Ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft are critical forms of transportation, and may be more abundant in college towns such as Lubbock than in most other locales. This could mean that the chances of you or a loved one being involved in an accident as the passenger in a ridesharing vehicle, or as somebody struck by a rideshare vehicle, are higher than you know. When such an event occurs, you may be entitled to compensation for any resulting losses.
A Lubbock Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer could guide you through the period after your collision. Call Loncar Lyon Jenkins today at 800-777-7777 for a free consultation about seeking compensation after an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare accident.
The Rise of Ridesharing Has Spelled Danger
The increased public reliance on ridesharing as a means of transportation appears to have made life more dangerous for those in Lubbock and elsewhere. According to MIT Technology Review, traffic deaths have risen 2 to 3 percent in the U.S. since Uber and Lyft began their rise in popularity.
Reasons why ridesharing may make the roads more dangerous include:
- Rideshare drivers have the incentive to maximize the number of rides that they complete, which could conceivably lead to behaviors meant to save time per-ride rather than ensuring safety at all costs
- As MIT Technology Review notes, Uber and Lyft drivers may spend a significant amount of time simply traveling around roads waiting for riders, which creates congestion that may not exist if drivers were merely going from one point to another
- The sheer number of vehicles on the road may increase due to the number of citizens who are now using ridesharing as a means of making an income, which could heighten the total number of opportunities for accidents to occur
Those who drive rideshare service vehicles have the same duty of care that other motorists do. This duty of care, according to Merriam-Webster, means that they have “a duty to use care toward others that would be exercised by an ordinarily reasonable and prudent person in order to protect them from unnecessary risk of harm.”
How a Rideshare Driver May Violate Their Duty of Care
Those who drive Uber and Lyft vehicles may violate their duty of care to others in the same ways that a non-rideshare driver would: by driving in a dangerous manner. Whether out of carelessness, recklessness, or an intention to do harm, those who operate their vehicle in dangerous ways may be held accountable.
Some of the motorist acts that may qualify as negligent under civil codes include:
- Driving while intoxicated
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Changing lanes in an improper way
- Turning improperly
- Driving a vehicle that is not safe for the road
- Driving at night without headlights appropriately engaged
- Failing to yield to oncoming traffic
- Running a red light
- Driving in other vehicle’s lanes, or in areas of the road reserved for bicyclists or pedestrians
- Making any maneuver that endangers those inside of the driver’s vehicle, those in other vehicles, or pedestrians nearby
A lawyer may examine the way in which your accident occurred to determine how a rideshare driver may have caused your collision, or how another driver put you at risk while you were riding as a rideshare passenger.
Call Loncar Lyon Jenkins today at 800-777-7777 for more details of how a Lubbock Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer could help you seek compensation.
For a free legal consultation with a uber and lyft rideshare accidents lawyer serving Lubbock, call 800-777-7777
Settling a Rideshare Insurance Claim
Lyft details the scenarios under which you would be covered by their insurance policies, whether as a rider in a vehicle involved in an accident or in a vehicle struck by a rideshare driver. Their coverage includes:
- Up to $1 million in third-party liability, which may include harm inflicted upon you as a rider in a Lyft (or Uber, which has similar policies in place) or as the occupant of a vehicle struck by a rideshare driver
- Various forms of coverage for bodily injury and property damage
The insurance provided by rideshare companies may not be sufficient for you or a loved one seeking compensation after a rideshare accident, however. It is possible that:
- Various circumstances of your accident, such as the status of the rideshare driver’s Uber or Lyft app at the time of the collision, could make them ineligible for certain types of insurance coverage
- There could be a dispute about the extent to which various parties, including you or your loved one, are responsible for the accident
- Your losses may outweigh the amount of insurance coverage that you are entitled to based on the circumstances of your accident
If you are not able to obtain fair compensation through an insurance settlement, your lawyer may initiate a lawsuit on your behalf.
Initiating a Lawsuit After a Rideshare Accident
Your lawyer may initiate your lawsuit promptly in order to ensure that your case falls within relevant statutes of limitation in Texas. Per Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, the statute of limitations for both wrongful death and personal injury claims in the state is generally two years from the date of your accident (note that there may be exceptions to these statutes, and you should call a legal professional regardless of the time that has passed since your accident).
If you choose to move forward with a lawsuit, your lawyer may:
- File your lawsuit
- Gather evidence
- Consult expert witnesses and eye witnesses
- Negotiate a settlement
- Complete a trial if necessary
- Protect your rights
Your lawyer will seek compensation for your losses, which may include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Permanent symptoms of injuries sustained in your accident, including but not limited to disability
Your lawyer may be able to help you recover compensation for the losses that have come from your rideshare accident.
Lubbock Uber And Lyft Rideshare Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-777-7777
Call Loncar Lyon Jenkins Today
Calling Loncar Lyon Jenkins means calling in the Strong Arm to take your case head-on. A Lubbock Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer may be able to navigate the nuances of pursuing compensation after a rideshare collision so that you can focus on your recovery.
Call the team at Loncar Lyon Jenkins today at 800-777-7777 for a free consultation.
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