You are traveling in your car, and an Uber or Lyft driver slams their vehicle into yours. Or, you book a rideshare when the driver causes an accident, and you suffer injuries. Get legal help after either of these incidents. Meet with a rideshare accident lawyer in Sun Valley, as they can help you get money for your losses.
Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers has more than 150 years of combined experience. We have obtained over $1 billion in compensation for rideshare accident victims and others. Let us help you recover compensatory damages from anyone responsible for your Uber or Lyft accident. Speak with a Sun Valley car accident lawyer from our team.
Why You Should Partner with a Lawyer After a Rideshare Accident
If you think a rideshare driver or their employer will take responsibility for your accident, think again. Your Sun Valley rideshare accident attorney builds a case against any liable parties. They can negotiate a settlement on your behalf. Alternatively, they can file a lawsuit and, if necessary, present their case to a judge or jury.
Rideshare accident settlement negotiations can be tricky. If you accept the first settlement offer you get, you could wind up leaving money on the table. Your Sun Valley personal injury lawyer wants you to be compensated fairly. They handle your settlement negotiations and provide frequent updates along the way. If no agreement is reached, they can bring your case to trial.
The team at Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers has received dozens of positive reviews and testimonials. We want you to take care of yourself after your Uber or Lyft crash while we work hard to secure compensation for you. Schedule a free case consultation with us to learn more. We’re here to guide you and fight for the benefits you deserve.
What to Do After a Rideshare Accident
One of the most important parts of protecting your right to fair compensation in a rideshare accident is knowing what to do after an accident happens. While you should always put your safety first, there are several other steps you need to take to protect your case. In the ideal situation, follow these steps:
- Call 911. Even if you were not a driver, the police and medical care at the scene would benefit you. Provide the police with only facts about what you saw or experienced.
- Get to safety and check on others. It is always important to ensure you are safe before taking any further steps, as you do not want to worsen your outcome.
- Take photos of the accident scene and all damage. That includes damage to the rideshare car and the other vehicle, the debris in the roadway, the injuries you have, and the intersection. Make sure someone looking at the photos can tell exactly what happened.
- Get to the hospital for a full examination. Even if you do not have serious injuries and outward signs of injuries, conditions like whiplash, internal bleeding, and trauma to your brain are not obvious at first. Going to the hospital documents that these injuries came from the accident.
- Call our Sun Valley rideshare accident attorney at this point. We recommend avoiding speaking to the insurance companies or any other parties without an attorney. Rideshare companies are large and powerful, and they know how to trick you into settling your case too soon.
Your rideshare accident lawyer in Sun Valley at our firm will begin working with you right away to gather evidence, document your injuries, notify the rideshare company and the insurance company, and answer all of the questions you have. We provide clarity on your rights and what to expect as you move your case forward.
Rideshare Accident Claims and Insurance Limitations
Various factors play a role in the outcome of any rideshare accident case, such as the type and severity of the injuries you have. It also matters what is occurring at the time of your accident. Depending on those details, we can determine if the rideshare company is at fault or if the driver’s personal liability insurance will cover your needs. Consider the following situations:
- Rideshare driver’s insurance coverage: If the driver of the rideshare caused the accident, but they were not logged into an app and were not providing a service at the time, you will file a claim against the at-fault party’s personal insurance policy. The rideshare company is not likely to be at fault.
- The rideshare company’s contingency policy: If the rideshare driver was logged into the service app but did not pick up a ride to provide, you will file a claim against the driver’s contingency coverage. This provides a much lower per-person liability limit of up to $50,000 for bodily injury.
- The rideshare company: In cases where the driver is logged into the app, has picked up a ride to provide, and is either en route to that person to pick them up or has that passenger in the vehicle, you can file your accident claim with the rideshare company itself, such as Uber or Lyft.
The differences here are quite important to consider. Going after Uber or Lyft means access to a much larger liability policy, at least $1 million, while only a $50,000 policy may be available through a contingent plan. We want to maximize your case and claim, so we will do everything we can to demonstrate that the accident occurred while the driver was providing a service, if possible.
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When to File a Sun Valley Rideshare Accident Claim
The Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) define the time frame for submitting a personal injury claim. According to NRS 11.190, you have two years from the date of an Uber or Lyft collision to ask for compensation from any liable parties.
