Rideshare apps like Lyft are convenient. Just open an app, type where you want to go, and find nearby drivers who will take you there at an affordable price. Many people use ridesharing services like Lyft for general transportation or to go to the airport, but they are also useful when people go out drinking and don’t want to risk driving home.
Even though taking a Lyft can be the safest and easiest option for you when you need a ride home or somewhere else, sometimes those drivers get into accidents. After all, rideshare drivers are human, which means they can get distracted, make reckless decisions, and drive poorly at times. Of course, that shouldn’t mean you have to pay for the mistakes made by your rideshare driver. When your Lyft driver gets into an accident, and you suffer injuries as a result, you could use the help of a Columbia, SC Lyft accident lawyer to guide you through your legal options after the crash.
Even though taking a Lyft can be the safest and easiest option for you when you need a ride home or somewhere else, sometimes those drivers get into accidents. After all, rideshare drivers are human, which means they can get distracted, make reckless decisions, and drive poorly at times. Of course, that shouldn’t mean you have to pay for the mistakes made by your rideshare driver. When your Lyft driver gets into an accident, and you suffer injuries as a result, you could use the help of a Columbia, SC Lyft accident lawyer to guide you through your legal options after the crash.
At Solomon Law Group, LLC, we’re dedicated to helping Lyft accident victims like you recover what you’re owed from a negligent rideshare driver. With one of our experienced personal injury lawyers on your side, you can feel confident in your claim and have peace of mind knowing that we are thorough and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve after a Lyft crash in South Carolina.
What Kind of Compensation Can You Recover After a Car Accident Involving a Lyft Driver in South Carolina?
If you were injured in a car wreck while riding around Columbia in a Lyft vehicle, you could likely recover compensation for your injuries and damages with the help of an experienced attorney. After a thorough investigation, our personal injury attorneys will be able to calculate what full and fair compensation would be for your losses.
The two categories that your recovered damages will fall into are economic and non-economic. Economic damages are the real costs that you incurred from the car accident. These tangible losses can easily be calculated through documentation, such as bills and receipts. Some economic damages that you can recover after a Lyft accident are:
- Medical bills
- Prescription medication costs
- Ongoing and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Diminished or lost earning capacity
- Property damage
Car accidents can cause more than physical injuries—they can also cause you to suffer from emotional injuries that are difficult to put a price tag on. These are known as non-economic damages. While they can be harder to calculate, they still can be recovered when you file a claim against the negligent Lyft driver or any other at-fault driver responsible for the car accident. Here are some examples of noneconomic damages that you might be able to recover with the help of a Columbia law firm:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
This all might seem overwhelming and complex, especially when you’re trying to focus on your physical and emotional recovery after being hurt in a car accident. That’s why hiring a Columbia, SC accident attorney from Solomon Law Group, LLC can help you get through your personal injury case. We provide the legal guidance necessary for Lyft accident claims so our clients can focus on getting the medical treatment they need to heal from their accident-related injuries. If you’ve suffered serious injury from a crash involving a rideshare company like Lyft, you should set up a free consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers today to discuss your options.
What Are the Lyft Driver Insurance Coverage Requirements?
Now that you know that you can potentially recover damages from a Lyft accident in Columbia, you should know what insurance coverage your driver had at the time of the collision. This way, you have comfort knowing that your injuries and other damages are covered by your driver’s insurance policy.
Since you were in a car accident while you were on a trip through a rideshare service, then Lyft’s insurance policy, not the driver’s personal insurance, would be what covers your damages. Under Lyft’s company policy, they provide this coverage when there is a car accident during rides when passengers are in the car:
- $1,000,000 for third party auto liability
- Underinsured and uninsured motorist bodily injury
- Contingent comprehensive and collision up to the actual cash value of the car, with a $2,500 deductible
However, drivers sometimes also get into Lyft accidents when they don’t have a ride in progress. When a rideshare driver gets into an accident while the app is on, but they don’t have a passenger in the car, and they aren’t on the way to pick up a passenger, then Lyft still has a policy to protect the driver if an accident occurs. Here is the third-party liability insurance coverage for when a driver is waiting for a ride request:
- $50,000 per person for bodily injury
- $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
However, drivers sometimes also get into Lyft accidents when they don’t have a ride in progress. When a ridWhen a driver for Lyft is not using the app and gets into a car accident, their own personal insurance policy is responsible for the injuries and damages sustained. In South Carolina, drivers in Lyft vehicles must have a minimum policy with an insurance company that covers:
- $25,000 per person for bodily injury
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
When you’ve been in an accident with a Lyft driver, you could be interested in filing a claim with the help of one of our Columbia, SC Lyft accident attorneys at our law firm. We’ll investigate what happened in your car accident, determine who was responsible and which insurance policies would apply, and calculate what you’re owed in damages.
With Solomon Law Group, LLC on your side, you’ll be able to rest assured that you’ll be properly represented by a legal team that has your best interests at heart. During your free case evaluation, we can discuss the details of your Lyft rideshare accident and let you know how we’ll help you recover compensation via a lawsuit once we establish an attorney-client relationship.
What Are the New Standards for Lyft Drivers in South Carolina?
In 2019, new standards came into play for Lyft drivers in our state. After a tragedy involving a college student getting into a vehicle that she thought was her rideshare, drivers with this rideshare company are now required to display their license plate number in the front of their car as well. This should be placed on the dash so that riders can easily see the plate number.
Along with all of the other identifiers that drivers need to display for Lyft, like decals and their colorful light on the dash, the license plate being displayed in the front for reference adds an extra level of safety for riders before they enter the vehicle. That way, they can be sure they’re getting in the correct car when they use rideshare services to get around.
Are You Ready to Hire Solomon Law Group, LLC to Represent You?
Choosing to take a Lyft can be a conscious decision for safety or ease. Transportation services like Lyft can be convenient and cost-effective ways to get around the city or get out of town. But it’s possible for your Lyft driver to be negligent and cause an accident, or at least become involved in one when another driver hits the Lyft vehicle. When this happens, you’ll likely want to recover compensation for your injuries and other damages so you can pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and any damage to your belongings.
The bottom line is that collisions can cause serious harm to passengers, no matter who is responsible. At Solomon Law Group, LLC, once we conduct an investigation to find out who was liable for the rideshare accident, we’ll start working on getting you the financial compensation you deserve for the damage that they caused you. Whether this involves helping with an insurance claim with Lyft insurance or initiating a lawsuit to get the money you need to pay for medical care and more, we have the knowledge necessary to deal with rideshare companies.
You shouldn’t have to go through this alone. That’s why our Columbia, SC Lyft accident lawyer is here to guide you through the legal process. Contact us today to set up a free case evaluation with our personal injury lawyers so we can get started on your potential case as soon as possible.
