Lyft Accident Lawyer on Long Island

Car accident cases can be complex enough without dealing with a rideshare company. If you were in an accident as a rideshare passenger or another driver, pursuing compensation from a liable party can get challenging. Insurers may argue about fault and liability to reduce or deny your claim. You may also have to take legal action against a party that has a team of defense attorneys.

You don’t have to tackle the process alone, though. A Lyft accident lawyer on Long Island, NY, from Shulman & Hill can step in on your behalf. We can handle the legal legwork while you rest and recover from your injuries. Call us today at 516.613.3196 so that we can review your legal options promptly during a free case review. 

Potential Compensation Our Lyft Accident Attorneys on Long Island, NY, Can Seek

Our main goal when seeking compensation is that our clients do not suffer further accident-related losses down the road. We will make sure to account for your current and future economic and non-economic losses so that you do not risk leaving any money on the table.

When seeking a settlement or verdict, we will document your losses, which may include:

• Your medical bills, such as for emergency medical treatment and surgeries
• Your future medical care, such as rehabilitative services
• Lost income, which may include benefits, bonuses, and paid time off
• Reduced earning capacity if you cannot return to work or perform your pre-injury duties
• Pain and suffering
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Out-of-pocket related expenses

Other losses may warrant recovery, as well. Our Lyft accident team serving Long Island can gather various pieces of evidence of your losses, such as wage statements and medical records, to make your case.

Our Previous Injury Case Results Speak Volumes

At Shulman & Hill, you will get personalized legal care because we understand that every case is unique. Your potential compensation depends on the specific circumstances of your case, such as the extent of your injuries and how they affect you daily.

When it comes to rideshare accidents, we have recovered settlements and verdicts for victims like you. In one case, we procured $1,100,000 for an Uber accident victim who suffered injuries to his shoulder and neck. This is just one example of a successful personal injury case, though. When we take on your case, we will determine what fair compensation would look like for you and go after it with a customized legal strategy.

Our Lyft Accident Attorneys Can Pursue What You Deserve

When we take on your case, our Lyft accident lawyers can pursue fair compensation through a couple of avenues. Whether your case involves an insurance claim and/or a third-party liability lawsuit, we will go after what you deserve.

We can help by:

• Investigating your Lyft accident
• Identifying all liable parties
• Gathering evidence, such as police reports and dashcam footage
• Interviewing witnesses and obtaining expert testimony
• Handling all communications with insurers and defense attorneys
• Submitting case paperwork promptly

Every Lyft accident case is unique, so we decide on a legal strategy that works for each individual client. Regardless of the route we suggest in your case, we will update you regularly and walk you through every step of the way.

How Our Lyft Accident Attorneys Establish Negligence

Various forms of negligence can occur on the road and lead to accidents. Lyft drivers, like any other motorist, are human. They can engage in dangerous driving that risks the lives of their passengers, other motorists, pedestrians, and themselves.

Our Long Island, NY, Lyft accident lawyers can investigate your case to determine how another party breached their duty of care and caused your injuries. Our legal team may discover the following negligent behaviors led to your accident:

• Failure to yield the right-of-way
• Failure to follow the speed limit
• Failure to check blind spots and use blinkers
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Failure to conduct regular vehicle inspections and perform needed maintenance
• Faulty auto parts
• Faulty or dangerous road designs
• Failure to perform road maintenance

We will get to the bottom of what happened so that we can pursue any party that contributed to your losses.

Potentially Liable Parties in a Lyft Accident on Long Island

Seeking compensation after a Lyft accident can get complicated since multiple parties may bear liability. Even a third-party driver may have contributed to an accident. After we determine whose negligence caused the accident, we can tailor our legal strategy accordingly.

The following parties may bear liability for your Long Island Lyft accident.

The Lyft Driver

Lyft requires all of its drivers to carry personal auto insurance and meet the state’s minimum coverage requirements. According to the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, this includes:

• $10,000 minimum for property damage in a single accident
• $25,000 minimum for bodily injury and $50,000 for death for one person involved in a single accident
• $50,000 minimum for bodily injury and $100,000 for the death of two or more people in a single accident

Whether the Lyft driver’s personal coverage applies depends on their status on their Lyft app at the time of the accident. For example, Lyft drivers still need to go home after their shifts, during which their personal insurance coverage would apply in case of an accident. They should turn their apps off when they are not working, as Lyft mandates that its personal policy would apply whenever the app is off.

You can see where insurers could have room to argue, though. A Lyft driver’s personal insurer could argue that their phone died during a trip, for example. You shouldn’t have to deal with the back-and-forth when two insurance companies dispute liability. Our legal team can handle the communications and negotiations in your case for you.

The Rideshare Company

When a Lyft driver’s app is turned on, and they are waiting to match with a fare, en route to pick up someone, or on their way to a destination with a passenger, Lyft’s insurance policy applies. Specifically, the rideshare company provides the following coverage when a driver is waiting for a ride request:

• $50,000 per person for bodily injury
• $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
• $25,000 per accident for property damage

The company’s policy also covers the following if an accident occurs en route to pick up a passenger or during a trip:

• Up to $1,000,000 for third-party auto liability
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury
• Contingent comprehensive and collision coverage up to the actual cash value of the car, save a $2,500 deductible

A Third Party

Sometimes, another motorist’s actions cause or contribute to a Lyft accident. Various entities may classify as negligent third parties, including auto parts manufacturers and local governing authorities.

For example, if a set of faulty brakes led to your accident, we can go after the manufacturer of the brakes. If a poorly designed road caused your Lyft accident, we can pursue compensation from the local agency that oversees that road. This is why your case may involve a third-party liability lawsuit.

Lyft Accidents Can Result in Severe Injuries

As with any car accident, Lyft accidents can lead to severe, life-threatening injuries. Whether you were sideswiped or rear-ended by a Lyft driver or third-party driver, you may suffer from the following injuries:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Broken bones
• Neck injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Knee injuries
• Lacerations
• Burns
• Loss of limbs
• Internal bleeding

Even seemingly minor injuries can be a cause for concern. For example, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) notes that whiplash, which may not show symptoms until days or weeks after a collision, could lead to widespread chronic pain.

Make sure you seek medical attention after any car accident. Seeing a doctor can protect your right to compensation.

How Common Are Lyft Accidents in New York and Across the U.S.?

Advocates of rideshare companies often boast about the benefits of the industry, claiming rideshare services reduce traffic and prevent drunk driving. The research is out, though, and it underscores the drawbacks to a culture that has become commonplace on the roads.

Researchers from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business studied Uber and Lyft accidents across the U.S. between 2001 and 2016. Their findings indicate a 2% to 3% increase in fatalities among motorists, passengers, and pedestrians during the advent of rideshare services.

According to Injury Prevention, researchers studied rideshare accident injuries in New York City between 2017 and 2018 and found that rideshare services increased the risk of crash incidents for pedestrians and motorists at trip origins and destinations.

Let Our Lyft Accident Lawyers Handle Your Case

Whether you were a Lyft passenger, a pedestrian, or a third-party driver, we can help. With a Lyft accident lawyer from Shulman & Hill in your corner, you can focus on your health while seeking compensation. Our attorneys can investigate your case, gather evidence of liability, and handle the insurance companies for you.

It all starts with a free consultation. The sooner we get started on your case, the better, so call us at 516.613.3196 today.