You must carry auto insurance if you drive a car in Nevada. After a rideshare crash, you may get money via the rideshare driver’s insurance carrier. Uber and Lyft drivers are covered under their rideshare company’s insurance if they have their app on and accept fares. If a rideshare driver is not actively working and causes your accident, their auto insurer may cover your losses.
If you are involved in an accident while traveling in an Uber or Lyft, submit a claim through the rideshare app. This opens the claims process, which may allow you to be compensated for any quantifiable or subjective losses you have suffered.
What Happens in a Rideshare Accident Case
After you seek medical care and contact our Sun Valley rideshare accident lawyer, our legal team will go to work building your case and fighting for fair compensation. Our first objective will be to determine who is at fault, such as the rideshare driver, another driver, or the rideshare company itself. From there, our legal team will follow these steps to build your case.
- We gather evidence of all losses you have. This includes medical, mental health, and emotional trauma, as well as financial loss. We bring in medical experts and accident reconstructists when necessary to prove fault and losses.
- We present your claim to the rideshare company’s insurance provider. This process allows us to answer their questions and provide additional resources or evidence when necessary. You do not have to worry about any component of this process.
- Most of the time, we reach a settlement with the insurance company. That means you get the damages owed to you and move on. If that does not happen, our attorneys will file a claim in court.
- During this process, you may have to answer questions, and formal discovery may take place. The insurance company is likely to come to you with a settlement offer at this point if they have not already.
- We represent you in a court of law. On the rare occasion that the insurance company refuses to settle your case, we will go to trial for you. Our legal team is trial-proven and ready to fight for maximum compensation in your case.
The legal process can take time, especially when a large rideshare company is involved. Our experience and dedication to our clients allow us to alleviate the frustration and overwhelming limitations you’re facing. Set up a consultation with our rideshare accident lawyer in Sun Valley to start exploring your rights.
Turned Down? We Can Still Help
If the insurance company refused to pay for your losses or offered a settlement that was too low, we can still help you. Work with our rideshare accident attorney in Sun Valley to build a more robust case and fight for fair treatment. Learn more about rideshare accidents in our FAQs.
How Much a Rideshare Accident Case Is Worth
Your rideshare accident lawyer in Sun Valley will encourage you to seek economic and non-economic damages. They will use a personal injury settlement calculator to help you determine your Uber or Lyft collision losses. Reasons you could get compensation after a rideshare collision include:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Lost incomes
- Car repair costs
Your attorney uses accident scene photos, rideshare app data, witness statements, and other evidence to strengthen their argument. If your lawyer’s argument is compelling, you are well-equipped to prove that any responsible parties were negligent.
What It Takes to Prove Negligence in a Rideshare Accident Case
Saying an Uber or Lyft driver or their rideshare company is responsible for your accident is not enough to lead a judge or jury to rule in your favor. Your lawyer explains negligence relative to your case. They want to show the court that the following elements were present when your accident occurred:
- Duty of Care: When a party has a duty of care, they are legally obligated to avoid any acts that could put people in danger. For example, a rideshare driver must follow the rules of the road. Meanwhile, Uber and Lyft must vet drivers before allowing them to work for their respective businesses.
- Breach of Duty of Care: If a party acts recklessly or carelessly, it endangers others. Thus, this party may violate its duty of care. In a rideshare accident, an Uber or Lyft driver may breach their duty of care by taking their eyes off the road or getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.
- Causation: As your lawyer argues your case, they want a judge or jury to understand that your rideshare accident is the result of a party’s decision to breach their duty of care. They may provide a timeline for the events leading up to your crash. This may help your attorney highlight the correlation between the defendant’s breach of their duty of care and your accident.
- Damages: Your attorney wants a judge or jury to understand how your rideshare accident is affecting you now and how it may continue to affect you in the future. They may utilize your medical bills, pay stubs, and other proof to illustrate how the incident is affecting you financially. If their argument is successful, a judge or jury may find that you are in no way to blame for your accident.
Nevada has a modified comparative negligence statute that applies to rideshare collision cases. Per NRS 41.141, you can be found partly liable for an Uber or Lyft accident. If a judge or jury says you are 1–50% to blame for your rideshare crash, your damages may be reduced by your percentage of fault. In a situation where you are more than 50% liable, you may not get damages.
Work with an Experienced Sun Valley Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers has provided legal guidance and support to tens of thousands of clients. We encourage you to discuss your Uber or Lyft collision case with a rideshare accident attorney in Sun Valley.
When you do, you can review your legal options and decide whether to proceed with an insurance claim or lawsuit. Contact us for more information.
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