Lyft Accidents

In the past few years, the transportation landscape across the country has been turned on its head. If you wanted to get a ride, the only option was usually a taxi cab. This was often not an easy thing to do. People had trouble calling to schedule a cab, and it could be impossible to hail a cab in certain circumstances.

When Rideshare Apps came on the scene, their use exploded. It was much easier to get a Lyft (or Uber) than it was a taxi. Their cars were usually cleaner, and their drivers were often pleasant. In the blink of an eye, millions of people were using the Lyft App. Not only were they using Lyft instead of taxis, but they were also using Lyfts instead of other public transportation methods such as subway and bus. It is no surprise that Lyft has facilitated over 1 billion rides since it was created.

When that much time is spent behind the wheel, collisions are going to happen. Unfortunately, car accidents can become more complicated due to the fact that the vehicle was being used as a Lyft.

Being injured when you’re a Lyft passenger can be difficult to deal with. Of course, recovering from injuries can be a long and arduous process. However, what makes it more complicated is that injured Lyft passengers have a lot of trouble navigating the insurance landscape.

The first problem is usually just trying to figure out what insurance companies are involved. When two cars are involved in a collision, their drivers will normally exchange information. Each driver will then forward that information to the passengers. This works well when a car is filled by friends or family members.

But if you’re in a Lyft, the driver is someone who you’ve never met, and someone who you most likely will never see again. It can therefore be difficult just to get information about who was driving the other car, what kind of car it was, and what type of insurance it had.

At the same time, Lyft’s insurance is supposed to cover any accidents that happen while you’re a passenger. Since the Lyft drivers rarely have this information, this is another insurance company that needs to be chased down.

Injured Lyft Drivers also have unique issues that they must deal with. The first problem is that because they are classified as independent contractors and not employees, Lyft drivers are not entitled to Workers Compensation benefits if they are injured. Though there is a growing push to have Lyft drivers treated as employees, Workers Compensation benefits will not be available unless and until the law is changed.

Therefore Lyft drivers will be treated the same as any other driver who is in an accident. They will be entitled to Personal Injury Protection benefits to pay some of their medical bills. They will be able to pursue compensation from another at-fault driver. They also may be entitled to coverage if the other driver has no insurance or not enough insurance.

If you were injured in a Lyft, you need an experienced attorney. Whether you were driving the Lyft or whether you were a passenger, there is a complicated insurance landscape that has to be navigated. An experienced lawyer will know which insurance applies.

At Marcotte Law Firm, our lawyers have experience with Lyft accidents. We know how to ensure that our clients get compensation from each insurer that covers an accident. We explore every avenue to make sure that our clients get all the compensation they deserve.

If you were injured in a Lyft, contact the Lyft Accident lawyers at Marcotte Law Firm for a free consultation.