Adams County Uber and Lyft Accident Attorney
Thousands of people in Adams County and throughout Colorado use rideshare services like Uber and Lyft every day. Most rideshare passengers are able to take advantage of this convenient alternative to taxis and public transportation without issue, but it’s important to acknowledge that rideshare accidents can happen just as easily as any other motor vehicle accident. However, they tend to generate more challenging legal issues for those involved.
Legal Counsel for Rideshare Accident Victims in Adams County
If you or a loved one are struggling with the effects of a rideshare accident that someone else caused, an Adams County rideshare accident attorney can help you navigate the complicated insurance claim process you are likely to face, and they can also assist you with any further legal recourse you can explore to recover from your losses. Time is a crucial concern for anyone in this situation, and the sooner you connect with legal counsel you can trust, the better your chances are of maximizing your recovery.
The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal offers client-focused and compassionate legal counsel for all types of personal injury claims in Adams County. Our team has confronted the largest auto insurance carriers in the state on behalf of our clients, and we know how to build a compelling personal injury claim when insurance alone cannot compensate your losses. Whatever your rideshare accident claim may entail, you can trust our firm to provide responsive legal guidance through every stage of your recovery efforts.
What to Expect in the Insurance Claim Process After a Rideshare Accident
State law requires every driver to have personal auto insurance coverage, and rideshare companies are also required to have additional insurance that applies in different ways depending on how and when an accident occurs. If you are hurt in a rideshare accident while driving your own vehicle or as a passenger in a rideshare driver’s car, it is important for you to know what to expect when it comes to filing a claim against an at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy.
If a rideshare driver caused your accident, whether you were in your own vehicle or their passenger, you could file a claim against their personal auto insurance policy to seek compensation for your damages, and if this is not enough to fully repay your losses, you could then file a claim against the rideshare company’s insurance. If another driver caused the accident in question, their insurance would be your primary source of recovery, and the rideshare company’s insurance could apply to your remaining damages if you were a passenger. It’s crucial to determine fault for an accident before filing an auto insurance claim in Adams County.
Rideshare company insurance works differently depending on the timing of an accident. If a rideshare driver is logged out of their app and driving for personal reasons, their own auto insurance applies if they cause an accident. After they log into their driver app and mark themselves as waiting for a passenger request, the first level of the rideshare company’s insurance would come into play if they caused an accident, providing up to $50,000 in bodily injury coverage to a single person, up to $100,000 in bodily injury coverage to multiple persons injured in the same accident, and up to $25,000 in property damage coverage.
After a rideshare driver picks up a passenger, the next level of the rideshare company’s insurance applies until they deliver the passenger to their destination. At this coverage tier, the rideshare company’s insurance will cover up to $1 million in damages as third-party liability coverage. In most cases, victims will claim against the at-fault driver’s policy before this coverage tier is applied to the remainder of their losses. While this may seem like enough to compensate the victim of an accident, it is important to realize that there is never a guarantee that insurance alone will compensate your losses, nor is there any promise that the insurance company will handle their claim fairly.
Building a Personal Injury Claim for a Rideshare Accident in Adams County
Your Adams County rideshare accident attorney can be incredibly helpful when it comes to maximizing the results of your insurance claim process. When you encounter any unfair treatment from an insurance company, they can help resolve this as well. If you cannot fully recover your losses through auto insurance for any reason after a car accident in Adams County, you would have grounds to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.
Colorado’s personal injury laws allow a plaintiff in this situation to seek full repayment of their economic damages, which are likely to include:
- Healthcare expenses. If another party injures you, they are responsible for all the medical expenses you incur for treatment of your injuries. This would include both immediate and long-term care if you suffer a severe injury that demands ongoing rehabilitative treatment.
- Lost wages. If you cannot work due to the injuries you suffered, the defendant who injured you is responsible for the income you are unable to earn during this time. This would apply to lost future income as well if they caused a permanent disability that prevents you from returning to work.
- Property damage, such as the cost of replacing your vehicle if available insurance cannot cover the full value of the vehicle. You can also claim compensation for personal belongings damaged or destroyed in the accident.
Once your Adams County rideshare accident attorney has helped you calculate all your claimable immediate and future economic damages, you may be surprised at the amount you can claim. However, you are also allowed to seek compensation for your pain and suffering. State law caps pain and suffering compensation in personal injury cases, but an experienced attorney will know the optimal method of maximizing this aspect of your case award.
Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer FAQs
Q: How Can I Prove Fault for a Rideshare Car Accident in Adams County?
A: Before you can obtain any compensation for your damages from a rideshare accident in Adams County, you must prove how the accident happened. Your Adams County rideshare accident attorney can secure traffic camera recordings, witness statements, cell phone records, and other evidence to help establish liability. It’s possible for one or more parties to bear fault for your damages, and your attorney can assist you in holding them appropriately accountable.
Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim for a Rideshare Accident in Adams County?
A: After securing as much compensation as you can through insurance, you can file a personal injury claim against the party responsible for your accident. However, you must do so within the statute of limitations. In Colorado, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date the injury occurred. This might seem like more than enough time, but it is advisable to secure legal counsel you can trust as soon as possible after an accident to have the greatest chance of maximizing your recovery.
Q: What Damages Can I Claim for a Rideshare Accident?
A: Once you have proven how your rideshare accident happened and identified the party or parties responsible, you can seek repayment for the losses they inflicted. Under state law, the victim of a personal injury has the right to claim compensation for medical treatment costs for their injuries, lost income when they are unable to work while they recover, property damage such as the cost of repairing their vehicle, and pain and suffering. The state places a cap on pain and suffering compensation in personal injury claims, but there are no limits on economic damages.
Q: Why Should I Hire an Adams County Rideshare Accident Attorney?
A: An experienced and reliable Adams County rideshare accident attorney is an invaluable asset when you must navigate a complex series of legal affairs following a crash. Your attorney can help with your auto insurance claims against the at-fault driver and the rideshare company if applicable to your case. When insurance alone cannot repay all your damages, they can help file a personal injury claim and guide you through your civil court proceedings. Ultimately, hiring an attorney you can trust significantly improves your chances of maximizing your recovery in the most efficient possible manner.
Q: What Will It Cost to Hire an Adams County Rideshare Accident Attorney?
A: The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal will not add to your financial problems after a rideshare accident by charging excessive attorneys’ fees. We accept personal injury cases on contingency, meaning we only take a fee once we win your case. Additionally, the fee you pay will be a percentage of your total case award, and you pay nothing if our firm cannot obtain compensation on your behalf for any reason.
The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal has cultivated a strong professional reputation as a leading choice for personal injury counsel in Adams County, and we have a long record of successful cases to prove our commitment to client recovery. If you are ready to explore your options for legal recourse after an Uber or Lyft accident, contact us today and schedule your consultation with an Adams County rideshare accident attorney.