Tifton Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer
Were you or a loved one injured in a rideshare accident in Tifton, GA? Like any car accident victim, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more. These cases can be especially complex. An experienced Tifton Uber & Lyft accident lawyer at The King Firm can help you fight to maximize your financial recovery. Contact us today at (229) 386-1376.
We have years of experience providing high-quality legal advice to accident victims in Georgia. Over the years, we’ve recovered millions of dollars for all types of injury matters: truck accidents, Tifton wrongful death, child injuries, tifton motorcycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, and more.
To learn more about how we can help, call our law offices in Tifton, Georgia to schedule a free consultation today.
How The King Firm Can Help After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Tifton
An accident can put you in a tough spot. When Uber or Lyft are involved, the situation can quickly become more complicated. That’s because confusing insurance rules can make it difficult to know where to turn for compensation – and insurance companies will do anything they can to downplay your losses when a high-dollar commercial insurance policy is at stake.
Let our Tifton personal injury attorneys put years of experience to work for you. Our team is led by one of the most experienced civil trial lawyers in Georgia. We’ve consistently been rated by Super Lawyers for superior legal representation.
When you hire one of our lawyers, you’ll gain an advocate to:
- Determine the cause of your crash
- Identify the at-fault parties and sources of insurance compensation
- Put a dollar value on your hard-to-value losses
- Hire experts and specialists when needed to support your personal injury claim
- Handle all paperwork and negotiations with the insurance companies
Even when you deserve fair compensation, don’t expect the insurance company to hand it over willingly. An experienced Tifton Uber & Lyft accident lawyer can help you through the complex claims process. All you have to do is call or contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation.
How Common Are Uber & Lyft Accidents in Tifton?
It can be tough to estimate the number of Uber and Lyft accidents that occur each year. After all, rideshare drivers use their own personal vehicles to get passengers from point A to B.
However, a recent study used data collected by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) to find out how common Uber and Lyft accidents really are. The University of Chicago study found that since rideshare services were introduced in major cities, fatal traffic accidents have increased by 2% to 4%
Uber recently released its own safety report. It found that between 2017 and 2018, Uber vehicles were involved in at least 97 fatal motor vehicle accidents. Around 107 people lost their lives in those crashes.
What Is My Tifton Uber & Lyft Accident Case Worth?
You won’t automatically receive compensation after an accident. First, you have to prove how much your personal injury claim is worth.
Many different factors can be relevant, including:
- The nature of your injuries
- The expected duration of your recovery
- Whether you’ll suffer a permanent or long-term disability
- Whether you’ll be able to work during and after recovery
- The cost of your past and anticipated future medical treatment
- Your pain and suffering
- How the injury will change your daily life
The amount of available insurance coverage is also a very real issue. However, you shouldn’t expect the insurance company to help you determine how much compensation you deserve. After all, they’re out to make a profit. Our Tifton Uber & Lyft accident attorneys at The King Firm are here to protect your interests, so call for a free case review today.
How Do I Recover Damages After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Georgia?
Like any other auto accident victim, Uber & Lyft accident victims typically file a claim with the insurance company for damages after a crash. However, Uber and Lyft accident cases can be complicated because multiple insurance companies might be involved.
In the past, it was tough for Uber & Lyft accident victims to recover compensation. Rideshare drivers are independent contractors, so Uber & Lyft could deny responsibility. Further, the rideshare driver’s personal car insurance carrier could deny coverage if the driver was using the vehicle for commercial reasons.
Fortunately, the laws have changed. Now, Uber and Lyft are required to purchase commercial insurance coverage to protect victims in a crash.
Still, there are multiple levels of coverage that may be available, depending on the driver’s status at the time of the accident, as follows:
Driver is Available to Accept a Ride Request
If the rideshare app is open and the driver is available to accept a ride request, the following insurance coverage is available:
- $50,000 in bodily injury per person
- $100,000 in bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 in property damage per accident
This insurance is third-party liability coverage. It only applies if your own personal car insurance doesn’t cover your damages.
Driver Has Accepted a Ride Request
The rideshare company’s most generous $1 million insurance policy applies from the moment the driver accepts a ride until the ride ends within the app. The $1 million coverage applies if the at-fault party’s insurance doesn’t cover all of your damages.
Uber and Lyft also provide $1 million in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in case the at-fault party doesn’t have insurance to cover your costs.
Driver’s App is Turned Off
If the Uber or Lyft app is turned off, the driver’s own personal insurance coverage applies. In other words, your case will be treated like any other motor vehicle accident case.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Uber & Lyft Accident Victims?
If successful, Georgia personal injury laws allow Uber & Lyft accident victims to recover compensation for their economic damages and non-economic damages.
Depending on your specific circumstances, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages, income and employment benefits
- Lost future earning potential
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Loss of consortium
In rare cases, you may even be entitled to seek punitive damages to punish the at-fault party for intentional wrongdoing.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for an Uber or Lyft Accident in Georgia?
The State of Georgia follows modified comparative negligence laws. Accident victims who are partly responsible for an accident can recover partial damages. However, there’s a 50% bar to recovery. If you’re at least 50% responsible, you lose your right to seek compensation entirely.
Our Tifton Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries
At The King Firm, our rideshare accident lawyers will fight to recover compensation for all of your injuries, including:
- Whiplash
- Concussions
- Broken bones
- Nerve injuries
- Sprains, strains, and soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Whether you were an Uber or Lyft passenger, pedestrian or occupant of another vehicle, we can help you fight for what’s fair.
What Causes Most Uber & Lyft Accidents in Tifton, Georgia?
Uber & Lyft drivers have to undergo a detailed screening process. However, that screening doesn’t include any specialized licensing. In other words, Uber and Lyft drivers aren’t specially trained as commercial drivers.
So, it’s no surprise that Uber & Lyft accidents happen regularly. Some of the most common causes of rideshare crashes include:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Unsafe passing
- Dangerous lane changes
- Dangerous turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Stopping in unsafe locations to pick up or drop off passengers
- Failure to maintain the Uber or Lyft vehicle
You deserve to know why you were injured. Our lawyers in Tifton can help identify the responsible parties. Call our law firm to schedule your free initial consultation today.
How Do I Prove Negligence After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Georgia?
Uber & Lyft accident victims have to prove that someone else was responsible for their accident to recover compensation. Usually, that means proving negligence.
The elements of a successful negligence claim are:
- A legal duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
In plain English, you’ll have to prove that someone was careless and you were injured as a direct result.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Georgia?
Every state limits the amount of time you have to take legal action. Under Georgia law, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. The two-year clock starts to run on the date of your accident. Once two years have passed, you simply lose your right to sue for damages.
Contact a Tifton Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you were injured in a rideshare accident, the clock is already ticking. Call The King Firm to schedule a free consultation with a Tifton Uber & Lyft accident lawyer who can fight to protect your legal rights.