Being involved in a Lyft accident in Belleville can be a confusing and stressful experience, particularly when it comes to dealing with insurance companies and the rideshare service itself. You may face medical expenses, missed work, and uncertainty about who is truly responsible for covering your losses.
Injured in a Belleville Lyft Accident?
Contact an Attorney at Drafahl Law Firm Today
A Belleville car accident lawyer understands the rideshare industry’s complex policies and how to help you get compensation for your injuries. Legal representation gives you the time to focus on your own well-being while an experienced professional protects your interests at every stage.
Reach out today to speak with one of our Belleville Lyft accident lawyers.
Why Choose Drafahl Law Firm After a Belleville Lyft Accident Injury
A Lyft accident can leave you overwhelmed – not only from your injuries but from confusing insurance processes as well. Drafahl Law Firm is prepared to ease the burden. Here’s what we bring to the table:
- Over one hundred five-star Google reviews that illustrate the satisfaction of our clients
- Multi-million dollar recoveries on behalf of those harmed by another person’s negligence
- Rated by Super Lawyers
- We handle cases on a contingency fee basis so you pay nothing upfront and nothing unless you’re compensated
Our team is highly respected and has a record of winning challenging cases. Let us help you seek justice.
What a Skilled Lyft Accident Attorney Can Do for Injured Riders in Belleville
Dealing with a Lyft accident in Belleville may leave you uncertain about liability, insurance claims, and how to pursue repairs and medical costs. A skilled Lyft accident attorney helps you in many ways:
- Navigates the overlapping insurance policies involved in rideshare accidents
- Investigates the facts and handles communications with all parties
- Protects your interests if the rideshare company or their insurer tries to shift blame or limit your payment
- Represents you in settlement talks or takes your case to court if a fair deal isn’t offered
Working with a knowledgeable lawyer gives you the best chance of a fair financial recovery.
Why Do Lyft Accidents Occur?
Lyft accidents happen for many of the same reasons as other vehicle collisions but can also involve unique risks tied to the nature of rideshare work. Common causes include:
- Distracted Driving: Lyft drivers are often on their phones looking at GPS, talking to passengers, or accepting new rides. This can easily take their attention off the road and lead to accidents.
- Fatigue: It’s not unusual for rideshare drivers to work late into the night for higher rates or to drive Lyft as a second job. This can lead to serious fatigue, which impacts a driver’s ability to safely operate their vehicle and avoid accidents.
- Aggressive or Careless Driving: Trying to maximize fares can pressure drivers into speeding, sudden lane changes, or ignoring traffic rules to reach more passengers quickly or drop off riders so they can accept a new request.
- Unfamiliar Routes: Lyft drivers may take a passenger to a part of town or a new city that they aren’t familiar with. When this occurs, it’s possible that they will struggle with confusing road layouts or signage, which can lead to accidents.
- Challenging Weather or Road Conditions: These drivers often work at night, which makes it harder to see. When there’s bad weather on top of this, it can increase the risk of an accident quite a bit.
Every Lyft accident is different, and a careful investigation is necessary to fully understand what happened and how the accident occurred.
Who is Liable in a Lyft Accident?
Liability in a Lyft accident depends on several factors, including what the Lyft driver was doing at the time. If the rideshare driver was using the app for personal reasons, picking up or dropping off a rider, or simply driving without a fare, different insurance policies and responsible parties could come into play. Here’s who could be responsible:
The Lyft Driver Individually
If the driver was off duty (not using the app), their personal insurance applies and no extra insurance from Lyft will kick in. If their personal policy doesn’t cover your losses, you can file a lawsuit against them in court to try to recover the rest of what they owe you.
Lyft’s Rideshare Insurance
If the driver was actively using the Lyft app, whether waiting for a ride, en route to a rider, or with a passenger, Lyft’s commercial insurance may cover damages if the driver’s personal policy doesn’t fully cover your losses.
An At-Fault Third Party
Sometimes another driver, cyclist, or even a pedestrian who broke traffic laws is responsible for the crash instead of the Lyft driver. If this is the case, they or their insurance party should be responsible for compensating you.
Vehicle Manufacturers or Maintenance Providers
If an equipment failure contributed to the crash, a vehicle manufacturer or repair shop might bear some liability as well. For example, if a Lyft driver recently had their brakes serviced and the shop failed to install them correctly, that repair shop could be partly responsible if brake failure led to the accident. Similarly, if the car’s airbags didn’t deploy because of a design defect, the vehicle manufacturer might also share legal liability for any injuries those faulty parts caused.
Determining who is at fault and which insurance provider is obligated to pay is often more confusing than it seems at first. Working with a Belleville personal injury lawyer is a good way to figure this out.
Get in Touch With Drafahl Law Firm to Arrange a Free Conversation With a Belleville Lyft Accident Lawyer
Even straightforward rideshare accidents can lead to problems if insurance companies deny or lowball your claim. Your lawyer is your advocate and can fight back against these unfair offers, helping you to recover compensation for your injuries that were caused by someone else’s negligence.
When you’re ready to learn more or get started with your claim, contact Drafahl Law Firm to schedule a free case evaluation with a Belleville Lyft accident lawyer.