Lyft vehicles are a common mode of transportation throughout Arlington, VA, and most trips go off without a hitch.
Unfortunately, there are times when accidents happen. In these difficult situations where a crash occurs, victims need to understand their rights, as these cases are more complicated since Lyft offers third-party insurance coverage.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a Arlington car accident caused by a Lyft driver, you need an attorney experienced with these types of cases.
Monge & Associations can provide the help and support that you need to understand Virginia’s laws on rideshare accidents and to take legal action.
Give us a call today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Arlington Lyft accident lawyer to learn more about how we can help you.
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Why Choose Monge & Associates
Monge & Associates is the firm to turn to after a Lyft accident for a number of reasons, including the following:
- We have experience with Lyft accident claims: We know the rules for when Lyft’s insurance coverage applies, we understand how to subpoena records from the cell phone and rideshare company, and we have experience standing up to the attorneys and insurers of this big tech company.
- We offer compassionate representation: We have thousands of five-star reviews from auto accident victims praising our compassionate representation and the successful case outcomes we’ve achieved.
- We have a long history of successful settlements and verdicts. Since 1993, we’ve recovered over a billion dollars for our clients injured in auto accidents, including crashes with Lyft drivers.
You’ll have direct access to our legal team for any questions you have, and we’ll be there for you at every step of your case.
Understanding Lyft and Rideshare Laws in Virginia
Virginia rideshare drivers must obey all rules of the road with regard to traffic safety, insurance coverage, and vehicle registration.
Virginia considers drivers to be independent contractors rather than employees, so vicarious liability rules do not apply, which means Lyft is not automatically liable for the negligence of drivers.
However, in 2015, Virginia established laws regulating transportation network companies, including requiring that they have at least $1 million in liability insurance coverage.
Lyft does carry this third-party insurance, which can cover your losses in the aftermath of an accident if the driver was active on the app, waiting for a ride, en route to pick up a passenger, or transporting passengers.
Lyft also imposes certain requirements for Virginia drivers, including mandating that they upload a copy of their Virginia inspection certificate, be at least 25 years old, pass a driver screening, and have less than three minor violations on their driving record in the past three years.
Some of these requirements are related to VA laws on transportation network companies which require a review of a driver’s record before the driver can drive for a rideshare company.
What To Do Immediately After a Lyft Accident in Arlington, VA
If you are involved in a Lyft accident, you should immediately call 911 if you or anyone else was injured.
If no injuries occurred, you can call the non-emergency number for the police to report the accident.
You want to ensure a police officer comes to the crash scene to document what happened, make a report, and potentially issue a citation or do drug or alcohol testing if needed.
You should also get prompt medical help and ensure your injuries are documented.
You want to be able to prove that the accident harmed you and to show the extent of your damages, as this will be important for making a successful claim.
You can report the accident to Lyft using the app, as well as to your own insurer, but you may wish to reach out to an Arlington Lyft accident attorney first before disclosing too many details about the incident, as your attorney can help you to organize and present information in a way that won’t affect your claim.
Common Injuries In Lyft Accidents
Many types of injuries can occur when a Lyft driver causes an accident, as both passengers in the Lyft vehicle and other drivers can be hurt.
Some of the most common injuries suffered by Lyft crash victims include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Bone fractures
- Internal damage to organs
- Lacerations
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue injury
It is important that you document all of the damage that you have experienced so you can prove that the Lyft accident was the cause of your medical issues and so you can show how severely you were hurt by the incident.
How an Arlington Lyft Accident Lawyer Can Help You
In the aftermath of a collision, an Arlington Lyft accident lawyer can help in important ways. An attorney can:
- Help you to gather evidence, such as the driver’s cell phone records, records from the Lyft app, security camera footage, witness testimony, and medical records. This evidence can show why the driver was to blame and the full extent of your harm.
- Assist you in identifying responsible parties. Lyft’s insurance coverage may pay for your losses, and you can also sometimes pursue a claim against the driver personally, against the vehicle manufacturer if a car defect contributed to your harm, or against those responsible for designing unsafe roads or maintaining roads poorly.
- Work with you to prove the extent of your losses. This can include helping you to create a pain journal or otherwise document how your Lyft accident has caused you to suffer economic and non-financial loss.
- Negotiate a settlement. We can stand up to Lyft’s insurers to demand they pay you a fair sum.
- Go to court: We can also pursue a civil trial to help you get the justice you deserve.
Our goal is always to resolve your case as quickly as possible with the minimum of stress for you and the maximum amount of compensation available based on the nature of your harm.
Compensation Available in Lyft Accident Claims
You should be compensated by Lyft’s insurer or the driver’s insurer for all economic and non-financial loss including for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
It will be up to you to show how badly you were harmed so you can get the money you deserve.
Contact Our Arlington Lyft Accident Lawyers Today
Reach out today to schedule a free consultation with an Arlington VA Lyft accident lawyer at Monge & Associates so we can start working on building your case.