Portsmouth Lyft Accident Lawyer

You put a lot of trust in the Lyft driver you ask to get you from Point A to Point B. If that driver violates your trust, behaves recklessly behind the wheel, or drives distracted, you’re the one who may walk away with serious losses. What are you supposed to do after a Lyft accident if you want to recover?

Lyft accident survivors like you can reach out to a Lyft accident lawyer in Portsmouth for guidance. Atkinson Law’s team of experienced Portsmouth rideshare accident lawyers can help you identify the negligence that led to your accident and prove liability in a civil court. From there, we can fight to hold the right people and/or entities responsible for your post-accident recovery.

Assigning Fault in a Lyft Accident

Grappling with the question of liability after a Lyft accident is complicated. In a standard car accident case, you would follow the evidence to the party whose negligence–running a red light, failing to yield right-of-way, for example–caused your losses. That party’s insurance company would normally pay for your damages. However, a Lyft driver’s contract can specify that Lyft’s liability coverage, not the driver’s personal liability insurance, applies to cover the damages to an injured party.

As in other auto accident claims, when you aim to hold any party liable for your Lyft accident, you have the burden of proof. If you don’t present sufficient evidence, it will be impossible to prove that the person you’ve sued for your losses owes you damages.

The evidence you can bring forward to figure out liability includes:

• Photos of your accident
• Video or audio footage of the accident
• Statements from bystanders
• Input from expert witnesses
• Police reports
• Medical statements
• Copies of a Lyft driver’s contract and Lyft’s insurance policies

You can count on our seasoned car accident lawyer in Portsmouth to help you gather this information and compile it into a proper demand package or lawsuit.

How to Hold a Corporation Liable for Your Lyft Accident Losses

If you were a passenger in a Lyft at the time of an accident, who do you hold accountable for your losses? Often Lyft, not your driver. Why? Because any Lyft driver with passengers in their car is considered on-duty with the company and acting within the scope of employment and is thus protected by the company’s insurance and legal team.

What if a Lyft driver hits you with passengers in their car? As described in the situation above, Lyft and its insurance may be liable for your expenses. That said, if you were hit by an off-duty driver, you can’t bring the company into your civil case. You must name the individual at-fault driver in your complaint and pursue compensation through that driver’s liability insurance carrier.

Pursuing a Lyft Accident Case Allows You to Fight for Damages

Whether you were a passenger in a Lyft or a Lyft hit your car, recovering from a rideshare accident involves financial uncertainty and stress. Instead of paying out-of-pocket for your post-accident bills, you can force the legally responsible party liable party to cover your losses. Reimbursement for medical bills–even compensation for future surgery–is the centerpiece of your civil claim.

Before you make your demands, you should know the value of your Lyft accident case. To establish that value, you need to find the sum of your economic and non-economic losses. The losses you can fold into this estimate include:

• Post-accident medical expenses
• Future medical expenses, such as scar revision treatment
• Wages lost while recovering from accident-related injuries
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish for permanent injuries

Our Portsmouth personal injury lawyers team can help you establish the dollar value of intangible losses like mental anguish so that your case valuation can be as comprehensive as possible.

When to File a Virginia Lyft Accident Claim

Code of Virginia § 8.01-243 dictates that you have two years from the anniversary of your Lyft accident to bring your claim forward in civil court. Your claim must identify the party you want to hold liable for your losses and outline the damages you expect by the time it reaches a judge or jury for consideration. Civil courts will not consider incomplete or overdue claims.

While you can take two years to compile the information you need to file your claim, submitting a demand package as soon as possible after you reach maximum medical improvement is preferable. You can connect with an attorney within hours of a Lyft accident to make the most of the time allotted to you.

The Perks of Working With a Lyft Accident Lawyer

If you don’t have any experience with the law, the idea of building a civil Lyft accident claim may be intimidating. We take pride in building the strongest possible case for you while you focus on getting the medical treatment you need. When you ask us to take over your case, we assume responsibility for your filing deadlines and gathering the information you need to seek justice for your losses.

Our Portsmouth, VA, Lyft accident lawyer can help you in these and other ways:

• Discuss your accident with police officers, insurance companies, and other officials
• Hold civil conversations with the party liable for your losses
• Bring forward evidence to support claims regarding fault and the economic value of your losses
• Stay on top of your filing deadline
• Negotiate your personal injury claim with the insurance company
• Prepare you for testimony and cross-examination if your case goes before a judge

You can discuss what specific concerns you have regarding your case with our team during a free initial consultation. We pride ourselves on meeting your individual needs and keeping you informed throughout the civil claim process.

Atkinson Law Is Here for You

Figuring out liability after a Lyft accident isn’t easy, even when you have favorable evidence in hand. The effect of employment and insurance contracts on who will compensate you for your accident can even confuse some lawyers. Fortunately, you don’t have to take a crash course in contract law to fight for the compensation you deserve after a rideshare accident.

You can turn to Atkinson Law’s Lyft accident lawyer in Portsmouth, VA, for legal assistance. Our team can stand up for your right to damages in private negotiations or before a judge. To learn more about our services or to schedule a free case consultation, contact us by calling our office or completing our online contact form.