In Yonkers, we may find different types of accidents. However, now we are focusing on rideshare vehicle accidents and especially talking about the potential victims, in these cases, passengers who have no control over the vehicle at all.
Keep reading if you want to learn how to claim compensation if you or a loved one have ever been involved in a Lyft accident in Yonkers and how The Ward Law Group is able to assist you in such cases.
These accidents differ from regular car accidents because there are different rules regarding insurance coverages that will or will not apply depending on whether the driver was logged in or not in the rideshare app.
Whenever you get injured in a rideshare vehicle accident, you should contact your Lyft car accident lawyer to help you recover from your damages. You will need a thorough investigation of the incident to determine the amount of compensation you deserve.
Common Causes Of Lyft Accidents
The causes are the same as regular accidents that we can find everywhere. Nevertheless, we find one interesting fact that may cause a Lyft accident. When a new driver wants to enroll in the app, they will need to provide information about the type of car, its condition, and car insurance, among other technical questions.
You may think that among all the requirements they ask when a new driver is attempting to become a Lyft driver is to receive an assessment to check their driving skills, but they don’t. This breach makes people who may not be suitable to provide transportation services start working and pose a danger to passengers.
When the driver is not qualified, they can perform maneuvers that endanger passengers, such as:
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Distracted driving
- Impaired driving
- Fatigue
- Weather conditions
- Poor road conditions
- Reckless driving
- Inexperienced drivers
- Lack of inadequate training
- Poorly maintained vehicles
Legal Aspects of Lyft Accidents
Determining liability in Lyft accidents can be challenging; however, the New York Police Department is trained to run an investigation, and based on the physical evidence, skid marks, and eyewitness testimonies, they can determine who was the liable party in each accident.
They have the duty to review the facts and check what driver violated the traffic laws, whether running a red light, speeding, sudden change of lanes, failing to yield the right of way, etc.
Also, they can find help from your Lyft accident attorney, who will interview the eyewitnesses even faster than they do, and that will help them to have a result as soon as possible.
Understanding Lyft’s Insurance Policy And Coverage Limits
When a victim is trying to get compensation for their losses, they face a challenge because they don’t know how to address the claim. Should it be for the driver’s car insurance or the rideshare company?
Well, first, you should know that rideshare companies do not consider their drivers as employees but as independent contractors. However, The New York government saw that as an unfair measure and set a requirement for rideshare companies to provide insurance coverage for their drivers if they wanted their company to operate in New York.
The solution they implemented was to provide coverage to drivers ONLY when they are logged into the app. So if the driver gets into an accident and it’s not on the clock, the coverage will not take effect.
Another solution they provided was to change the insurance coverage based on the status of the driver at the moment of the accident. For instance, if the driver had a passenger while they got involved in an accident, the insurance that Lyft will provide will be a minimum of $1,000,000 in coverage.
On the other hand, if the driver was logged in and waiting for a request and then got into an accident, the rideshare company must provide only $100,000 per accident and $50,000 per person.
Statute of Limitations For Lyft Accident Claims in New York
The timeframe that a victim has for filing a claim against a negligent party will vary depending on the specific circumstances. However, those circumstances are rare, and most of the time, the victim will have up to 3 years from the day of the accident.
You should always seek legal help from a Yonkers Lyft accident attorney to check on the facts of your case. They will tell you your available options and estimate how much you should receive as compensation.
Injuries and Medical Considerations
Injuries that can be present in a Lyft accident in Yonkers will depend on the severity of the crash. They can range from mild concussions or scratches to severe injuries that can be fatal.
After you have suffered a collision while traveling in a rideshare app, you should always look for medical assistance to receive an evaluation by a professional who will tell you how the accident affected your health.
Among the injuries that can be sustained, we find:
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Herniated discs
- Severe lacerations
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Burns
- Seat belt injuries
- Paralysis
- Nerve damage
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Loss of limb
Compensation and Damages
If you sustained serious injuries, you will be able to seek compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. A medical professional is in charge of determining how severe your injuries are, and based on what the doctor says, we can proceed to present your claim with the right requirements.
Generally, economic damages are the ones that are easy to gather; they are those coming from medical bills, transportation to medical facilities, medication you will need for your recovery, rehabilitation costs, lost wages for the time that you were unable to work, and all those expenses that are related to your injuries and are quantifiable.
Non-economic damages are more subjective. They are a type of compensation awarded in civil lawsuits for intangible losses that a person experiences as a result of an injury or harm.
We can find as noneconomic damages the following:
- Physical Pain and Suffering
- Mental and Emotional Distress
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
- Loss of Consortium
- Disfigurement or Permanent Scarring
- Loss of Reputation or Standing in the Community
- Inconvenience and Interference with Daily Life
What Should a Passenger Do When They Are in a Lyft Accident?
There are different steps to take depending on what party you are at the event. You will now know what you would do if you were a passenger traveling in a rideshare vehicle and got into an accident.
The first step is to go to your Lyft app, report the accident, and cancel the ride. You can do that and write all the information that you witnessed. The second step is to call the police so they can arrive at the accident scene.
The third step is to be there while the police officers write the accident report. You must be there so your name appears on the report. If not, it will be very hard to prove to the court that you were affected by that accident.
Of course, if the accident was severe and you got injuries that must be addressed immediately, you should seek medical assistance. Most likely, you will be assisted by paramedics who will be at the accident scene. If you are able to call your lawyer at that very moment, you can do that, and one of our Lyft accident lawyers will be right there.
Contact a Yonkers Lyft Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in an accident while traveling with a rideshare app, you are entitled to compensation for your damages. Don’t hesitate to seek legal help if you are involved in these types of accidents.
Sometimes, insurance companies want to avoid paying full coverage to save some money. Don’t let them win, and shield yourself with proper representation. The Ward Law Group has a team of the most experienced Lyft accident attorneys who have built successful careers and won millions of dollars in settlements on behalf of their clients.
Call us now for a free consultation of your case at 855-DOLOR-55, and get the compensation you deserve.