Over the past 15 years, Uber and Lyft have become household names and convenient travel options for riders in Milton, Florida. With the popularity of rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft comes an increased risk of accidents. If you were injured, contact Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers at (850) 790-7790 for help.
Different factors, such as rushed driving and distracted driving, mean Uber and Lyft vehicles will get into accidents. If you were injured as a passenger or driver in an Uber or Lyft accident, our Milton Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help you understand your options. The Gross & Schuster team will investigate your accident and push to maximize your financial award after a serious accident.
Call our law office or contact us online today to schedule a free case evaluation.
How Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers Can Help After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Milton, FL
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers have a proven track record of securing compensation for Milton, FL, vehicle accident victims. Our personal injury attorneys have over 75 years of proven experience securing compensation for Milton accident victims. We will fight hard to push for your legal rights and secure the compensation you deserve.
When you hire our dedicated Milton Uber and Lyft accident attorneys, we will:
- Fully investigate the crash and the facts involved
- Collect evidence needed to prove liability in your claim
- Develop a strong legal case strategy
- Negotiate aggressively with insurance companies to maximize your claim
- Hire expert witnesses, such as accident reconstruction experts, to testify in your case
- Proceed with a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages
- Handle every step of your Uber or Lyft accident case
- Take your case to trial when needed.
Our Milton car accident lawyers are here to help you learn about your options during an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
What Causes Most Uber and Lyft Accidents?
Drivers for rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft can cause accidents in a surprising number of ways. The job involves high pressure and tough time constraints. Picking up riders on time and getting them where they need to go quickly is part of Uber and Lyft drivers’ jobs. Add to that the multitasking that comes with using a phone app and GPS services, and you have the recipe for a potential accident.
Some frequent ways that Lyft and Uber drivers cause car accidents in Florida include:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Careless driving
- Reckless driving
- Unfamiliarity with streets and neighborhoods
- Bad weather conditions
- Intoxication
- Mechanical issues
Uber and Lyft drivers depend on smartphones and GPS systems to navigate the streets of Milton and transport riders to their destinations. Drivers of rideshare services have different levels of experience.
While Uber and Lyft require drivers to have valid driver’s licenses and pass background checks and driving record checks, they do not require any formal training beyond a driver’s own experience. An inexperienced or poor driver can sometimes find themselves behind the wheel with an Uber or Lyft passenger in the backseat.
What Damages Are Available to Victims of Uber and Lyft Accidents?
For those injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, damages could include economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are the dollars and cents costs related to an accident. They may include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income due to an accident
- Out-of-pocket costs
Harder to compute, but just as important, are non-economic damages in a personal injury claim. These include the intangible and long-lasting losses such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
Non-economic damages are usually calculated as a multiple of your total economic damages.
An experienced Milton, Florida, vehicle accident lawyer will investigate your claim, gather evidence supporting the claim, and work hard to maximize both economic and non-economic damages.
Are Uber and Lyft Covered by Insurance?
Uber and Lyft generally use tiered insurance policies, with different levels of coverage triggered by different events. Insurance coverage can be based on factors such as the nature of the accident, or whether the app was turned on or off when the accident happened.
How the insurance coverage for Uber or Lyft applies to your accident will depend on the facts involved. That is why it helps to have an experienced Uber or Lyft accident lawyer at your side. An attorney with experience dealing with both companies will know how their insurance coverage should apply to your claim.
More importantly, an experienced attorney will know the games these companies will play (along with their insurers) to deny or minimize payout for your losses. Insurance companies often take advantage of claimants by stating a policy does not cover the claimant’s situation. They can be disappointed to find out the claimant has an attorney working hard on their behalf.
Who Is Liable in an Uber or Lyft Accident?
Liability can depend on the facts involved and how the accident happened. In some cases, if the driver acted outside of the scope of their contract with Uber or Lyft, they might be solely responsible for any damages caused. If the rideshare app is in use, however, liability can extend to the rideshare company and its insurance provider as well.
Determining who is liable, and how, is a job best handled by a proven Florida rideshare accident lawyer. The process will depend heavily on the facts and evidence. Under Florida’s modified comparative fault statute, a claimant’s own share of fault cannot exceed 50% in order to claim damages. Your lawyer will work relentlessly to prove liability by the other party and minimize your own share of fault.
Contact Our Milton Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers for a Free Case Evaluation
If you were injured in an accident caused by an Uber or Lyft rideshare vehicle in Milton, FL, you could be entitled to financial compensation. Our dedicated car accident lawyers at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers will build your claim and maximize potential compensation for your losses. Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation with a Milton Uber and Lyft accident lawyer.