Boca Raton Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer
Everyone needs to get around town, but not everyone has a car. Many Florida citizens rely on ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft to get around without their own vehicles.
Unfortunately, many people riding with Uber and Lyft are injured in car accidents. While you can certainly sue the Uber or Lyft driver, you may consider other liable parties. The statute of limitations begins counting down on the day of the accident, so you should file your claims soon. Available damages may include medical bills, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. You cannot usually sue the companies Uber or Lyft because their drivers are considered independent contractors, and the companies are beyond the reach of vicarious liability. However, the ridesharing companies may have insurance that covers your accident.
If you were injured in a car accident with an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you can sue the driver for damages, and the ridesharing company’s insurance may cover your case. Contact our Boca Raton Uber and Lyft accident lawyers for a free case review. Call The Carrion Law Firm at (954) 951-4828.
Filing a Lawsuit After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Boca Raton
After a car accident with an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you may be able to file a lawsuit against several parties. While many injured victims assume they can sue the Uber or Lyft driver, this is not always the case. If the Lyft or Uber driver is responsible for the accident, they can be sued. However, in some cases, other drivers on the road are to blame, and the Uber or Lyft driver is another victim. You may sue one or multiple parties if each party shares liability for the crash.
If you decide to file a lawsuit, you have a limited time to do so. According to Florida Statute § 95.11(3), there is a 4-year statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits based on negligence. Because many car accident cases are based on the defendant’s negligence, they fall under this statute. The clock begins ticking on the date of your accident unless some special circumstances allow you to toll the statute and buy more time.
Our Boca Raton Uber and Lyft accident attorneys can help you get your lawsuit started before the deadline to file expires. Filing a case is a complicated endeavor, and we need as much time as we can get to prepare.
Damages Available in Boca Raton Uber or Lyft Accidents
Your damages are often connected to a monetary value, but they do not always have to be. Even non-economic damages that technically did not cost the plaintiff any money can be financially compensated in a lawsuit. Our Boca Raton Lyft and Uber accident lawyers can help you accurately calculate your damages and hopefully get you the most compensation possible.
Your medical bills related to treatment for injuries sustained in the crash should be factored into your total damages calculations. Your injuries might be severe, and the necessary treatments might be expensive and ongoing. You can claim future medical expenses if you expect to continue receiving medical care even after your case is completed.
Injured accident victims tend to take time away from their jobs so they can recover. This means victims lose precious income they could otherwise use to fund their recovery process. Any income you lost after the accident and any future income you expect to miss out on can be added to your damages.
Depending on how your accident happened, you might have extensive property damage, and the cost of repairing or replacing your property may be very high. For example, if you were driving your own vehicle when an Uber driver hit you, you can claim the cost to repair your vehicle as part of your total damages.
Your non-economic damages are the losses and injuries you incurred that did not actually cost you any money. These are usually very difficult injuries to compensate for, and money is the only way the courts can attempt to set things right. Your mental and physical pain and suffering should be claimed, especially if the accident was painful and emotionally traumatic.
Can I Sue Uber or Lyft After an Accident in Boca Raton?
It is important to note that while you can sue the Uber or Lyft driver and anyone else who might have played a role in causing your accident, certain parties are off-limits. Specifically, you cannot sue the ridesharing companies Uber or Lyft for their drivers’ negligence.
Generally, an employer, like Uber or Lyft, can be held vicariously liable for an employee’s negligence. As long as an employee’s negligence happens within the scope of their job and duties, the employer may be vicariously liable for the damages and injuries. However, this rule does not apply to Uber and Lyft because their drivers are not employees. Instead, they are independent contractors.
While you cannot sue the ridesharing companies for your accident, our Boca Raton Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help you determine who you can sue and hold them liable.
Insurance Coverage for Uber and Lyft Accidents in Boca Raton
You may not sue them, but Uber and Lyft have insurance coverage for their drivers involved in accidents. There are different levels of coverage based on the circumstances of the accident. Depending on whether the driver was on duty and engaged with a passenger, Uber or Lyft may provide insurance coverage to the driver, which they can use to pay for your damages in a lawsuit,
If the Uber or Lyft driver does not have their app turned on during an accident, they are considered off duty, and the accident is not covered. Suppose the driver has their app on and is waiting to be matched with a rider when the accident happens. In that case, Uber or Lyft may provide $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $100,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 in property damage coverage.
If the driver is actively engaged with a rider and is either on their way to pick them up or has them in the vehicle when the accident happens, Uber or Lyft may provide $1,000,000 in third-party liability and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
Call Our Boca Raton Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers
If you were hurt in an accident with a ridesharing vehicle, our Boca Raton Uber and Lyft accident attorneys can help you file a lawsuit to recover damages. For a free evaluation of your case, call The Carrion Law Firm at (954) 951-4828.