Malden Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer
As rideshare services like those provided by Uber and Lyft become more common, so do accidents with their vehicles. Uber and Lyft drivers are human, too, and are prone to making mistakes behind the wheel. You may have concerns about what legal options you may have to pursue recovery after being involved in an Uber or Lyft accident in Malden.
Fortunately, you may be able to recover through the rideshare company’s insurance, especially if you were a passenger in the rideshare vehicle. The level of insurance depends on what the driver was doing at the time of the accident. Once you determine who was at fault, you should speak with your lawyer to determine how much you could recover in damages. Your damages will be determined by your medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering as a result of your injuries.
For all questions surrounding your recent accident that injured you, we strongly recommend that you set up an initial case review at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan. Our Malden Uber and Lyft car accident attorneys offer these initial case reviews free of charge to potential new clients. to take advantage of this opportunity, call (617) 925-6407 today.
Liability in an Uber & Lyft Accident in Malden
If you were injured in an accident where an Uber or Lyft driver was at fault, you may be wondering whether you can sue the rideshare company directly. The reality in these cases is that Uber and Lyft are well protected against direct lawsuits from injury victims. This is because rideshare drivers are typically classified as independent contractors under Massachusetts law, as opposed to traditional employees.
However, you can still benefit from the rideshare company’s involvement through a lawsuit against the driver. This is because rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft provide additional insurance coverage for their drivers when on the job. The total value of the supplemental coverage that will be available depends on the situation.
Specifically, rideshare supplemental coverage varies in amount depending on whether the rideshare driver was transporting a fare, on their way to pick up a fare, or had their application activated and were awaiting a fare. If the rideshare driver was not actively searching for or transporting a fare, the insurance will not cover them. Your Malden Uber and Lyft car accident lawyer can help you establish what coverage you might benefit from through a lawsuit.
Options for Passengers Injured While in an Uber or Lyft in Malden
If you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft vehicle that was involved in an accident, you can most likely recover in an insurance claim from the rideshare driver’s insurance policy. Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies supplement their drivers’ ordinary insurance coverage with supplemental policies to protect customers.
However, you should be aware that the damages from a lawsuit against the at-fault driver can be a much more lucrative path than an insurance claim or settlement. The level of damages that you can claim in a lawsuit is typically substantially higher than what you stand to gain through insurance. The only additional requirement is showing that the defendant in your lawsuit was negligently or recklessly responsible for causing the accident and your injuries.
The vast majority of car accidents are caused by at least one party’s negligence or recklessness. You can sue the at-fault driver, whether they were driving the other vehicle or the one that you were in at the time of the accident. In some cases, more than one party can be responsible. Therefore, you have the ability to name more than one defendant in your lawsuit. If you are unsure of who was at fault for your accident, our Malden Uber and Lyft car accident lawyers can help you determine whom you should sue for damages.
Damages for Uber and Lyft Car Accident Injury Lawsuits in Malden
A critical aspect of evaluating and filing your complaint for injuries sustained in a car accident is how you arrive at damage estimates. “Damages” are what you can recover in financial compensation for your claim.
It is too difficult to estimate what a given Uber or Lyft car accident injury lawsuit may yield in damages without specific information about the nature and cause of the accident and the prognosis of the injuries. For this reason, you should always look to get medical attention immediately after an accident to establish a record of treatment. Once you get medical care, call your Malden Uber and Lyft car accident attorney to help you estimate what you are rightfully owed.
You could collect damages for every aspect of your medical care. Not only will damages cover the actual treatment of your injuries (such as surgeries, hospital stays, and physical therapy), but you can also claim the ancillary costs associated with your care, such as ambulance fees and hospital parking.
The cost of your injuries may include the toll that your recuperation takes on your flow of income. a thorough and necessary rehabilitation protocol may keep you away from work for an extended period of time. You can use damages to recoup your lost wages, missed advancement opportunities, or any paid time off that you used due to your absence.
The critical area of damages that separates a lawsuit from an ordinary insurance claim is in the non-economic damages that you can claim. In a lawsuit, you can offer evidence that details the pain and suffering that your injuries have caused you. If the care for your injuries resulted in unavoidable chronic pain or damage to personal relationships, you can use your Malden Uber and Lyft car accident attorney’s resources, such as expert witness testimony, to quantify these harms in terms of compensable damages.
Our Malden Uber and Lyft Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You Recover for Your Injuries
The Law Office of John J. Sheehan offers free case reviews with our experienced Malden Uber and Lyft car accident attorneys for free. Call us at (617) 925-6407 today to hear more about our services.
