Every minute in Boston, approximately 67 Lyft and Uber rides take place. When you consider the rest of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, this number climbs even higher. While most rides are straightforward and uneventful, some lead to accidents, injuries, and even death. If you have been injured in a Lyft accident or if a loved one has died in a Lyft accident, you need a Lyft accident attorney. The team at Mazow | McCullough, PC has the experience and dedication you deserve during this difficult time.
Liability after Lyft Accidents
If you are injured in a Lyft accident, several different entities may be held liable depending on the situation. When you are a passenger in a Lyft and the Lyft driver causes an accident, you may be covered under Lyft’s $1 million liability plan. Lyft also has liability insurance in place to cover accidents caused by the driver when they are logged into the app but without a paying passenger in the vehicle. This liability covers situations where a Lyft driver causes an accident with another vehicle or hits a pedestrian or cyclist.
In other cases, Lyft may try to deny liability, and the company may try to shift liability onto the driver. Often, Lyft drivers have personal insurance policies, and their insurer may try to deny claims that were caused when the driver was operating a vehicle in a business capacity. Luckily, however, both Massachusetts and New Hampshire require drivers to alert their insurers that they are driving professionally, and as a result, Lyft drivers in these states should have commercial policies that cover liability in accident. Because the law is not that clear cut, you need a quality attorney to represent you, and Mazow | McCullough, PC can help.
Sometimes, the liable entity may not be Lyft or its drivers. If a faulty vehicle part caused the accident or made the injuries worse, the manufacturer of that part may be liable for the damages. For instance, if an airbag explodes and spreads deadly metal shards into the vehicle, the airbag manufacturer may be responsible. Similarly, a mechanic who incorrectly installed brakes, a tire manufacturer that made a faulty product, or similar entities, could be liable.
Damages in Lyft Accidents
After a Lyft accident, you may suffer from a range of damages. When you bring a claim against a Lyft driver, their insurer, or Lyft, the settlement you receive is based on your damages. You may have the following damages:
- Medical bills
- Expenses for physical or occupational therapy
- Alternative care costs
- Medical equipment or devices
- Medication
- Help around the home that you need due to your injuries
- Lost wages
- Degradation to future earning potential
- Car repairs
- Damage to other property
- Final medical costs for someone who died in the accident
- Funeral costs
- And more
Ultimately, you need a Lyft attorney who is experienced in personal injury and accident cases. They can help you accurately assess your damages so that you receive the fairest settlement possible.
Lyft Attorneys
After a Lyft accident, contact an attorney as soon as possible. Typically, the statute of limitations for auto accident cases is two years, but ideally, you should get the process started as quickly as you can. When you contact Mazow | McCullough, PC, we start with a free case evaluation. During that meeting, we talk about the accident, identify liable parties, and help you decide if you have a solid case.
If you decide to move forward with your case, our researchers will begin gathering evidence. Ultimately, our role is to establish that Lyft or its driver had a duty of care to you. Then, we prove that they breached that duty of care by acting negligently and that their negligence led to your damages. Finally, we convince the other parties involved to pay a settlement based on your damages. Generally, we complete this process through mediation or negotiations, but in some situations, we do have to take cases to court. In all cases, we ensure that your needs are handled professionally and carefully.
Get Help after a Lyft Accident
You deserve to have your rights protected. To get help after a Lyft accident, contact us today. At Mazow | McCullough, PC, we can offer you the personalized legal help you need.
