If you sustained injuries in a collision caused by a rideshare driver in southeast Alabama, or you were in the Uber or Lyft when it happened, our team may be able to help. A Dothan Uber and Lyft rideshare accident attorney from the Morris Bart law firm knows how to navigate insurance claims and seek compensation for our clients after a crash.
Our team provides complimentary initial consultations to those hurt by a careless or reckless rideshare driver. We will assess your case for free and help you understand the opportunities you have to recover compensation for your medical care, missed work, and other losses.
Compensation May Be Available to Help You Recover from Your Collision
Alabama law allows traffic accident victims to build a case against the at-fault motorist or another liable party to recover money for their losses and expenses. You could recover this compensation by filing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit based on the appropriate liability coverage.
The types of compensatory damages you could receive in one of these cases can vary but often include:
- Pain and suffering
- Other intangible losses
- Medical bills
- Future care needs for accident injuries
- Lost income
- Reduced ability to work because of lasting impairments
- Property damage
- Other related expenses and losses
An Injury Lawyer Can Calculate Your Intangible Losses
Some of these expenses and losses may be challenging to value because of their intangible nature or have not yet occurred. Therefore, our attorneys may call in experts and take other steps to establish a fair value range for settlements based on the circumstances of your case.
By ensuring our clients understand the potential value of their claims and including as many damages as we can document, we often recover more for our clients than they previously believed their case was worth.
Can I File a Wrongful Death Claim Against a Rideshare Driver?
If the rideshare driver caused an accident, and your loved one suffered fatal injuries, you might have a case for punitive damages under Ala. Code § 6-5-410. However, it may not be the rideshare driver’s insurance company that you would contact. Liability and insurance coverage in these cases can be complicated. Our team can assess your options during a free, no-obligation consultation.
For a free legal consultation with a Uber and Lyft Rideshare Accident lawyer serving Dothan, call (800) 537-8185
An Attorney from Morris Bart & Associates, LLC, May Be Able to Help You
At the Morris Bart law firm, our recent case results include several significant recoveries for clients injured in rideshare collisions or accidents involving Uber or Lyft drivers. In addition, we scored wins for more than 6,500 clients in 2019 alone. While rideshare cases are relatively new, our team has over 40 years of experience negotiating settlements with insurance companies and representing our clients at jury trials.
The areas we serve include all parts of Alabama, including Dale, Henry, and Houston counties. If you suffered injuries in a collision in or around Dothan, we are here to help. We provide free consultations on the phone, at our nearest office, or at a convenient location.
Our attorney’s fees are all based on a contingency fee. We do not charge upfront fees or hourly rates. Instead, we receive a percentage of the total compensation we recover for you. However, if we don’t win, you don’t pay any attorney’s fees.
Can I Sue Uber or Lyft Based on My Dothan Accident Injuries?
Many victims of rideshare accidents worry they must sue Uber or Lyft to recover compensation for their injuries. They (possibly rightfully) assume this process could be complicated and hope for an alternative. The good news is that lawsuits are rarely necessary in any car accident case.
Most collision claims settle outside of court based on an insurance claim. This truism also holds in rideshare crash cases. However, rideshare insurance can be complicated. Both Lyft and Uber provide significant coverage for rideshare passengers and others hurt when their drivers cause an accident. Still, there are caveats to this coverage.
Determining Which Policy Was in Effect Critical to Your Claim
The liability policies provided by the rideshare companies are not in effect all the time. However, in general, the scenario works like this:
- If the driver is not logged onto the app, their auto policy should cover any injuries.
- If the driver is working but not matched with a rider, their policy is primary, with the rideshare company’s policy secondary.
- Once the app matches the driver with a rider, the Uber or Lyft liability policy becomes primary.
So, if you were a Lyft or Uber passenger, you would file a claim based on the rideshare company’s liability policy. This policy is usually at least $1 million in coverage—sometimes more—but most injuries will fall far below the policy’s limits. As a result, settling out of court becomes more straightforward in many cases.
However, if a rideshare driver hits you, you will need to determine where in the cycle they were, and which insurance policy applies. Again, our team can make this determination for you if we represent you and file your claim.
Vicarious Liability May Not Apply in a Rideshare Accident Injury Lawsuit
If we do need to sue, who we name as the defendant will depend on the circumstances of what happened and why we must sue. The rideshare companies are generally not vicariously liable for their drivers’ actions since they are independent contractors and not employees. However, a rideshare company could be negligent and liable in another way. Our investigation will determine if this is the case.
Click to contact our Dothan Car Accident Attorney today
Deadlines for Filing a Lawsuit in a Dothan Rideshare Accident Case
Most car accident victims in Dothan only have up to two years to sue. Under Ala. Code § 6-2-38, you generally have 24 months to begin the legal process following a crash. Missing this deadline could prevent you from securing compensation in your case.
Talk to a Lawyer With Morris Bart & Associates, LLC
An attorney from the Morris Bart law firm will review your case with you for free today. Then, we can determine if you have a viable claim or lawsuit against a rideshare driver or company. Call to get started right away.
Questions?Call (800) 537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
