Charlotte’s busy highways and complicated transportation options make it challenging for people to get around by car or bus, but ridesharing offers an alternative. If you get into a Lyft vehicle, you expect the driver to be responsible and safe in providing services to you. If that fails, let a Lyft accident lawyer in Charlotte help you navigate the claim process.
Shane Smith Law can guide you in seeking full and fair compensation for the losses you suffered. Our team has more than 100 years of combined experience, which allows us to provide clarity and tailored strategic support to get results. When you’re trying to navigate the intricacies of Lyft claims, put your trust in a Charlotte rideshare accident lawyer from our team today. Call today for a free consultation.
What Makes Lyft Accident Claims Challenging
Victims of a rideshare accident have the right to pursue legal action against those who cause them injuries and losses, as in any other car accident case. Yet, these cases tend to be more challenging to pursue and recover fair compensation from without the support of a skilled Charlotte Lyft accident lawyer. There are several reasons why:
- Determining fault: Various scenarios can lead to one or more parties being responsible for the injuries and losses victims have. There are times when just the driver is at fault, and others where Lyft may be looped into paying compensation for your losses.
- Multiple at–fault parties: If you are a passenger in a rideshare vehicle when an accident happens, and both drivers share fault, pursuing compensation as the victim becomes more challenging for you.
- Demonstrating losses: There are many situations where these companies have high-powered attorneys and insurance adjusters working for them and against you. This may lead to challenges in demonstrating who is owed compensation.
Our Charlotte car accident lawyers provide experienced and trusted legal representation in every case. We fight hard to ensure you understand your rights and that every party involved treats you fairly. With the guidance of a Charlotte personal injury lawyer, you gain the knowledge necessary to pursue comprehensive legal action and the peace of mind that you have someone in your corner advocating for you.
Speak with a Charlotte lyft accident lawyer, and get a free consultation today.
Call (980) 294-4931Why Lyft Accidents Happen
Car accidents with Lyft happen for many of the same reasons that any other car accident can happen. They are also nearly always due to negligence. A negligent act is one that is fully avoidable or preventable, yet the driver failed to take action to safeguard you as the passenger. Some of the most common causes of Lyft accidents in Charlotte include:
- Texting while driving
- Fatigued driving, especially after long or continuous shifts with limited breaks
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Distracted driving due to talking to others in the car or on the phone
- Speeding or other reckless operation of a vehicle
- Lack of experience, including not knowing how to traverse the roadways in the area
- Ignoring traffic laws
Contacting the police and filing a crash report is a starting point for determining the cause of the accident and uncovering fault. Your lawyer can further investigate to determine if any other party may be responsible. That could be another driver or Lyft itself. Demonstrating your case takes evidence and experience in this area of the law.
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When Lyft is Responsible for Your Injuries
Lyft drivers are not employees of the company, which means Lyft’s liability is minimized. Compensation for accidents caused by drivers is generally covered by their insurance instead. However, Lyft does maintain some responsibility, and they provide third-party insurance under certain conditions. The extent of Lyft coverage depends on driver status at the time of the accident:
- The driver was logged in and providing a service: When the Lyft driver is actively providing a ride through the app, Lyft’s more robust liability insurance applies.
- The driver is logged in but has not accepted a ride: In these cases, there is still coverage available, but the driver is responsible rather than the rideshare company.
- Someone else caused the accident: In situations where another driver, the city, a pedestrian, or another third party is responsible for the accident, the rideshare company is not responsible. In these cases, you must pursue a claim under that person’s liability insurance.
Lyft can be held directly responsible for the accident if the company engaged in negligent training or safety practices. All of these details matter when you have suffered serious losses in an accident. Typical liability insurance may be insufficient, and pursuing compensation through a lawsuit can be difficult. You may have an easier time recovering damages owed to you if you can show that Lyft is at fault.
Serious Injuries in Lyft Accidents are Not Uncommon
Like any collision, Lyft accidents can cause serious injuries and a loss of life. The law allows victims to seek full and fair compensation for any losses they have sustained as a result of another party’s negligence, as long as they can demonstrate what those losses are. Some of the most common injuries our team helps clients with include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones with complex fractures
- Spinal cord or spinal column injuries
- Serious damage from lacerations, damaging muscles, or nerves
- Neck injuries, including whiplash
- Bruising, bleeding, and injuries to internal organs
- Amputations
- Loss of mobility
- Loss of vision
- Disfigurement
In each of these cases, victims can pursue financial compensation for any losses incurred from the accident. After speaking to your medical team, our Lyft accident attorneys in Charlotte can pursue a claim that incorporates all potential compensation owed to you. Expect our legal team to fight tirelessly to build a strong claim for you that is backed by evidence.
Loss of Life in a Lyft Accident
Families who lose a loved one due to a Lyft accident may seek financial compensation from the at-fault party. Wrongful death claims are challenging to pursue, especially when they are against a large company like Lyft. Always work with a very experienced Charlotte wrongful death lawyer in these challenging claims to minimize the risk of denials.
A Charlotte Lyft Accident Attorney Can Discuss What You Can Recover in a Settlement and What Can Affect Its Value
What you recover in a Charlotte Lyft settlement depends on what you suffered, specifically. Compensation can include losses resulting from your medical expenses, lost wages or earning capacity, and property damage, as well as pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost quality of life, and more. The value of your settlement is affected by the extent of each loss and can be calculated by your lawyer.
The inherent value of your losses can be affected by other factors as well. Compensation cannot exceed the limits of an insurance policy, which can vary in Lyft accidents. Since a claim could be against another driver, the Lyft driver, Lyft’s third-party insurance, or Lyft itself, the amount available to cover your losses may or may not be enough. If you can’t fully recover your losses, you may have to look at other options.
However, one of the biggest factors that can affect your ability to recover compensation is partial fault. While most states reduce compensation to offset contributions of fault, North Carolina is one of the few that uses contributory negligence (N.C.G.S. 1-139) when a party is at fault. This means that if you were even as little as 1% at fault, you cannot recover a settlement at all.
Initiate Your Lyft Claim Within Three Years if You Want to Pursue Compensation
To pursue a Lyft settlement in Charlotte, you need to be sure to start your claim within three years of when the Lyft accident occurred, per N.C.G.S. 1-52. The right to file a claim ends when the limitation period expires so as to ensure that the potential for a claim doesn’t remain indefinitely. Taking action early on is better for your case and outcome in many ways.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Shane Smith Law
At Shane Smith Law, our century of combined experience and compassion for our clients enable us to be a trusted resource after serious injuries like these.
We guide you through the claim process and prepare you for what to expect at every turn so you can recover the compensation you seek. Contact a Lyft accident attorney in Charlotte now to discuss your case and fight for compensation. We offer free consultations.
