Miami Uber And Lyft Accident Lawyer
Uber and Lyft are the most popular rideshare apps across the country and throughout the Miami area. Many people take Uber and Lyft rides to work, restaurants and bars and friends’ houses every day. However, the drivers for these rideshare companies often drive long hours and may lose focus or get into bad driving habits that make them accident risks.
If you or a loved one was involved in an accident while in an Uber or Lyft vehicle in the Miami area, I, attorney Jared Newman, might be able to help you get compensation for your accident and hold the responsible drivers accountable in court. For a free legal consultation, contact my firm, Jared Newman, Esq., today.
Suing Uber Or Lyft For Car Accidents In Miami
When you are involved in a car crash, you usually sue the driver who hit you or the driver of the car you were riding in, depending on which one caused the crash. This individual driver should be responsible for anything negligent they do behind the wheel if it causes injuries or car crashes. Often, with drivers that work for taxi, bus or other companies, you can sue the company they work for along with the individual driver. Uber and Lyft structure their companies in ways that prevent that, but this does not stop you from being able to sue an Uber or Lyft driver if they caused a crash. You can also sue another responsible driver if you were hit while driving or riding in an Uber or Lyft.
You can often sue an employer for their employee’s on-the-job negligence, but Uber and Lyft drivers are not “employees” of the companies for which they drive. As independent contractors, these drivers get matched with riders, and Uber and Lyft handle the payments, but the drivers do not actually work for Uber or Lyft as employees. This prevents you from being able to sue the companies, but the individual drivers can still be held accountable for accidents they cause, and Uber and Lyft both carry insurance that can often cover some of the damages.
Insurance Payouts From Uber And Lyft Accidents In Miami
Uber and Lyft both require their drivers to carry insurance that can cover the victim in the event of an accident. Both companies also have their own insurance policies that supplement the driver’s policy and help victims of Uber and Lyft accidents get damages for their injuries and medical bills.
From the time that a driver accepts a ride to the time that they drop off their rider, the rideshare company’s insurance policy usually provides up to $1 million in accident coverage. This policy can help any victims of the accident no matter who caused the crash, including the following potential victims:
- Injured Uber and Lyft drivers
- Injured Uber and Lyft passengers
- Drivers and passengers in other cars
- Pedestrians and cyclists
This insurance policy should provide compensation to victims in many of the kinds of cases that I handle.
If the accident occurred while an Uber or Lyft driver was on the clock but before they had accepted a ride, then Uber and Lyft might use a supplemental insurance policy in addition to the driver’s insurance. If the driver was not working for Uber or Lyft at the time of the crash, the crash works like any other car accident, with each driver’s insurance covering their own injuries.
Even if insurance coverage is available, there may be damages that are not paid through insurance. Florida’s no-fault insurance rules often allow injury victims to sue the driver instead of filing through insurance for severe injuries, permanent injuries or injuries that total more than $10,000 in damages. A lawsuit may open additional damages that you can claim, such as those for pain and suffering.
Calculating Damages In Uber And Lyft Accidents In Miami
The damages that you can claim in a lawsuit or insurance claim for an Uber or Lyft accident will depend heavily on what happened in the crash. The physical injuries you faced, the medical expenses that resulted, the lost wages you faced, the lost earning capacity the injuries caused you, and the pain and suffering you faced because of the crash are the main things that can be compensated. Different levels of harm justify different levels of compensation, and it is important to work with a lawyer when calculating damages in a Miami Uber or Lyft accident case.
Damages for medical bills can often be calculated by finding the total cost of all medical care related to the crash. I can help determine if ongoing or future care should be covered and what kinds of treatments should be paid for, such as surgery, medical imaging and rehabilitation. In many cases, medical and financial experts can testify about the value of these damages, and bills can be used as evidence of the value of the damages.
Lost wages and earning capacity damages can be substantial in many cases. If you miss work while you are recovering and then return to work at full capacity, the damages should cover all missed paychecks during your recovery. If you cannot return to work at full capacity or must not return at all because your injuries are too severe, you could be entitled to claim the full value of the wages you will miss going forward.
Pain and suffering damages are the most difficult to calculate in many cases because they are not based on financial documents and records. Instead, your pain and suffering damages are based on what injuries you suffered and how they affected your mental health, your enjoyment of life and other things. I can help explain what your case might be worth and why you may need to go to court to get pain and suffering damages covered.
At Jared Newman, Esq., I Can Help
To set up a free legal consultation with me, call my firm today. I represent victims in insurance claims and lawsuits, and I work to maximize compensation and help my clients get what they deserve from the parties responsible for their accidents. For a free case consultation, call my office today.
Client Review
"A friend recommended Attorney Jared Newman after I was involved in a car accident. From the start Jared has been absolutely amazing. From staying in constant contact with me with updates on my case, to explaining things I didn’t understand, to getting me the best outcome possible, he has not disappointed. I’m glad I made the right decision with Jared Newman and I’m definitely keeping his number saved for anything in the future."
Raegan V.
