Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft have transformed how we use transportation. Despite the convenience they provide, accidents involving Uber and Lyft happen often. If you have been injured in a rideshare accident, you may be entitled to compensation.
Unfortunately, insurance companies will try to minimize or deny your claim entirely using sneaky tactics. That’s where the experience of a Greenwood Village Uber/Lyft accident lawyer becomes invaluable.
At legal Help in Colorado, our Greenwood Village rideshare accident lawyers have the knowledge, expertise, and resources to hold insurance accompanies accountable and secure the best possible outcome for your case. Our team of Greenwood Village car accident attorneys will help you recover the compensation you deserve and ensure your rights are protected throughout the process.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an Uber or Lyft accident, contact our Greenwood Village Uber/Lyft accident lawyers today to schedule a free case consultation. Call (303) 351-2567 now.
The Legal Help in Colorado Advantage
- Our Greenwood Village personal injury attorneys battle and win against insurance companies and big corporations like Uber and Lyft to recover maximum compensation for our clients.
- Our team has a 95% success rate and have recovered numerous multi-million dollar settlements and awards for our clients in Greenwood Village, Denver Tech Center, and the surrounding areas.
- Our Greenwood Village Uber/Lyft accident attorneys will pursue your claim for compensation, and you will pay nothing until we win for you.
- Our law firm small enough to provide personalized client services with the skills and resources to build your strongest case.
Common Uber/Lyft Accident Injuries
Uber and Lyft accidents can result in injuries that range from minor to catastrophic. Some of the more common Uber and Lyft accidents in the Greenwood Village area include:
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, including those that lead to paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Muscle and soft-tissue injuries
- Rib fractures
- Lacerations
- Sprains and strains
- Internal bleeding and injuries
- Wrongful death
Even if you think your injuries are not severe, you should be evaluated by a medical professional right away. Not all injuries are immediately apparent, but can result in long-term disabilities and chronic pain.
Top Causes of Uber/Lyft Accidents in Greenwood Village
Some of the most common causes of Uber and Lyft accidents include:
- Distracted driving– Uber and Lyft drivers must frequently use their cell phones and navigation devices to accept new rides and get people to their correct destinations. These drivers also often eat meals and snacks while driving and may engage in other types of distracted driving that cause accidents.
- Fatigued and drowsy driving– Many rideshare drivers work multiple jobs and drive for Uber or Lyft after already working a full day elsewhere. Working extended hours without proper sleep and rest can cause accidents.
- Speeding and breaking traffic law– Uber and Lyft drivers earn more money by taking more rides. Many of them speed to and from destinations and may run traffic lights or signs, which can contribute to accidents.
- Improper vehicle maintenance– If an Uber or Lyft driver does not properly maintain their vehicle, they may experience dangerous malfunctions, such as tire blowouts or brake failures, that can cause an accident.
- Driving under the influence– Some Uber and Lyft drivers may be intoxicated when they pick up a rider, which can quickly lead to an accident.
Determining and proving the cause of your accident is essential to recovering maximum compensation. Our attorneys will carefully investigate your accident to help identify all causes and potentially liable parties and maximize compensation for your damages.
What Parties Are Responsible For Paying My Damages?
The responsibility for your Uber or Lyft accident damages is influenced by several factors. First, responsibility for damages depends on who was at fault for the accident. It also depends on when your accident happened.
If some other driver caused your accident, they may be responsible for your damages. Likewise, if another third party, such as a government entity responsible for dangerous road conditions or the manufacturer of defective vehicle parts, contributed to the cause of your accident, they may be liable.
If the Uber or Lyft driver is at fault for the accident, his own insurance carrier may provide coverage if he was not logged into the app at the time of the accident. However, if the accident occurred while the driver was logged into the app or while he was en route to pick up a rider or taking a rider to a destination, the insurance carrier for Uber or Lyft may provide coverage for your damages.
What Type of Damages Can I Recover?
In a successful Uber or Lyft accident claim, you should be able to recover economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include your current and future medical expenses, current and future lost wages, property damages, and other expenses or financial losses incurred due to the accident and your injuries.
Non-economic damages include your pain and suffering, mental and emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and other intangible losses and damages incurred due to the accident and your injuries.
Economic and non-economic damages are designed to compensate victims for their losses. In rare cases, an injury victim may also be awarded punitive damages.
Punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages, are not designed to compensate a victim but to punish a wrongdoer and to deter future similar behavior.
In Colorado, exemplary damages may be awarded pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes 12-21-102 if the wrongdoer’s conduct was done with fraud, malice, or willful and wanton conduct.
“Willful and wanton conduct” means that the wrongdoer realized it was dangerous or took the action heedlessly and recklessly without considering the consequences or the rights and safety of others, especially the injury victim.
Under Colorado Revised Statutes 13-21-202, you may have the right to file a wrongful death action if you lost a loved one in an Uber or Lyft accident that was not their fault.
How Much Liability Coverage Does Uber/Lyft Have?
Uber and Lyft provide insurance coverage based on a three-phase system, with coverage determined by the time of the accident.
Phase One occurs when an Uber or Lyft driver is operating their vehicle but is not logged into the app. During this Phase, Uber and Lyft do not provide insurance coverage. The driver’s personal insurance coverage would cover an accident caused by the driver.
Phase Two occurs when the Uber or Lyft driver logs into the app and waits for a ride request. During this Phase, Uber and Lyft provide coverage up to $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
Phase Three occurs when the Uber or Lyft driver has accepted a ride and is on the way to pick up the rider or the rider is inside the Uber or Lyft vehicle. During this phase, Uber and Lyft provide coverage up to $1 million for injuries and losses.
How Long Do I Have to File an Uber/Lyft Accident Claim?
The statute of limitations for an action determines your filing deadline. For a Colorado Uber or Lyft personal injury accident, you have no more than three years from the date of the accident to file your claim pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes 13-80-101.
If you miss your filing deadline, you will not be able to recover compensation for your damages. There are rare exceptions to the filing deadline, and you should promptly consult an experienced Greenwood Village Uber/Lyft accident attorney to determine your filing deadline and protect your right to recover full damages.
Why Do I Need an Uber/Lyft Lawyer?
- Insurance companies can use unfair tactics to take advantage of an injury victim. However, an experienced Uber/Lyft lawyer knows how to combat those tactics and hold them accountable for your damages.
- The amount of insurance coverage provided in an Uber/Lyft accident can differ greatly depending on when the accident occurred. You need an experienced attorney to carefully investigate your accident to identify and collect evidence to prove the correct phase during which your accident occurred. Doing so can help ensure you benefit from the maximum amount of liability insurance coverage for your damages.
- In almost every case, your chances of a successful outcome are greatly enhanced when you are represented by an experienced Greenwood Village Uber/Lyft accident lawyer.
Contact Our Greenwood Village Rideshare Accident Lawyers Today
Navigating the aftermath of a rideshare accident can be complex, but you don’t have to do it alone. The Greenwood Village Uber/Lyft accident attorneys at Legal Help in Colorado are here to provide you with the legal guidance you need to secure the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free case consultation with our experienced team.