Clinton, MD Uber + Lyft Accident Lawyer
As the passenger of a rideshare car, you have no control over the vehicle. This can make it even scarier if you are injured in while in an Uber or Lyft in Clinton. Fortunately, our lawyers are prepared to help victims of such accidents recover the damages they deserve.
Immediately after being injured as a rideshare passenger in Clinton, you should get the insurance information of all involved parties as well as immediate care for your injuries. You should also call the police so that they can document the accident in a crash report. Depending on the specifics of the accident in question, the individual rideshare driver might be liable for your injuries. Companies like Lyft and Uber are generally shielded from liability because they hire drivers as independent contractors. If you are offered an insurance settlement following an accident with a rideshare driver, our lawyers can help you assess it to determine if it appropriately covers your damages. If it does not, we can help you proceed with a trial so that you can get the compensation you need.
Call the Clinton, MD Uber and Lyft accident lawyers of Rice, Murtha & Psoras now at (410) 694-7291 for a free assessment of your case.
Information to Gather Immediately After a Rideshare Accident in Clinton, MD
After being hurt as a passenger of a rideshare car in Clinton, there is specific information you must gather. Such information, like the driver’s name and insurance details, will be important to your recovery.
According to Md. Code, Transp. Art., § 20-105.1, parties must exchange insurance information after motor vehicle accidents in Maryland. If you were a passenger during the rideshare accident, ask for the driver’s insurance details. Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft typically provide third-party liability insurance coverage in case of accidents. Coverage limits vary depending on the specifics of the accident.
In the event that you were a driver of another vehicle when hit by a rideshare driver, stop and exchange insurance information. If you are too injured to speak to the driver, wait for law enforcement officers to arrive at the scene. They can gather and include the necessary information in the police report, which our Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can obtain the days following the crash.
Just because you were injured as a passenger of a rideshare car in Clinton does not mean that the rideshare driver is liable for your injuries. If another driver was involved in the accident, get their information as well.
While you are still at the accident scene, photograph your injuries and talk to eyewitnesses. We can interview eyewitnesses to get their statements, which might aid your financial recovery.
Possible Defendants in Clinton, MD Uber and Lyft Accident Claims
Victims might be disheartened to learn that Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies shield themselves from financial liability for accident victims’ damages by hiring independent contractors instead of regular employees. Despite the fact that you cannot sue the rideshare company directly for your injuries, other parties might be liable.
For example, the individual rideshare driver might have acted negligently, causing the accident that led to your injuries. Or, another party on the road might have struck the rideshare car, injuring you in Clinton. Considering the liability of all parties involved in the accident will be important to your recovery.
To get to the bottom of liability for your injuries, our lawyers can assess the sequence of events leading up to and during the Uber or Lyft accident. This might require us to obtain footage from nearby surveillance cameras or speak to those who witnessed the accident take place.
After determining liability for your injuries, we can help you file your claim in court. In Maryland, the statute of limitations to file rideshare injury lawsuits is just three years, according to Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-101. In order to file your case by the deadline, we must gather sufficient evidence for the basis of your claim in the weeks and months following the accident. To help on this front, you can get continuous medical care for any injuries sustained in a recent rideshare car accident in Clinton.
Evaluating Uber and Lyft Accident Settlements in Clinton, MD
As previously mentioned, Lyft and Uber maintain third-party commercial liability insurance that victims can use in case they are injured in an accident and sustained damages that the driver’s insurance cannot cover. Our lawyers can help you evaluate possible insurance settlement offers to determine if they are appropriate or not.
For accidents that take place when the rideshare app is off, the driver’s personal liability insurance coverage for their vehicle will apply. If the app is on and the driver is able to receive a request for a ride but is not actively completing a ride or picking up a passenger, rideshare liability insurance covers up to $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 per accident for property damage. Furthermore, if the app is on and the driver is en route to pick up a passenger or is completing a ride, rideshare liability insurance covers up to $1 million per accident.
At first, this might appear like a massive settlement, especially if you are in need of immediate compensation because of expensive medical bills or other costs related to the rideshare accident in question. While that is understandable, our lawyers will review possible settlements against all of your damages, both economic and non-economic, to determine if filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver is more appropriate. Doing so might enable you to claim compensation for your pain and suffering, damages that are generally not compensable in settlements in Clinton. The goal of your case, whether you settle out of court or win at trial, is to recover the most compensation available to you.
Call Our Maryland Lawyers About Your Rideshare Accident Today
Call our Uber and Lyft accident lawyers at (410) 694-7291 to discuss your case for free with the team at Rice, Murtha & Psoras.