Michigan is a state with many cities with large populations. A significant number of residents and travelers rely on rideshare companies like Lyft to get around, especially for work. However, motor vehicle accidents involving Lyft drivers are still a possibility, and victims can suffer serious injuries as a result.
A Michigan Lyft accident lawyer from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can guide you through your legal options in the aftermath of an accident.
Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to helping clients receive the maximum compensation for Lyft accident injuries. Our experienced legal team has a proven track record of securing substantial settlements and verdicts in rideshare accident cases.
Fatal rideshare passenger accident
Rideshare passenger shot by driver
Pedestrian hit by a rideshare vehicle
Rideshare driver sexual assault case
Motorcyclist hit by a rideshare vehicle
Hip and foot injury exiting a vehicle
We conduct thorough investigations to ensure all medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering are fully addressed. Our deep expertise in Lyft accident claims allows us to navigate the complexities of these cases and fight tirelessly for your rights.
How Our Michigan Lyft Accident Lawyers Can Help
After an accident involving rideshare vehicles, filing a claim can be complicated. You may be going up against a stubborn defendant, their lawyers, and their insurance company. Having a Lyft accident lawyer of your own can level the playing field and give you a better chance of recovering compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering damages.
One of our Michigan car accident lawyers can provide multiple advantages for your case. First, our law firm offers a free consultation so you can ask any questions you have upfront. We will investigate the case, gather evidence to support your claim, negotiate with the insurance company for fair compensation, and even represent you in court if necessary.
What Makes Lyft Accident Cases Challenging
Car accident claims are complicated enough for injured victims to pursue, but there are additional factors that muddy the waters even further when a rideshare driver is involved.
First, establishing liability can be challenging as multiple parties are involved, such as the Lyft driver, their passenger, other drivers, and possibly even vehicle manufacturers. Second, the insurance policies that apply are numerous and may depend on the status of the Lyft driver at the time of the accident.
All these factors make it more important to work with a Michigan Lyft accident lawyer who will help you navigate the complexities of the case to recover compensation.
Common Causes of Lyft Accidents
An accident involving a rideshare vehicle could be caused by numerous circumstances. Establishing the cause will be an important part of your case, as evidence will have to back up your assertion of negligence. Common causes include:
- Distracted driving – Drivers who are experiencing distractions, such as cell phones, eating, drinking, talking with a passenger, or looking at a GPS, could lose track of their surroundings and cause a collision
- Drunk driving – Alcohol-impaired drivers cause many dangerous accidents across the state of Michigan, especially since they have slower reaction times and are not as attentive to their surroundings
- Fatigued driving – Rideshare drivers who have worked long hours or gotten little sleep can lose focus and collide with other vehicles
- Failure to obey traffic laws – Drivers or pedestrians could ignore traffic signals or laws and cause an accident
- Vehicle malfunction – Car parts that are defective could malfunction while on the road causing the driver lose control of their vehicle
- Bad road conditions – The road surface could be compromised because of rain, sleet, snow, ice, potholes, or other obstacles causing Lyft drivers or other drivers to lose control and crash
Lyft’s Liability Insurance Coverage Explained
The involvement of the insurance company is why Lyft accident cases are so complicated. The driver has their own auto insurance they must maintain since they are considered an independent contractor.
Lyft also provides some coverage depending on the status of the driver when the accident occurs. An experienced accident attorney can help you understand how these insurance policies work after an auto accident.
This is how the policies break down depending on driver status:
- The driver is offline and not accepting rides – If the driver’s Lyft app was off and they were not accepting rides, their own insurance company would cover damages in an accident
- The driver is online and ready to accept rides – If the Lyft app is on and the driver is waiting for a ride request, the rideshare company provides third-party liability coverage in the amount of $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage
- The driver is en route to or transporting a passenger – When the driver is working or on their way to pick up a passenger, Lyft provides at least $1,000,000 for damages in an accident, as well as additional property damage up to the cash value of the car if the driver has comprehensive and collision coverage [1]
What the Lyft Driver’s Own Insurance Covers
When the Lyft driver does not have their app on, their personal auto insurance company will have to cover damages from an accident. In Michigan, the minimum requirements for auto insurance are $50,000 for personal injury protection, $100,000 per accident for injuries, and $10,000 for property damage.
Drivers are not required to carry commercial insurance, but many invest in comprehensive and collision coverage for additional protection. Ask your Lyft accident attorney about how these limits could impact your settlement.
How Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance Benefits Work
Michigan law has a no-fault system for all auto accidents. No-fault insurance benefits can pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and damage to other people’s property regardless of who’s at fault for the accident. However, Michigan’s no-fault benefits do not cover repairs to your own car or other people’s cars unless they were properly parked at the time of the accident.
If your damages exceed the liability limits of your no-fault benefits, then the insurance policy of another party may apply if they are found to be negligent. Here are some of the rights various parties have in regard to no-fault benefits:
- Lyft drivers – Lyft drivers have their own no-fault insurance policies to cover their applicable damages after an accident, but the rideshare company will supplement that coverage depending on the driver’s status
- Lyft passengers – Lyft passengers will also be covered by no-fault benefits in a Lyft accident, even if they are uninsured or have a minimal policy themselves
- Pedestrians – Pedestrians struck by motor vehicles are eligible for no-fault benefits under the personal injury protection policy
- Other drivers – Other drivers in a Lyft accident will be covered by their own no-fault benefits in an accident, but the policy of the Lyft driver or the rideshare company itself may supplement that coverage
Damages a Michigan Lyft Car Accident Lawyer Can Help Recover
Michigan personal injury attorneys will help you assess the damages in your case to determine a fair settlement amount to pursue. Damages fall into three primary categories; economic, non-economic, and punitive. Punitive damages are used to further punish the at-fault driver or party if they behaved with malicious intent.
Economic Damages
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Future medical expenses
- Funeral costs (wrongful death cases)
- Loss of financial support (wrongful death cases)
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of companionship (wrongful death cases)
What to Do After a Lyft Accident
Success in your claim after a Lyft accident is not guaranteed. Often, it comes down to taking the right steps in the immediate aftermath of the accident. Any mistakes during this process could undermine your case or result in a full dismissal of the claim. Here is what you need to do right after a Lyft accident occurs:
- Stay at the scene – If a motor vehicle accident results in injuries, you could be committing a felony if you leave the scene
- Call 911 – Calling the police is important because they can alert medical services, and conduct an official investigation of the collision
- Seek medical attention – Getting medical treatment at the scene is important to prioritize health and establish the nature of your injuries early on
- Exchange information – Trade information about your auto insurance company and driver’s license with other drivers involved in the Lyft accident
- Gather evidence – Evidence will support your claim, so start taking photos, speaking to witnesses, and asking the police for a copy of the accident report
- Call your insurance – The sooner you call your insurance company, the better, as some carriers may require accident notification within 24 hours
- Consult a Michigan Lyft accident attorney – A Michigan Lyft accident lawyer can from our team can answer your questions about the case with a free consultation so you can make an informed decision about your claim
You Have a Limited Time to File a Lyft Accident Lawsuit
The statute of limitations affects how long you have to file a claim in Michigan. For general personal injury, accident victims have three years from the time of the injury to file and pursue compensation for losses like medical bills or pain and suffering damages.
This is also the time limit for a wrongful death claim, product liability case, or property damage claim. Some factors can affect this limit, such as the defendant leaving the state or the injury being discovered later.
Ask your Michigan car accident lawyers about the relevant statutes to ensure you are filing your claim on time.
Our team understands you are likely dealing with financial struggles after your Lyft accident. If your auto insurance company is responding slowly or not covering all your damages, the financial burden of medical bills and lost wages could be difficult. Our Michigan personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, so you do not have to worry about upfront legal costs. Instead, an experienced attorney from our law firm will only get paid if they win your case. That payment is deducted from the final settlement amount.
The Time It Takes to Settle a Lyft Accident Case
Your claim after a collision involving rideshare companies may take some time before you receive any compensation. In general, these accident cases take several months to resolve. However, it could also take up to two years.
It all depends on the circumstances surrounding the accident, the auto insurance company, the defendant, and the involvement of the rideshare company. The sooner you hire a Michigan Lyft accident lawyer, the sooner you will be able to build a strong case and resolve the claim for compensation.
Contact Our Michigan Lyft Accident Attorneys Today!
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is ready to help you navigate the legal process of a Lyft accident claim. Whether you are facing a traumatic brain injury, lost wages, high future medical costs, or emotional trauma, you have the right to be compensated for these damages. Our team of Michigan rideshare accident lawyers has recovered millions for injured victims and surviving family members, and we can do the same for you. Plus, with a contingency fee agreement, there is little financial risk for you.
Contact our law firm at 888-424-5757 for your free consultation, or fill out the online form to hear back from us soon. Let’s get an experienced attorney on your side today to help you navigate your case under Michigan law.
Resources: [1] Lyft
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