Weatherford Lyft Accident Lawyer
Rideshare apps like Lyft transformed transportation in Weatherford and other Texas cities.
As a Lyft user, you enjoy a convenient way to get around the city or enjoy a night on the town.
Lyft drivers can benefit from income earned on the side of a primary job. Despite the benefits of apps like Lyft, this type of transportation isn’t without its risks.
Lyft accidents do occur, potentially more frequently than other car accidents. A Lyft accident can leave you with serious injuries and unsure where to turn for the compensation you deserve.
Stephens Law Firm, PLLC, represents Lyft accident victims in Weatherford in seeking full compensation for their injuries. Whether you have been hurt as a Lyft driver, passenger, pedestrian, or someone in another vehicle, this firm is here to help.
Contact Weatherford Lyft accident lawyer Jason Stephens today to schedule your initial free case review. You can call us at (817) 409-7000.
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How a Weatherford Lyft Accident Lawyer Can Help You
Lyft accidents are more complicated than standard car accidents.
Instead of the at-fault driver’s insurance covering the claim, Lyft’s insurance coverage may be available to pay for your damages.
Because several insurance companies may be involved, it may be challenging to get the compensation you need if each one tries to assign the claim to the other.
The insurance companies aren’t on your side and they won’t make it easy to recover the compensation you need. That’s where an experienced personal injury attorney comes in.
Founding attorney Jason Stephen is a Weatherford personal injury lawyer with over 25 years of experience handling challenging car accident cases. Jason will go above and beyond to investigate your claim, value your claim with experts, and seek maximum compensation from all liable parties.
Stephens Law Firm, PLLC, is here to level the playing field against large insurance companies and corporations and serve as your advocate.
You don’t need to go up against the insurance company yourself. Stephens Law Firm, PLLC has recovered tens of millions for clients and is here to help you, too.
What Causes Rideshare Accidents in Weatherford?
Lyft accidents may be caused by many factors. However, driver negligence is often the cause of these accidents. Sometimes another driver is at fault, but studies have shown that Lyft and Uber drivers are involved in more accidents than other drivers.
According to one study, rideshare services are responsible for a 3% increase in traffic-related deaths every year since they were introduced in 2011. That’s more than 900 additional fatalities per year.
A separate study found that two-thirds of rideshare drivers drive over 300 miles per week and 25% drive up to 700 miles each week. According to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the risk of being in a crash increases the more a person drives. The average American drives around 250 miles every week.
Lyft drivers do not receive any training from the rideshare company. Before they are approved to work, their driving record and criminal history is only checked going back 7 years. With so many miles driven per week, rideshare drivers are also at risk of fatigued driving.
Common factors that play a role in Lyft accidents in Weatherford, TX include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Aggressive or reckless driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Running a stop sign or red light
Attorney Jason Stephens will investigate your accident to find out how it happened and who is to blame. If the Lyft driver was logged into the app and en route to get a passenger or actively transporting someone, the Lyft app will record crucial details about what the driver was doing when the accident occurred. He will also use other forms of evidence like police reports, witness statements, and damage to the vehicles to determine how the accident happened.
Common Injuries in Lyft Accidents in Weatherford
As with other traffic accidents, a Lyft accident can result in serious and life-changing injuries. Stephens Law Firm, PLLC, helps clients recover compensation for all types of rideshare injuries such as:
- Whiplash
- Lacerations
- Fractures
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Chest injuries
- Back injuries such as herniated discs
- Spinal cord injuries
- Soft tissue injuries such as torn ligaments
- Organ damage
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Waterford Lyft accident lawyer Jason Stephens understands that you may be facing injuries both visible and invisible that may affect your ability to work and support your family. He strives to recover maximum compensation for your injuries from the at-fault party’s insurance company to make you as whole as possible.
How Lyft Insurance Coverage Works
One element that makes a Lyft accident different than a regular car accident is the complicated insurance situation. Lyft offers up to $1 million in liability coverage for drivers but only in certain scenarios. Lyft drivers are also required to have their own car insurance.
Lyft’s insurance policy works with three different periods:
- Period 1 is when the driver is logged into the Lyft app and waiting for a ride. During this period, accidents have $50,000 coverage for bodily injury per person, $100,000 coverage per accident, and $30,000 for property damage.
