Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale

Rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft have exploded in popularity recently. Because owning a car comes with numerous costs, including monthly payments, insurance costs, maintenance, and repair costs, ridesharing becomes a great way to take advantage of the convenience of having a car at your disposal without the high costs. Add in the ability to pay through your cell phone, and it’s understandable why Uber and Lyft have become as popular as they have.

However, not every Uber and Lyft trip goes smoothly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that traffic deaths rose by 2-3% in cities where Uber and Lyft began service. With more of these vehicles on the roads, these cities have seen an increase in traffic, and with large distances between fares, Uber and Lyft drivers are on the roads more often than the average driver and contribute to more and more crashes. 

When a crash involves an Uber or Lyft vehicle, an Uber and Lyft accident lawyer can help. Understanding who is at fault and whose insurance would cover an injury can be difficult to determine and would depend greatly on the circumstances of the crash. With years of experience dealing with these types of crashes in Fort Lauderdale, the Uber and Lyft accident attorneys at Schlacter Law can help ensure that you are compensated for your injuries.

Most accident victims would typically attempt to receive compensation first by filing a claim with either their own insurance policy or the insurance policy of the other driver. Things get more complicated when you’re involved in a crash with a rideshare vehicle. Questions that might arise include:

• Who is responsible if my vehicle was involved in an accident with a rideshare vehicle?
• Whose insurance would cover an accident if I was rideshare passenger?
• What if my rideshare driver was at fault?
• What if one of the drivers didn’t have automobile insurance?
• Do rideshare companies provide additional insurance coverage?

Following an accident with an Uber or Lyft vehicle, the first step in receiving compensation would be to contact the other driver’s insurance company to determine how much coverage they have, and if the coverage applies to rideshare crashes. Unfortunately, some insurance companies will not accept liability when a driver is working for these companies unless they have purchased additional coverage. Be careful when contacting the other driver’s insurance company and be sure not to admit any liability or fault. An Uber and Lyft accident lawyer can help by communicating with insurance companies on your behalf.

If the driver’s insurance is not enough to cover the costs of any injuries, Uber and Lyft’s additional coverage may be able to help with compensation. Under these circumstances, it would be necessary to contact the rideshare companies directly and file a claim. Again, an Uber and Lyft car accident lawyer can assist with a claim to ensure that no detail is overlooked.

Insurance coverage issues can be complicated. When rideshare vehicles are involved, determining liability can become even more difficult. An Uber and Lyft Lawyer can help. The Uber and Lyft accident attorneys in Fort Lauderdale will work to help identify who is at fault and who is liable, and ensure that you get properly compensated following an accident.

If you were injured in an accident with an Uber or Lyft vehicle in Fort Lauderdale there are several different types of compensation available. The first type of compensation is known as economic damages and includes the total of all known costs associated with the accident. This might include:

• Hospital bills
• Other medical bills
• Ambulance bills
• Rehabilitation
• Lost wages
• Lost income
• Property damage

Another type of compensation available in Fort Lauderdale is known as non-economic damages. These are costs associated with an accident that are far more difficult to calculate. These might include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional Stress
• Disfigurement
• Scarring
• Amputation
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries

Because these types of injuries can often last years, the costs associated with them are far more difficult to determine. Additionally, some injuries, such as pain and suffering are difficult to put a dollar value on.

The final type of compensation available is known as punitive damages. These damages are applied to punish a defendant for reckless or wanton behavior that is so egregious that the additional damages would attempt to stop the defendant from continuing the behavior that led to the injury. Punitive damages are not common, and if they are, there are caps in Florida that limit the amount of punitive damages available for a plaintiff. Consulting an Uber and Lyft lawyer can help in determining if punitive damages might be available.

When determining the amount of damages available for compensation an estimate is usually made for non-economic damages by looking at the known economic damages and multiplying that number by a factor – typically two- or three-times economic damages. For example, if economic damages equal $10,000, an attorney might argue that non-economic damages should be equal to three-times economic damages, or about $30,000.

When an accident involved an Uber or Lyft vehicle, issues concerning insurance, compensation, and liability make an already complicated situation even more complicated. This is where an Uber and Lyft lawyer can help. With years of experience dealing with insurance companies and accident settlements, the Fort Lauderdale lawyers with Schlacter Law will work hard to get you the compensation you need as soon as possible. Call us today for a consultation.

How We Handle Cases

1. Investigation
   • Your attorney will aggressively investigate your case. Schlacter Law will compile all necessary evidence needed to maximize the value of your case. Which includes but is not limited to photographs, police reports, security camera footage, witness statements, medical bills and medical records.
   • You will remain in constant contact with Schlacter Law about the progression of your case.
2. Negotiation
   • Your attorney will present your case to the insurance company and will attempt to resolve your case before the case goes to court for maximum compensation.
   • Your attorney will make every effort possible to resolve the case as quickly as possible for the most amount of money you may be entitled to. You will be actively involved in the negotiation process with your attorney. Schlacter Law understands that this is your one opportunity to get justice for your loss.
3. Litigation
   • If settlement negotiations are unsuccessful, Schlacter Law will be fully prepared to bring your case to court to fight for the justice you deserve.
   • At no cost to you, Schlacter Law will hire any experts and professionals needed to maximize your recovery and present your case in the strongest form possible.