Lyft Accident Attorneys Can Help You Seek Justice

Our Lyft accident attorney can help you maximize your financial compensation and seek justice for the accident. This is how the process works:  

• Free consultation – Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers offers a free case review to determine whether you have grounds for a claim. You can schedule a case evaluation with us 24/7. 
• Case investigation – We review the evidence (witness testimonies, footage from the accident scene, reports) and gather more to build and strengthen your case. 
• Expert consultation – We will further develop your case by contacting experts in our network, including financial analysts, medical experts, and accident reconstructionists. 
• Negotiating with insurance companies – We negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf to ensure they don’t minimize your damages in any way.
• Court representation – Most rideshare accident cases are settled outside of court. However, we will prepare for trial if the insurer doesn’t offer you a fair settlement.

What Makes Lyft Accident Cases a Challenge

The involvement of a rideshare company like Lyft complicates the claim process. Compared to regular car accidents, more parties with different insurance coverages are involved. For example, the liable party could be another driver, product manufacturer, or the municipality if it failed to maintain the infrastructure.

This means more work for you and, from our experience with clients, more stress, which they do not need after serious accidents.

Despite increased complexity, the statute of limitations is the same, especially for personal injury cases involving serious injuries or death.

If you or a loved one have been wrongfully injured, you will need to sue the liable party. Then, you’ll need to deal with potentially multiple insurance companies, which typically try to protect their bottom line by either making you look guilty or disputing the damages you have suffered. For these reasons, hiring an experienced Louisville Lyft accident attorney is best.

Insurance Coverage for Lyft Drivers

While Lyft’s insurance policy always protects passengers, Lyft drivers are only protected in some cases, as they are independent contractors and not employees. Lyft’s  insurance coverage depends on the driver’s status in the Lyft app:

• Offline – The driver’s personal insurance covers all the costs. 
• Online waiting for a ride request – Lyft covers a minimum of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury. Its property damage coverage is $25,000 per accident. 
• En route or with a passenger – Lyft’s primary automobile liability coverage is active, covering at least $1 million per accident. It also covers uninsured and underinsured motorists, as well as personal insurance protection (PIP), MedPay, and occupational accidents. Furthermore, if the driver has comprehensive and collision coverage on their own policy, Lyft will cover up to the actual car value with a $2,500 deduction. 

Other things to know about insurance in Lyft accident cases:

• PIP – Due to fault and insurance rules in Kentucky, accident victims typically turn to PIP first.
• Rideshare insurance  – A Lyft driver is required to carry the state minimum auto insurance policy. However, a rideshare endorsement is usually needed, as many personal insurance policies do not cover Lyft accidents.
• Other insurance policies – If the other driver is at fault, their insurance should cover the damages. Other sources of compensation include the local municipality and product liability.

Leading Causes for Lyft Accidents

We have recovered compensation for many Uber and Lyft accidents, and in most cases, the rideshare driver did their job responsibly. Unfortunately, rideshare services have resulted in a traffic fatality rise of between 2% and 4% every year due to the increased number of cars on the road. [1]

The most common causes of Lyft accidents include:

• Fatigue—Fatigue can cause drowsy driving, slow reaction time, and even cause people to fall asleep at the wheel. 
• Reckless driving – Not following traffic laws, driving aggressively, and speeding are all high-risk behaviors.
• Distracted driving – Texting while driving is illegal in Kentucky, but even checking the GPS or adjusting the music may cause a driver to lose focus on driving.
• Alcohol and drugs – Rideshare services tend to reduce the number of DUIs in their areas, but outliers are possible. Other drivers or passengers may be under the influence, too.
• Road hazards – Potholes, construction zones, or debris may cause a Lyft vehicle to swerve.
• Poor weather conditions – Icy or wet roads may cause Lyft vehicles or other cars to lose control. 

Lyft’s Drug and Alcohol Policy

Lyft has a zero-tolerance policy for the use of alcohol or drugs. It encourages riders to report any incident by dialing 911 or a non-emergency line. The company also suggests riders report their suspicions to its critical response team.

At the same time, Lyft discourages riders from keeping open alcohol containers in the car, requiring them to discard any opened alcohol before entering the Lyft vehicle.

Filing a Police Report for a Lyft Accident

If you’ve been in an accident involving Lyft, first ensure your safety, then follow these steps:

• Call 911 immediately if injuries, fatalities, or property damage exceed $500.  
• If the police were not necessary at the scene, report the accident online to the Kentucky State Police (KSP) within ten days. The KSP only now accepts online reports using the Online Civilian Traffic Collision Report.

You Have a Limited Time to File a Lyft Car Accident Claim in Louisville, Kentucky

The statute of limitations in Kentucky varies depending on the type of your rideshare accident claim: 

• Personal injury claim – You must file a claim two years after the accident or your last PIP payment.
• Suing the municipality – You must serve a notice of claim to the city within 90 days of the accident.
• Wrongful death claim – The statute for a wrongful death claim is one year from the date of your family member’s death or the appointment of their estate representative.
• Product liability – You have one year to file a claim. 

As Kentucky is a no-fault state, each Kentucky driver has to file a claim with their insurance company first to cover their expenses, and the law typically requires you to opt out of the choice no-fault system. However, if you have suffered a serious injury or the accident resulted in death, you can file a claim even if you didn’t opt-out. 

Damages You May Be Entitled to for a Lyft Accident

With the help of a Louisville Lyft accident law firm, victims can be awarded damages classified as economic, non-economic, and punitive.

Economic damages refer to damages that can be easily quantified, such as:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Funeral expenses
• Loss of financial support

Non-economic damages, or intangible damages, refer to damages that are not nearly as easy to quantify:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of companionship
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium

Punitive damages are awarded in extreme cases of negligence, recklessness, or maliciousness, and their purpose is to punish the liable party and deter others from acting in the same way. Punitive damages will require you to state you want to pursue them before you file a personal injury lawsuit.

Contact Our Louisville Lyft Accident Lawyers Today! 

All Lyft accident victims deserve experienced legal representation. This is why our Louisville car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. In other words, we only get paid a pre-agreed percentage of your financial compensation, so you don’t owe us anything until we win your case. When you need a Louisville Lyft accident injury lawyer, you can rely on us for compassionate, professional, and highly skilled representation. We have recovered millions for our clients and done everything possible to reduce their stress.

Call us 24/7 at (888) 424-5757, or use our online form to schedule a free consultation.

Sources: [1] Forbes