- Period 2 is when the driver has accepted a ride request and is en route to pick up the rider. During this period, Lyft’s $1 million in bodily injury and property damage liability coverage is in effect plus uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
- Period 3 is when the rideshare driver has picked up the rider and is transporting them to their destination. The $1 million in coverage is still in effect.
As a Lyft passenger, you are covered by the rideshare company’s insurance policy. Depending on who is at fault, you may need to file a claim against the Lyft driver’s insurance policy or another at-fault driver’s policy as well. This is because Lyft’s policy may only kick in beyond the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
Lyft’s $1 million liability coverage can offer a source of compensation for four types of accident victims:
- Pedestrians who are hurt by a rideshare driver
- Passengers in either vehicle if the rideshare driver was at fault
- Drivers hurt in a crash when the rideshare driver was at fault
- Lyft drivers hurt in a crash when the other driver was at fault
Lyft’s coverage also kicks in to cover your damages in specific scenarios when it would not otherwise. If the rideshare driver was at fault for an accident during Period 1 and their insurance refuses to pay for damages, Lyft’s contingency coverage may be an option. This coverage takes effect under the following circumstances:
- The at-fault driver does not have insurance
- The accident involved a hit-and-run driver
- The Lyft driver’s personal insurance policy denied the claim
- The at-fault driver’s policy paid out the maximum but failed to fully compensate you
Pursuing the compensation you deserve after a Lyft accident can be complicated with many potentially liable parties and insurance providers. Stephens Law Firm, PLLC, will help you file a claim with the appropriate insurance company and work to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
Modified Comparative Negligence in Texas
As the victim of a Lyft accident, it’s important to understand not only Lyft’s unique policy coverage but also how Texas assigns negligence and liability in an accident. Texas has a modified comparative negligence system that assigns fault in a crash. Under this system, the amount you can recover will be reduced based on your share of fault and you cannot recover any compensation if you were more than 51% at fault.
The modified comparative negligence system will mostly come into play if you were a Lyft driver or another driver involved in the crash. For example, if you were involved in a crash with a Lyft vehicle and you were speeding but the Lyft driver was distracted using the app and drifted into your lane, you may be found somewhat at fault.
However, in the case of a pedestrian accident with a Lyft driver, it is still possible to be assigned fault. It’s a common misconception that pedestrians are never at fault for car accidents. They may be at fault if they did not exercise reasonable care, such as jaywalking at night or from between parked cars into the driver’s path.
Statute of Limitations for Lyft Accident Claims in Texas
When you are injured in a rideshare accident, it’s important to understand the statute of limitations. In Texas, personal injury lawsuits have a 2-year statute of limitations starting on the date of the accident. If you do not file a claim before the statute of limitations runs out, you lose your legal right to recover compensation.
It’s wise to begin working with a Weatherford Lyft accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident rather than wait. If you delay in building and filing a claim, crucial evidence providing liability and your damages may be lost.
Damages in a Weatherford Lyft Accident
As the victim in a Lyft accident, you may have a claim against the rideshare driver’s personal insurance policy, Lyft’s third-party insurance, or the insurance policy of another at-fault driver. Stephens Law Firm, PLLC, will help you build your claim and seek fair compensation for the serious injuries you have suffered. You may be entitled to financial compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses related to your accident including hospital and doctor bills, prescription medication, surgery, physical therapy, and counseling
- Lost wages for time you needed to take off work
- Reduced earning capacity or lost future income if you are left unable to work
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
You do not deserve an uncertain financial future because you were involved in a Lyft accident. An experienced Lyft accident attorney in Weatherford will fight for the compensation you deserve by negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf or taking your case before a jury.
If you lost a loved one in a Lyft accident, you may also be entitled to damages through a wrongful death lawsuit. This type of claim allows you to recover for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, the income and benefits your loved one would have provided, and more.
A Weatherford Lyft Accident Lawyer You Can Count On
A rideshare accident can leave you with life-changing injuries, chronic pain, and financial uncertainty. Attorney Jason Stepehns serves as your advocate when you’re up against insurance companies and their teams of lawyers to fight for the full compensation you need. You deserve to focus on your recovery, not fighting to prove just how injured you are due to someone else’s negligence.
Have you been seriously hurt in a Lyft accident? Call the compassionate legal team at Stephens Law Firm, PLLC today to schedule a free consultation with a Weatherford Lyft accident lawyer.
