If you suffered injuries in a rideshare collision in Mobile, AL, the Morris Bart law firm may be able to help with your insurance claim or other action to pursue compensation based on your collision case.
Our team will evaluate your legal options for you for free. It may be possible to hold the Uber or Lyft at-fault driver accountable or even file a claim against the ridesharing company’s insurance. Our personal injury lawyers are ready to build your case.
Why Choose Our Mobile Rideshare Accident Lawyers
- We have collected over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients. Our attorneys have the power to go to trial to fight for maximum compensation on your behalf, if necessary.
- Clients trust us with their most complicated car accident cases. We have over 40 years of experience and 15 office locations across four states.
- Our Mobile rideshare accident attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you will not pay our attorneys unless we win your case.
For a free legal consultation with a Uber and Lyft Ridesharing Accident lawyer serving Mobile, call (251) 298-8380
How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Attorney for a Rideshare Accident?
At Morris Bart, we keep our fees reasonable for injured auto accident victims. We realize that our clients are dealing with enough financial stress from a car accident, such as property repairs, medical bills and rental car costs. Our law firm uses contingency fees, where our clients only pay us after we secure them financial compensation for their losses. If we do not win your rideshare accident case in Mobile, you will pay us $0 to take your case – guaranteed.
You will pay us nothing upfront to take your case. Our law firm will front all of the costs of litigation for you so that you accept none of the financial risks of seeking justice for an Uber or Lyft accident in Alabama. If we do win your case, we will charge our fee as a percentage of the compensation obtained on your behalf. That way, you will not owe attorney’s fees out of pocket. The amount of the fee percentage will depend on your case; we are always transparent about our rates before we accept a case.
How an Uber and Lyft Ridesharing Accident Attorney Can Help You Recover Money Damages for the Expenses and Losses You Incurred
You may be able to recover compensation for the expenses and losses you suffered because of your accident if you were:
- Riding in an Uber or Lyft when the collision occurred
- Driving your own car and hit by a rideshare driver
- Struck by a rideshare driver as a pedestrian or cyclist
If the Uber or Lyft driver caused the accident, the insurance policies that cover rideshare drivers should provide coverage for damages that include:
- Medical bills
- Ongoing or future treatment and care needs
- Lost wages because of the time you missed at work
- Diminished earning capacity
- Damages to your vehicle, if involved
- Damages to other personal property
- Pain and suffering damages
If you lost a loved one in a rideshare accident, our wrongful death lawyers can seek compensation for your family. Nothing can bring back a loved one, but a settlement or verdict may help you cope in their absence. It can also help you properly honor their memory.
Our lawyers can seek damages, such as loss of inheritance and your loved one’s medical bills.
What a Mobile Rideshare Accident Lawyer Can Do For You
A rideshare lawyer in Mobile can help you understand and protect your rights during this difficult time. You can trust your lawyer to make recommendations that are in your best interests in the aftermath of a crash, including how to deal with insurance companies and their claims adjusters. Your attorney can take over communications with an insurer on your behalf, if desired, to negotiate for fair financial compensation.
In addition to pursuing the best possible results for your case, your lawyer can guide you to the best doctor in your area and help you find coverage for your medical bills while a rideshare accident claim is pending. A lawyer will give you greater peace of mind by taking care of everything for you while you focus on healing and rebuilding. Hiring a lawyer can benefit you in many ways, from investigating the accident and finding evidence of fault to settling your case for maximum compensation.
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The Statute of Limitations in Alabama Rideshare Collision Lawsuits
In most cases, we do not have to sue the driver or ridesharing company to recover a payout for our clients in an Uber or Lyft accident case. When paired with solid evidence to support the insurance claim, negotiations with the insurer are enough to reach a just agreement.
If we do need to sue the liable parties, Ala. Code §6-2-38 generally gives us two years to begin the process. We must meet these deadlines to protect your right to recovery. Exceptions can shorten your deadline, too.
A Mobile rideshare accident lawyer can help streamline your case and meet important deadlines. Keep in mind that it takes time to investigate an accident and negotiate with insurers. The sooner you get started on your case, the better we can protect your right to seek compensation.
Who Is Responsible for Ridesharing Accident Damages?
Proving negligence in a ridesharing crash occurs in much the same way it would in other traffic accidents. The driver who acted carelessly or recklessly and caused the crash is generally the liable party.
While rideshare drivers are not employees and do not fall under the usual laws that allow us to hold employers responsible for the activities of professional drivers, Lyft or Uber may still be vicariously liable, as well.
Our team helps prove negligence and identify the liable parties for our clients based on the unique facts of their cases. Having solid evidence to determine liability is key in getting a payout for accident injuries, losses, and expenses.
How to Prove Liability in an Uber/Lyft Accident
In an auto accident case, the responsibility of proving liability (legal and financial responsibility) rests with the injured party, otherwise known as the plaintiff. The burden of proof is a preponderance of the evidence, meaning the plaintiff or plaintiff’s attorney must establish that the accused party (defendant) caused the rideshare accident with at least a 51 percent certainty. Liability in most car accident cases goes to the person or party who was negligent or failed to act with reasonable care.
Proving negligence requires evidence of four elements:
- Duty of care: the defendant hada requirement to act with reasonable care, diligence and prudence. All motor vehicle operators in Alabama have a duty of care to drive safely and in accordance with all traffic laws.
- Breach of duty: the defendant failed to act with ordinary care, meaning he or she committed an act or omission that a reasonable party would not have in the same or similar circumstances. An example is a rideshare driver violating a traffic law or driving under the influence.
