If you or a loved one was injured in a rideshare accident, you could recover compensation for your injuries and losses. A Fort Lauderdale rideshare accident lawyer familiar with laws and insurance regulations regarding ridesharing can help.
We provide injury victims with free case consultations. Also, we work on contingency, so there is added financial risk to you. We don’t get paid unless you win. Let the Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers explain your legal options. Get the help you and your family deserve to move forward after this accident. Call us today.
How Our Attorneys Will Assist With Your Rideshare Accident Case
There can be a lot of confusion surrounding a rideshare accident. The crux of the confusion often regards who is at fault and who should cover the damages. Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers are familiar with navigating rideshare accidents and laws.
When you work with our legal team, you can expect the following:
Complimentary Consultation
During your free consultation, we will get to know you and evaluate the details of your case. We will never charge you anything unless we are able to collect compensation on your behalf.
We Will Determine Insurance Coverage
It is not always easy to determine insurance coverage in a rideshare accident case.
Both Uber and Lyft have insurance coverage for their drivers, but that insurance coverage depends on the status of their drivers at the time of the accident.
The $1 million dollar insurance coverage, which both companies carry, only covers their drivers when they are logged into the app and matched with a rider. When the driver is not logged in, they are technically not completing work tasks and are not covered by the rideshare insurance policy.
This policy can be confusing and can bring up a lot of unique situations that do not easily fall into the rideshare policy requirements. We will help you determine your coverage at the time of your ridesharing accident.
We Will Calculate Your Damages
A rideshare accident can result in costly damages to any of the parties involved. It is important that we calculate each of the damages involved in the accident to ensure that you receive just compensation.
We will consider the following damages:
- Medical costs
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Rehabilitative costs
- Diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
Personal insurance companies may limit the amount of compensation that you receive. Rideshare insurance coverage is a maximum $1 million policy. Depending on the details of your case, it may make sense to seek additional compensation from multiple parties.
We Will Help Determine Negligence
Florida operates as a no-fault state. This means that regardless of fault, your insurance company should cover your damages. However, if your injuries exceed the serious injury threshold presented in Florida Statutes § 627.737, it may be necessary to determine negligence. The serious injury threshold is:
- Permanent injury
- Permanent loss of bodily function
- Permanent disfigurement or scarring
- Death
To prove negligence, we will have to show who was at fault and the damages you deserve. This is typically represented in four linking parts:
- Duty of care: Every driver’s responsibility is to obey traffic laws and drive safely.
- Breach of duty: When the other driver violates traffic laws and drives rashly.
- Causation: The accident that results from that decision and the injuries you suffered.
- Damages: The injuries and losses that have created a financial, physical, and emotional burden on you.
Creating this link requires evidence. Our legal team will gather that evidence in your case. We will utilize information from such sources as:
- Police report
- Witness statements
- Medical records
- Images or video from the accident scene
- Expert testimony
With this evidence, we can determine the fault in your case.
We Can Appeal a Denied Insurance Claim
Unfortunately, rideshare companies do not always protect their drivers or passengers following an accident. Additionally, personal insurance companies may attempt to deny a claim because the individual was working at the time.
Denied insurance claims can leave you in a difficult financial position. We will evaluate your claim and file an appeal to ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve. Place your case in the hands of a legal professional familiar with the insurance claims and personal injury legal processes at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers.
Our Fort Lauderdale rideshare accident lawyer can tackle the paperwork, negotiating, and red tape that might take you away from your family at this time. You do not need to stumble through a confusing and overwhelming process. This is what we do. Call today to learn more.
Rideshare Accident Causes You Can Sue For Compensation
The same events that lead to typical car accidents can also cause an Uber or Lyft accident. These are a few of the most common we have seen:
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence
- Mechanical problems
- Poor weather
- Fatigued driving
Liable Parties You Could Pursue Money from
Depending on how your accident occurred, you could hold any of the following parties liable for your accident-related losses:
- A driver that hit your rideshare vehicle
- The rideshare company
- The driver of your vehicle
- The employer of the other vehicle’s operator
- A municipality
- Car parts manufacturer that knowingly sold a defective item
Important Steps to Take After a Rideshare Accident
Auto accidents are stressful regardless of whether you are the driver or the passenger. If you find yourself in a rideshare accident, keep these important steps in mind.
Get Medical Attention
If you did not receive medical attention at the scene of the accident, you should have a doctor check you out immediately. This will help get you the treatment you need and link your injuries to the accident.
If you do not do this, you give the insurance company the opportunity to deny the severity of your injuries. Their argument could be that you could not be truly in pain if you waited to go to the emergency room.
Call Your Insurance Company
It is always a good idea to inform your insurance company that you were in an accident. This way, the accident is recorded, and the process starts as soon as possible. Your insurance company likely has a deadline by which you have to report accidents, as well.
Notify the Rideshare Company
Depending on how the accident occurred, you may need to notify the rideshare company of the accident. Sometimes, the only way to gather compensation is to file a policy against the rideshare company. Also, the company should know if their driver and/or a passenger were involved in an accident.
Discuss Your Case With an Accident Lawyer
It is important to evaluate your legal options following a Lyft or Uber accident. You can discuss the details of your case with your lawyer.
You might not know about all the options available for gathering damages. Let your lawyer guide you through this process.
Florida’s Rideshare Accident Statute of Limitations
Taking legal action is not always the first thing on your mind after an accident. Although Florida does not have a specific time limit for filing rideshare accident cases, this would fall under the traditional auto accident statute of limitations enforced by Florida Statutes § 95.11, which is set at two years from the date of the accident.
Navigating the legal process regarding rideshare accidents can bring up many complications. To avoid losing your legal eligibility, it is important to begin the process as soon as possible.
Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers Offers Our Knowledge and Resources to You
Our team has been representing Fort Lauderdale accident victims since 1955. We want you to feel like family when you hire us. So, you will work directly with our firm’s partners, Jason and Debi Chalik. Let us protect the people most important to you. We can also help you if you lost a loved one due to negligence.
Discuss Your Rideshare Accident Case With Our Team of Attorneys Today
Dealing with a rideshare accident can be stressful. It can be difficult to get the compensation you deserve.
The Fort Lauderdale rideshare accident lawyers at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers serving Fort Lauderdale are here to help you during this difficult time. Call us today.
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