Westminster, MD Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer

The number of Uber and Lyft vehicles on the road has grown exponentially over the years. It is no surprise that as more people are using these services, there are more Uber and Lyft accidents.

Several different people might be liable for your accident, and it is possible to sue multiple drivers in one lawsuit. While we should examine the Uber or Lyft driver for liability, we should not overlook other drivers at the scene who might share responsibility. One party you cannot typically sue is the ridesharing company itself. You can use a myriad of evidence to establish your claims, including photos and videos from the scene, witness testimony, and your medical records. Although Uber and Lyft cannot be sued, they should have insurance that might cover your accident. This insurance may come in handy when we demand compensation for your economic and non-economic damages.

An accident with an Uber or Lyft vehicle can be disastrous, and you deserve compensation for any injuries you experience. Our Westminster, MD Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help you. Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 for a free case review.

Liability in an Uber or Lyft Accident Lawsuit in Westminster, MD

When you file your lawsuit, you must name the person or people you believe are liable for the accident. Liability is determined by negligence, and negligence involves establishing the four important elements of duty, breach, causation, and damages. Our Westminster, MD Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help you identify the liable party and prove they were negligent.

Often, the liable party is the Uber or Lyft driver. If you were a passenger in the Uber or Lyft car, the driver owes you a duty of care to drive with reasonable safety. Similarly, all other drivers owe the same duty of care. If other drivers also drove negligently, they can be held liable too.

Once we know that the defendant or defendants owed you a duty of care, we must show that they breached this duty. A breach might happen in numerous ways, but it often involves some sort of traffic violation. Running red lights, stop signs, or failing to signal a turn are all examples of a breach. The breach must be the direct cause of the accident for us to establish liability. Also, your damages must be real and not hypothetical.

You cannot sue the companies Uber or Lyft for an accident involving one of their drivers. Normally, employers can be held vicariously liable for an employee’s negligence. However, Uber and Lyft drivers are not employees. Instead, they are independent contractors, and Uber and Lyft are beyond the reach of vicarious liability laws.

Evidence You Need in a Lawsuit for an Uber or Lyft Accident in Westminster, MD

Your lawsuit hinges on the strength of your evidence. Almost anything may constitute evidence if it is relevant to the accident and tends to prove or disprove questions of fact in your case. A lot of important evidence may come directly from the crash scene. If possible, you should record as many photos and videos of the crash scene as possible. Accident sites are usually cleaned up quickly by law enforcement, and important evidence can be easily lost. Your photos and videos preserve the accident scene as it was immediately after the crash.

Our Westminster, MD Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can also investigate the surrounding area for security cameras. If there was a security camera nearby, like in a business or home, it might have recorded the accident as it happened. This kind of evidence can be very persuasive and may greatly increase your odds of success.

Even without any real or physical evidence, we can have witnesses testify about what they saw. If your crash happened on a busy road or highway, there were probably numerous witnesses who saw everything. After the accident, you should exchange information with anyone who can provide testimony.

Your medical records will be very important because they will help us establish the extent of your damages. Your injuries might be fully recovered by the time we get to court. We need your medical records to show that your injuries were real and very serious.

Uber and Lyft Accident Insurance Coverage in Westminster, MD

Although it is usually not possible to sue Uber and Lyft for your accident, they might still have insurance that covers your accident. The amount of coverage varies depending on the circumstances of the crash. Remember, you are not covered by this insurance. The Uber or Lyft driver is the one covered. Our Westminster, MD Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help you take advantage of the added coverage by helping you sue the driver.

If the Uber or Lyft driver had their driving app on their phone turned off, they are considered off-duty, and the insurance will not cover an accident. If the app is turned on and the driver is waiting to be matched with a passenger, an accident may be covered by $50,000 per person for bodily injuries, $100,000 per accident for bodily injuries, and $25,000 in coverage for property damage.

If the driver is actively engaged with a passenger, either on their way to meet them or with them in their car, there may be $1,000,000 in third-party liability coverage and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

Damages Available in Lyft and Uber Crashes in Westminster, MD

You should thoroughly discuss your case with our Westminster, MD Lyft and Uber accident lawyers so we can accurately calculate your damages. Miscalculations could cost you compensation, and you might be left with debts to cover.

Economic damages are injuries that come at a financial cost. Common economic damages include medical bills, the cost of damaged property, and the cost of lost income from missing work. While calculating your economic damages seems easy, it is important to comb through all your expenses so nothing is overlooked or left out.

Non-Economic damages include injuries that did not come at a financial cost but may still be financially compensated by the courts. Your emotional and physical pain and suffering after an Uber or Lyft accident can be included in your economic damages. Proving these damages is somewhat challenging because their overall value is subjective. We can argue that your pain and suffering have had a significant negative impact on your daily life and that you deserve compensation.

Call Our Westminster, MD Uber and Lyft Accident Attorneys

If you or someone you love was injured in an Uber or Lyft vehicle accident, you deserve compensation for all your damages. Our Westminster, MD Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help you get started today. For a free case review, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.