After the initial shock of a Lyft accident subsides, you need to know where to turn for help.
An experienced personal injury lawyer should be one of your first phone calls.
Our team at The Wakeford Law Firm can help you understand what to do after a Lyft accident, whether you’re a driver who has been injured in an accident with a Lyft driver or a passenger in a Lyft vehicle.
Lyft Accident Settlements in California
Lyft accident settlement amounts in California can vary widely depending upon the circumstances of the accident. Settlements are estimated to range from approximately $300,000 to one million dollars and beyond.
A personal injury lawyer, like the team at The Wakeford Law Firm, can help you understand the value of your case and help you recover money for the losses you have endured. An experienced personal injury attorney can also help explain that each person’s settlement will be different and explain what the value of your case might be.
Establishing a Successful Lyft Lawsuit
A successful personal injury lawsuit has four key elements. A Lyft accident lawsuit is just like any other personal injury lawsuit and needs to establish those same patterns. The elements of a Lyft accident lawsuit are:
- Someone had a duty to you;
- The duty was breached;
- The breach caused your injuries; and
- The breach caused damages to you.
Getting into a Lyft means that the driver needs to get you to your destination safely. That’s what it means when a lawyer says that someone has a “duty” to you. If the driver gets into an accident during the ride, it means that they’ve breached that duty.
If you file a Lyft lawsuit, to be successful you need to show that your injuries were actually caused by the Lyft accident. Talking to an experienced Lyft accident lawyer will help clarify whether your claims relate to the accident. If it can be determined that your injuries were caused by the Lyft accident, then this makes for a stronger case and can help you get the Lyft accident settlement you deserve.
Recovering Damages
A Lyft accident settlement often depends on some or all of the following:
- The extent of injuries you’ve suffered;
- The duration of those injuries;
- The impact of the injuries upon your normal life as it was before the accident;
- The skill and reputation of your personal injury lawyer; and
- The pattern of liability in the accident.
Depending on these factors and more, your Lyft accident settlement may be more or less than the average in California. When assessing your potential claims, a lawyer might consider how much work you’ve missed and why. This would help create a claim for lost income. Other things to consider would include the cost of medical bills (present and future) and pain and suffering (including emotional suffering). All these things are part of calculating your damages.
Considering Negligence
California also considers the issue of “contributory negligence” in calculating damages. This means that your lawyer would think about whether any of your actions could have played a role in the accident. Lawyers usually don’t consider contributory negligence when you are a passenger in a Lyft.
Typically, lawyers only think about issues of contributory negligence when you are a driver who gets into an accident with a Lyft driver. Your lawyer may take into account both your percentage of liability as well as a variety of other items that could impact your claim for damages.
Understanding Damages
Damages are usually divided into two types: economic (sometimes called money damages), and non-economic. Examples of economic damages include:
- Medical expenses like the costs of medications, doctors visits and medical treatments, hospital care, surgical care, rehabilitative care, and medical transportation including the cost of an ambulance;
- Property damage, including damage to or loss of your personal belongings or personal vehicle;
- Lost earnings due to the inability to work and/or the need to take a lower-paying job due to your injuries; and
- Lost income because of the accident.
Non-economic damages may also be factored into a Lyft accident settlement. Non-economic damages can include:
- Mental and physical pain and suffering;
- Loss of enjoyment of life;
- Loss of companionship or loss of consortium, which means your spouse or partner has been wrongfully injured and can no longer provide moral support, companionship or intimacy;
- Disability; and
- Many other types of injuries an experienced personal injury lawyer may discuss with you.
Provide your attorney with as much information about the accident as possible. Doing so can help you get the best Lyft accident settlement possible for your circumstances.
Timing of the Average Lyft Accident Lawsuit
The timing of each Lyft accident lawsuit varies considerably based upon the facts and circumstances of each case. The complexity of the case impacts timing. The success of negotiations with insurance companies and whether you need to file a Lyft accident lawsuit also impacts timing.
An experienced Lyft accident lawyer like those at The Wakeford Law Firm can explain what the timing of your claim might be and work with you to achieve your desired result.
Assessing your Claim
Making you whole after a Lyft accident, whether you were a driver injured by a Lyft driver or a passenger on a Lyft ride, is The Wakeford Law Firm’s mission. We are experienced California personal injury attorneys. Our compassion, hard work, and individual attention to clients gets results.
While money from a Lyft accident settlement can never bring you back everything you might lose in an accident, we can help get you back on your feet and on the road to recovery. Contact our team today for a free case evaluation.