- Causation: the defendant’s breach of duty was the actual or proximate cause of the rideshare accident; in other words, the collision would not have occurred were it not for the defendant’s mistakes or negligence.
- Damages: the plaintiff suffered real and compensable losses as an outcome of the crash, such as bodily injuries, property damage or lost wages.
These four elements must be established with clear and convincing evidence. Your attorney can gather evidence to support your Uber or Lyft accident case, such as a police report, your medical records, eyewitness statements, vehicle repair estimates, wage and employment statements, and photographs and video footage. Then, your lawyer can present this evidence to an insurance provider, judge or jury to help prove your case.
What if the Rideshare Driver Was Not at Fault for the Accident?
If you were riding in an Uber or Lyft in Mobile when another driver crashed into the rideshare vehicle, your options for collecting financial compensation will look different than after an accident caused by your driver. In Alabama, the “fault-based” insurance system means that the person or party at fault for causing a crash is responsible for paying for related damages.
When a third-party driver causes a rideshare accident, victims have grounds to take legal action against this party for financial recovery. Your lawyer can file a claim against the other driver’s insurance policy to seek compensation for your medical bills and losses. All drivers in Alabama are required to carry liability insurance to pay for these losses. If the other driver’s insurance does not fully cover your expenses, the rideshare company may provide supplemental coverage.
Uber and Lyft’s $1 million insurance policies can provide additional coverage to make up the difference between what the at-fault driver’s insurance can pay and what a passenger’s total damages equal. In addition, your lawyer can look for other available sources of compensation, such as the municipality in charge of road safety and maintenance or the manufacturer of a defective vehicle part.
A Mobile Uber and Lyft Ridesharing Accident Attorney Can Identify What Insurance Policy Was in Effect at the Time of Your Accident
Uber and Lyft both provide contingent policies when there is no rideshare rider matched with a driver and primary liability coverage when the driver is going to pick up a rider or has a rider in their vehicle. Rideshare companies provide different amounts of liability coverage depending on what the driver was doing when the crash occurred:
- Phase 1: the driver is logged off of the app. When the driver is not logged onto the app or awaiting a ride, Uber nor Lyft provides any coverage for accidents that the driver is involved in. Instead, the driver’s personal auto insurance policy will apply.
- Phase 2: the driver is logged into the app, available and waiting for a ride request. In this phase, both Uber and Lyft offer $50,000 in bodily injury insurance per person, $100,000 in bodily injury insurance per accident and $25,000 in property damage if a victim’s personal auto insurance does not apply.
- Phase 3: the driver is en route to pick up a rider or has a rider in the vehicle.At these times, rideshare companies offer up to $1 million in third-party liability insurance, uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance, and contingent comprehensive and collision insurance (up to the actual cash value of the car with a $2,500 deductible).
In general, the driver’s personal policy is the primary coverage when:
- The driver is not working for a rideshare company
- The driver is working but not matched with a rider
The primary coverage is a $1 million liability policy provided by the rideshare company as soon as the driver matches with a rider until that rider exits their vehicle. When we represent a rideshare accident victim, the Morris Bart law office investigates to determine the liable parties, the insurance coverage in place, and where to file the claim.
What to Do if You Were Injured in an Uber or Lyft Accident in Mobile, Alabama
If you get injured in a rideshare accident in Mobile, try to remember the steps you should take to protect your legal rights. Uber, Lyft and their insurance providers will be looking for reasons to deny or reduce your payout. What you do and do not do can affect the success of your claim. Here’s what to do:
- Check yourself and others for injuries. Note that your adrenaline may mask the symptoms of an injury for hours after your accident.
- Get immediate medical care. Request paramedics if it is an emergency or visit the nearest hospital in Mobile for professional treatment.
- Before you leave the scene of a rideshare accident, call the police. Call 911 to report the accident immediately, regardless of who is at fault.
- When the police arrive, make sure they hear your version of events. Do not admit fault for the accident or apologize to anyone. Write down your police report number.
- Exchange information with all drivers and passengers. This includes insurance information. If there are eyewitnesses, write down their information, as well.
- Keep track of your rideshare information by taking a screenshot of the Uber or Lyft app ride screen. Document your driver’s name, vehicle information, and date and location of the ride.
- Take photos at the scene of the car accident, including damage to either vehicle, marks in the road and other relevant details.
- Report the car accident to Uber or Lyft through the app or by calling the company’s customer service line.
- Gather documents and information connected to the crash, such as copies of your medical bills and communications with the rideshare company or insurer.
- Before you file an injury claim, consult with a rideshare accident attorney at Morris Bart to learn your rights and legal options.
Do not give an insurance company a recorded statement or accept a settlement before you have contacted a personal injury lawyer. A Mobile personal injury lawyer from Morris Bart can take over your case at any stage and assist you with the remainder of the claims process. You can trust the information, guidance and advice that you receive from our lawyers in the aftermath of an Uber or Lyft accident in Mobile.
Work With a Rideshare Accident Attorney at Our Mobile Office
A lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm may be able to help you seek and secure money damages based on the circumstances of your accident, your injuries, and your losses.
To learn more, contact the Morris Bart law office in Mobile today. Our team members provide complimentary case evaluations for injured rideshare riders and others hurt by negligent Uber and Lyft drivers. Reach out to the Morris Bart law firm for your free consultation.
Questions?Call (251) 298-8380
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
