Douglasville Lyft Accident Lawyer

Rideshare companies like Lyft make commuting and exploring Douglasville and other areas in Georgia quick and accessible for locals and tourists alike. With the touch of a button, you can have a car waiting for you that is ready to take you anywhere you want. However, some drawbacks come with the convenience of this “anytime, anywhere” service. When a Lyft car accident occurs, it can be challenging for victims to recover the full and fair compensation they deserve.

For more than 30 years, the personal injury attorneys of Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., have protected the rights of accident victims in Douglasville and throughout Georgia. We take pride in providing our clients with respectful and result-driven legal support. If you were injured in a Lyft accident involving a negligent driver in the Douglasville area, contact us today and receive a free consultation.

What Are the Common Causes of Douglasville Lyft Accidents?

The most common cause of Douglasville Lyft accidents is driver error. Lyft drivers do not require special training, certifications, or experience to get on the app and start transporting riders. Most rideshare companies, including Lyft, only need their drivers to own a vehicle, have a valid driver’s license, and carry the minimum car insurance required by state law. So, Lyft drivers are just as susceptible to making mistakes behind the wheel as any other driver out on the road.

Some of the most common causes of Douglasville Lyft accidents include:

• Distracted driving
• Impaired driving
• Speeding
• Fatigued driving
• Unsafe lane changes
• Failure to yield

Other causes of Lyft accidents include poor vehicle maintenance, unfamiliar routes, and inexperienced drivers. Under Lyft’s business model, the more rides a driver completes, the more money they make. This model incentivizes poor drivers to rush through jobs to maximize their take-home pay, increasing the risk of Lyft drivers causing accidents by speeding and taking unsafe shortcuts.

Does Lyft Provide Its Drivers with Insurance Coverage?

Lyft drivers are required to carry their own insurance coverage. The company also provides drivers with insurance coverage that may come into play after a car accident, depending on the driver’s status. Lyft provides insurance coverage as follows:

• When a Lyft driver’s app is off — When a Lyft driver’s app is offline, and the driver causes a crash, the accident victim must file a claim with the driver’s auto insurance company.
• When a Lyft driver is online and waiting for a ride request — If a driver is online, meaning their status shows they are ready and waiting to accept a rider’s request when an accident occurs, Lyft’s insurance coverage offers $50,000 in bodily injury per person, $100,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 in property damage per accident.
• When a Lyft driver is online and picking up or transporting passengers — Lyft insurance coverage can help accident victims when a driver is actively picking up or transporting passengers. If the app is online, coverage includes $1,000,000 in third-party liability coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) bodily injury coverage, and contingent collision and comprehensive coverage.

Injured individuals must file claims through the Lyft app or the rideshare company’s website. It may seem easy to report an accident and file a claim. However, to protect your rights and give yourself the best opportunity to recover full and fair compensation, consult an experienced rideshare accident attorney before talking directly to an insurance adjuster.

Do Lyft Drivers Work for Lyft, or Are They Independent Contractors?

One unique aspect of Lyft accidents that makes it challenging to seek compensation after a crash involving a Lyft driver is how the rideshare company categorizes its drivers. The company does not designate Lyft drivers as employees. Instead, it treats them as independent contractors. So, Lyft drivers have fewer legal protections and benefits than workers treated as “employees” typically receive.

Rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber can reap several benefits from categorizing their workers as contractors. Primarily, it saves money. When classified as independent contractors, drivers do not receive company benefits and must pay their own taxes. Also, when a rideshare company like Lyft classifies its drivers as contractors, it can shift liability from the company onto someone else’s shoulders in certain circumstances.

So, by classifying its drivers as contractors, Lyft benefits from their work and, depending on the situation, gains some degree of protection from accepting liability for an accident.

Who Pays for My Damages If the Lyft Driver Caused the Accident?

How Lyft categorizes and sets up insurance coverage for its drivers can make it difficult to determine who should pay for medical expenses and other financial losses when a Lyft driver causes an accident. The driver’s online status, the accident’s cause, and other factors can influence liability. In some instances, more than one party may be responsible for covering the losses.

The parties who may be wholly or partially liable for a rideshare accident can include:

• The Lyft driver
• Lyft itself
• Another driver

If you were hurt in a car crash involving a Lyft driver, you should consult with a Douglasville car accident lawyer who can review the circumstances of the accident and address your specific liability questions and concerns.

Who Pays If Another Driver Hits the Lyft Vehicle I Am Riding In?

Georgia follows a fault-based car insurance model. Under this model, the driver who causes an accident compensates accident victims for their losses. If the driver of another vehicle causes an accident, you will file a claim against that individual’s insurance company seeking compensation for your injuries.

You may file a car accident claim through Lyft’s coverage if the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured. If you are a Lyft driver hurt in a car crash caused by someone else’s negligence, you can pursue compensation for your medical bills and property damage by filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

What Compensation Might I Be Entitled to in a Lyft Accident Claim?

The value of a Lyft accident claim varies. Typically, in Georgia, you are entitled to seek compensation for the following in car accident cases:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Property damage
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering

Before you accept a settlement from anyone, discuss the accident with an experienced Lyft accident attorney who can calculate your losses and negotiate for the compensation you deserve.

Contact a Douglasville Lyft Car Accident Lawyer

At Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., our Douglasville car accident lawyers will treat you like family. We can support and manage your car accident claim while working hard to seek the maximum amount of compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial harm you have suffered. We will always put your needs first. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn more about how we can help with your Lyft accident claim.

Visit Our Douglasville Lyft Car Accident Law Offices