Rideshare services, such as Uber or Lyft, are common across Maryland, especially in larger cities. Unfortunately, accidents with rideshare vehicles are also somewhat common, and victims may be entitled to hefty settlements.
Getting a good settlement for a rideshare accident can be difficult, depending on your circumstances. Rideshare companies are often reluctant to offer settlements because they fear setting a precedent that would lead to many other victims seeking compensation. Even so, we may have strong evidence from the accident indicating that the rideshare driver is at fault, and we may be able to get you a good settlement.
Call our Maryland Uber and Lyft accident lawyers at Rice Law at (410) 694-7291 and request a free, confidential case assessment.
Can You Settle a Rideshare Accident Case?
Rideshare accident victims may be entitled to fair compensation, and those responsible may offer a settlement. After an accident, you may have serious injuries and numerous damages.
- Victims often require expensive medical care.
- They may also face lost property damages.
- Injuries may prevent victims from returning to work, causing them lost income.
- On top of it all, you may claim damages for intense pain and suffering.
What is a Good Settlement?
What makes a good settlement depends on your specific circumstances. The severity of your injuries will be a major factor, as more serious injuries usually mean higher damages and bigger settlements. Ultimately, whether a settlement meets your needs is up to you, but you should review any offer with a lawyer first.
Negotiating a Better Settlement
We must negotiate with defendants about your damages and their fault before we can work out a good settlement. To do so, we need evidence from the accident. We may use information from police reports, your medical records, dashcam footage, photos of the crash scene, and witness testimony to back up your claims.
Who Pays a Settlement for a Rideshare Accident?
Usually the defendant’s insurance covers these costs. When we file your lawsuit and begin settlement negotiations, we should include the rideshare driver, any other drivers who may share blame, and the rideshare company, as their insurance is likely to cover the settlement. Rideshare companies may also have specific funds set aside to help pay legal fees and settlements in accident cases.
What if You Are Partly Responsible?
If you are partially responsible for the rideshare accident, even slightly, you cannot recover any damages, and a settlement is likely off the table. Maryland follows a strict pure contributory negligence law, under which plaintiffs are barred from recovering damages if they are even 1% responsible for the accident that injured them.
Factors for Negotiating a Good Settlement
Each rideshare accident case is unique, so the factors we must consider in your settlement will be unique to you. Even so, we may consider multiple factors including, but not limited to…
Whether you were a passenger or another driver
- The at-fault driver’s speed
- Weather conditions
- Distractions in the rideshare vehicle
- Your injuries
- Property damage
- Your ability to work
- Physical pain
- Mental distress
Do You Need a Lawyer to Settle Your Rideshare Accident Case?
Injured victims are not required to hire lawyers, but it is not advisable to represent yourself during settlement negotiations with a large rideshare company. An experienced attorney may be better able to identify and evaluate all your damages so that nothing is overlooked, and your settlement is larger. They may also know how to use the available evidence to support a strong settlement and apply effective negotiation strategies.
What Happens if Settlement Negotiations Fall Apart?
Settlement negotiations do not always pan out. If settlement talks fall through, our Maryland car accident lawyers can take the case to court. Generally, plaintiffs file personal injury lawsuits first and then begin settlement talks. If negotiations fall through, the lawsuit is already filed and ready to move forward.
Can You Get Damages for Pain and Suffering?
Yes. Non-economic and economic damages are both available during settlement negotiations. If your injuries caused you immense physical pain, mental distress, psychological damage, and other painful experiences, we should push for significant non-economic damages in your settlement.
Can You Claim Future Damages?
Yes. Your injuries might involve ongoing costs, and you continue to incur costs even after your case is over. For example, severe injuries may lead to long-term medical needs that require many years of treatment.
We can estimate your future damages and add those costs to your settlement.
How Quickly Should You Settle?
You should contact a lawyer for help as soon as possible after an accident. While we may not start settlement negotiations right away, they will likely begin soon. We may need time to gather evidence and information, but a settlement offer could come within a few weeks if the defendant is cooperative.
If they refuse to accept fault for the accident, we may have to fight longer to reach a settlement.
When Should You Reject a Settlement?
You should reject a settlement if you know it does not adequately cover your damages. Before we enter settlement talks, we should fully understand the extent of your damages and how much financial compensation you need to recover from the accident.
If a settlement falls short, we should reject it.
How Long Do Settlement Negotiations Usually Take for Rideshare Accidents?
Settlement negotiations can be quick or very slow. If the defendant is cooperative, ready to acknowledge fault, or simply wants the case to go away as fast as possible, they may offer a settlement sooner, and we could complete your case in a few months.
If the defendant refuses to acknowledge their fault or believes your damages are too expensive, they may resist offering a settlement. Some cases take a year or longer to finally settle.
Contact Our Maryland Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers for Help with Your Settlement
Call our Maryland personal injury lawyers at Rice Law at (410) 694-7291 and request a free, confidential case assessment.