New Port Richey Lyft Accident Lawyer
Were you injured in a car accident involving a rideshare company in New Port Richey, FL? Accident claims involving Uber and Lyft can be complicated. While you may be entitled to compensation, you’ll need an experienced New Port Richey Lyft accident lawyer to convince the insurance companies.
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers has the tools to help you prove your case. We have over 50 years of combined experience in personal injury law. We’ve used that experience to help our injured clients recover over $120 million in compensation over the years.
You may deserve significant compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering. Contact our law offices in New Port Richey, Florida, to schedule a free case review today or call (727) 815-8442.
How Can Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers Help With My Lyft Accident Claim in New Port Richey?
If you were injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t be stuck with the bill. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what will happen if you don’t take legal action and fight for fair compensation.
The idea of starting an insurance battle can be tough to swallow if you’ve been injured. Let an experienced New Port Richey personal injury lawyer handle the legal issues while you recover.
When you hire Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, you’ll be working with an award-winning personal injury law firm that’s been fighting for accident victims like you since 1996. Our lawyers have been recognized as Tampa Bay’s Top Trial Lawyers and as Super Lawyers.
You can trust that we will:
- Gather evidence to establish liability and prove causation
- Identify the available insurance policies in your case
- Assess your case value and demand fair compensation for all of your losses
- Hire experts who can help prove complex aspects of your case
- Handle all communications with the insurance company
- Fiercely negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement
For more details about how our New Port Richey personal injury attorneys can add value to your case, call for a free consultation review today.
What Is My New Port Richey Lyft Accident Case Worth?
The value of your personal injury claim will depend on the unique facts of your case.
While all cases are different, the most important considerations are:
- The severity of the injuries
- The cost of your medical care and other out-of-pocket costs
- Whether you miss work during recovery and the value of your lost wages
- Future consequences of the injury, including lost earning capacity and lifestyle changes
- Whether you share any blame for the crash
The Lyft driver’s status at the time of the accident can also play a role in your case’s value. That’s because the driver’s status will impact the insurance policy that is available to cover your damages.
What Do I Need To Know About Insurance if I Was Injured in a Lyft Accident in Florida?
Motor vehicle accident victims in Florida first file a claim with their own insurance company under Florida’s insurance laws. When your injuries are severe, you can seek additional compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance carrier.
When a Lyft driver is involved, there’s an additional layer of complexity. The Lyft driver’s personal insurance carrier will probably deny your claim. Auto insurance companies who issue personal insurance aren’t required to cover damages if the driver is using the car to make a profit.
Instead, you’ll have to turn to Lyft’s commercial insurance coverage.
Under Florida law, Lyft must provide coverage when:
- The driver’s Lyft app is on and the driver is available to accept ride requests
- The Lyft app is on and the driver has accepted a ride request
In all other cases, the claim is treated like any other car accident case.
Lyft App Is On; Driver Is Available To Accept Rides
Rideshare drivers often drive around while they’re waiting for a ride request.
When the driver is available to accept a passenger request, the following coverage limits:
- $50,000 per person for bodily injury
- $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
This coverage is only available if the Lyft driver’s policy is not available to utilize for your accident.
Lyft Driver Has Accepted a Ride Request
Once the driver accepts a passenger request, a more generous policy becomes available.
That policy must provide:
- At least $1,000,000 in third-party auto liability coverage
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
- Contingent comprehensive & collision coverage if the driver has this coverage under their personal insurance policy
This coverage is available when the driver is en route to pick up passengers and during the Lyft ride itself.
What Types of Compensation Are Available After a Lyft Accident in New Port Richey?
The types of damages you can recover after an accident depend on the circumstances and the nature of your injury.
Accident victims often seek compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Lost employment opportunities
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
If you were injured in a Lyft accident, reach out to our New Port Richey Lyft accident attorneys today. We’ll do everything possible to help you recover compensation to cover all of your losses.
What Happens to My Settlement Award if I’m Blamed for Causing a Lyft Accident in Florida?
You could lose your right to compensation entirely if you share too much blame for an accident.
As of March 2023, Florida now follows a modified comparative negligence law. You cannot recover compensation if you’re more than 50% responsible for the crash. If your share of fault is less than 51%, your settlement or verdict is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Our Lawyers in New Port Richey Will Fight To Recover Full Compensation for All of Your Lyft Accident Injuries
At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we often handle rideshare injury claims where the victim has suffered:
- Broken bones
- Whiplash injuries
- Burns
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Crush injuries
- Facial injuries
- Internal injuries, including bleeding and organ damage
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Lyft accidents and injuries can also result in intense emotional suffering, triggering mental health issues such as:
- PTSD
- Anxiety disorders
- Fear of driving
- Severe depressions
Many rideshare accident victims suffer from more than one type of injury. Some injuries heal with time, while others can cause years of suffering.
Our legal team knows how to handle even the most complex case. When you trust us to handle your case, we’ll consult with your doctors and various experts to understand the types of injuries you’re struggling with. We’ll use that information to fight for every dollar you deserve.
What Causes Most Rideshare Accidents in New Port Richey, Florida?
Uber and Lyft accidents are caused by the same types of negligent behavior that cause ordinary car crashes.
The most common causes of Lyft accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued drivers
- Speeding
- Searching for passengers instead of paying attention to the road
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Stopping in dangerous locations for passenger pick-up
- Aggressive driving
- Dangerous left-hand turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Failure to maintain the Lyft vehicle
Regardless of the cause of your crash, you will need evidence to back up your claim–and you can count on our lawyers to gather every available piece of evidence to prove you deserve compensation.
How Do I Prove I’m Entitled to Compensation After a Lyft Accident in Florida?
Negligence is the root cause of most Lyft accidents. As the victim, you have the burden of proving negligence before you can recover financial compensation.
Someone is negligent when:
- They owe you a legal duty of care
- They breach their duty
- The breach of duty directly causes an accident
- You suffer damages, typically in the form of physical injuries
Our lawyers at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers have the resources to conduct a full investigation. We’ll review police reports, interview witnesses, and even locate any video footage of the crash from dashcams or traffic lights.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Lyft Accident in Florida?
For accidents occurring on or after March 24, 2023, the statute of limitations is two years. If your crash happened prior to that date, you will have four years instead. The clock starts to run on the date of your accident. Once the statute of limitations for your accident passes, you cannot sue for damages.
Just because you have two years doesn’t mean you should wait two years to call a lawyer. In fact, the sooner you take legal action, the better your outcome is likely to be. There are also exceptions to these deadlines in some cases.
Contact a New Port Richey Lyft Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
If you were involved in a Lyft accident, it’s important to seek legal advice quickly. Contact Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers to learn how an experienced New Port Richey Lyft accident lawyer can help you maximize your compensation after a crash.