By now, just about everyone you know has probably used a ridesharing service. Perhaps you have as well. Ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber offer wonderful convenience for many of our transportation needs. However, have you ever thought about what would happen if you or a loved one were injured in a Lyft accident?
At Townsend Law, LLC, we are here when you need a Kansas City Lyft accident attorney. We will work diligently to secure the compensation you need for your car crash-related expenses.
You need to know your legal options in these accident claims, and you need a law firm with years of experience in these types of personal injury accident cases. Car accidents take a large enough toll on the accident victims already; adding in ridesharing companies like Uber or Lyft with their independent contractor model makes it that much more difficult.
We offer a free consultation with a real person, where we can review your individual case, and our accident lawyers can offer legal advice on how to proceed after your rideshare accident.
What Can Happen?
Rideshare services offer convenience but also have a cost. According to this article about a 2019 study, rideshare services have increased traffic deaths by nearly 3%, with human life costs that range from $5.33 billion to $13.24 billion per year.
We do not want to raise any alarm bells regarding ridesharing services. They are great options for many people when it comes to getting home safely, especially after a night out, and by and large, motorists in Kansas City try to drive safely.
However, we want to show you the crash statistics from the latest reporting year in Missouri:
- 153,422 total crashes reported
- 923 crash fatalities
- 57,270 crash injuries
We wanted to show you the overall crash data because Lyft drivers, Uber drivers, and other ridesharing drivers spend more time on the road than most other drivers, making them more likely to be involved in car accidents and motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians.
It is not uncommon for us to see the following injuries that need extensive medical care as a result of these vehicle accidents:
- Broken and dislocated bones
- Severe lacerations
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries
- Wrongful death
- Traumatic brain injuries
These injuries range from relatively minor to severe, but they can bring major medical expenses. For major injuries, a victim may need countless surgeries and extended rehabilitation to make a full recovery. Lost time away from work can lead to income loss, further damaging a victim’s finances. Auto insurance policies are not always adequate to cover these burdens or medical expenses, and if your serious injury from the car accident was due to the negligence of someone else, you should not be held responsible. This is where a competent personal injury lawyer with experience in these types of auto accident cases can be an asset to you and your loved ones.
How They Happen
Getting a Lyft driver to come and pick you up could not be easier. With the push of a button in the app, they will show up for your pick-up, and you can be off towards your destination. In some cases, you can even see their progress in real-time. You should not have to worry about your safety when you get in a Lyft vehicle or Uber car, as all legal drivers on the road in Missouri and Kansas should have a sufficient policy through a reputable insurance company. In addition, some rideshare services like Lyft have additional insurance for car accidents, and some have a $1 million insurance policy, such as Uber, to cover anything that could happen.
That should make it easy to cover your expenses in the aftermath of a car crash, right?
No, unfortunately, it will not be easy. After a crash where the Lyft driver wrecked, many insurance companies will be battling over who is responsible for covering what Uber or any of Lyft’s insurance, the Lyft driver’s personal insurance, and the insurance companies of anyone else involved. Determining if there was drunk driving involved can affect the accident case, insurance coverage, medical expenses, uninsured parties involved, and more. The last thing any rideshare company wants to be at fault for is a case involving a car accident with serious injuries or wrongful death due to the negligence of their rideshare drivers.
In some cases, Lyft accidents are caused by negligent ridesharing drivers. This can include the drivers operating while distracted by their phones, speeding or driving recklessly, or even driving while impaired resulting in a drunk driving car accident. In other cases, a Lyft accident is caused by a third party beyond the control of the Lyft driver.
Moving Forward From Here
If you have been injured in a Lyft accident, you should not face the legal issues alone, and you should consider seeking legal assistance. The Lyft driver will have Lyft’s insurance company and their own insurance company fighting for them, so you may need a law firm with experience in these and other types of accident cases to fight for you.
At the law firm of Townsend Law, LLC, we are ready to help if you recover the compensation you deserve. Whether you were a Lyft passenger or another party injured by the crash, we will work to recover the following:
- Coverage of your medical bills
- Compensation for lost income if you cannot work
- Pain and suffering damages
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages
- Possible punitive damages
Our law office offers a free case evaluation for those injured and who believe they have an accident claim, where you can speak with a real person to discuss your case and get legal advice on how to proceed. We value a strong attorney-client relationship and fight for your legal rights, seeking maximum compensation under the law.
There is no reason that you or your family should be put into financial jeopardy due to another person’s negligence. When you need a Kansas City Lyft accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 833-869-6529.