Lakewood Uber and Lyft Accident Attorneys
Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft have grown incredibly popular in Lakewood and throughout Colorado, with thousands of people using rideshare services every day. While most are able to enjoy these convenient transportation services without issue, it is just as likely for an accident to happen in a rideshare vehicle as it is in any other vehicle. However, rideshare accidents can easily generate more complex legal issues for those involved.
Legal Counsel for Lakewood Rideshare Accident Claims
If you or a family member recently sustained injuries and financial losses from a rideshare accident that someone else caused, it’s likely that you will face a complicated series of legal proceedings if you want to recover from the incident as fully as possible. An experienced Lakewood rideshare accident attorney is the ideal resource to consult in this situation.
The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal has helped many past clients through all types of personal injury cases in Lakewood, and we can apply this experience to your claim. We know how challenging it can be to navigate the auto insurance claim process after a rideshare accident, especially if you are unsure about liability or if you must file multiple claims. We can examine the details of how your rideshare accident happened in Lakewood and help determine the optimal path to recovery.
Preparing for the Auto Insurance Claim Filing Process in Lakewood
State law requires all drivers to have auto insurance that meets basic coverage requirements. Rideshare companies require their drivers to maintain personal auto insurance coverage, but these companies are required by law to have additional insurance. This means that depending on how your accident happened and who caused it, you may need to file more than one insurance claim to fully recover your losses. However, rideshare company auto insurance applies in different ways depending on the details of an accident.
Typically, if a rideshare driver is to blame for your damages, you must file a claim against their personal auto insurance policy before you can claim against the rideshare company’s insurance. If the accident happened while you were using your own vehicle and the rideshare driver was not logged into their driver app, you can file a claim against their personal auto insurance policy and follow it up with a personal injury suit when insurance alone can’t cover your losses.
If the rideshare driver is marked as waiting for a ride request when they cause an accident, the first level of the rideshare company’s insurance comes into play. This level of coverage includes up to $50,000 for bodily injury to a single person, up to $100,000 for bodily injuries to multiple victims, and up to $25,000 in property damage liability coverage. Rideshare companies also cover damages to their drivers under certain conditions.
Once a rideshare driver picks up a passenger, the rideshare company’s top level of insurance protection applies until the passenger is delivered to their destination. This level of coverage includes up to $1 million in third-party liability coverage. Once the victim has secured as much as they can through the at-fault driver’s insurance, this coverage tier may compensate the remainder of their losses.
Building Your Personal Injury Claim
Ultimately, there may be more insurance coverage available to you after an accident than you realize at first, but this does not mean that insurance alone will completely cover your losses from a rideshare accident. If you cannot obtain full repayment of your damages through an insurance claim, you will need to file a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver.
Under Colorado’s personal injury statutes, the plaintiff in a personal injury case has the right to seek full repayment of all economic losses they sustained along with pain and suffering compensation under the cap enforced by state law. Your Lakewood rideshare accident attorney can be invaluable for helping you with your auto insurance claim process, but their counsel can be even more crucial for a subsequent personal injury claim.
Any motor vehicle accident in Lakewood, CO, has the potential to cause a host of economic losses for the victim and their family. With your Lakewood rideshare accident attorney’s help, you can potentially recover compensation for:
- Any medical care you require for your injuries. The defendant who injured you is liable for the cost of immediate and ongoing medical treatment you require to fully heal from your injuries, including catastrophic injuries like brain injuries that demand extensive long-term care.
- Lost wages and lost future earning potential. Severe personal injuries often leave victims unable to work and earn income. If this applies to your situation, the defendant is liable for all your lost wages. Your attorney can help prove the future impact their actions have had on your earning power.
- Property losses, such as the cost of repairing or replacing a vehicle not fully covered by insurance. Any property damages you cannot recover through the insurance claim process can be added to your personal injury suit.
- Pain and suffering. State law limits how much compensation a plaintiff can receive in a personal injury case, but a good Lakewood rideshare accident attorney can help their client obtain as much as possible to reflect the severity of their experience.
Your case could be worth more than you initially expect, and having the assistance of a seasoned Lakewood rideshare accident attorney on your side will significantly improve the quality of the final case award you obtain. When you choose the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal to represent you, you are investing in years of professional legal experience and will have instant access to a responsive legal advocate who can provide the guidance and support you need in this challenging situation. Our goal is to find the most expedient method of securing maximum compensation for your damages.
Uber & Lyft Accident FAQs
Q: Can I File a Personal Injury Claim Against Uber or Lyft for an Accident in Lakewood, CO?
A: It is possible for a rideshare company to bear fault for your losses if the company was negligent in their hiring of the driver who caused the accident in question. Your recovery from a rideshare accident in Lakewood will typically begin with an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver, followed by a claim against the rideshare company’s insurance. If this is not enough to completely cover your losses, your Lakewood rideshare accident attorney can help determine the next steps to take in your recovery efforts.
Q: How Long Do I Have to File an Auto Insurance Claim After a Rideshare Accident?
A: You must notify an auto insurance carrier of your intent to file a claim for an accident within a very short time, typically only a few days. However, when you notify an insurance carrier of your intent to file a claim, you should inform them that you must consult your attorney before discussing a settlement. This is why it is crucial to seek legal counsel you can trust immediately after a rideshare accident in Lakewood.
Q: How Much Is My Rideshare Accident Claim Worth in Lakewood?
A: Colorado law upholds that the defendant responsible for your accident is liable for any and all economic losses they inflicted as well as your pain and suffering. Economic damages you can claim can include medical expenses, long-term medical treatment costs, lost wages, and lost future earning capacity if you are left unable to work from the accident. When it comes to pain and suffering compensation, your Lakewood rideshare accident attorney can assist you in securing the maximum amount allowable under the state’s cap on non-economic damages in personal injury claims.
Q: Why Should I Hire a Lakewood Rideshare Accident Attorney?
A: If you think you can manage your recovery on your own, it is important to understand the legal challenges you will face while recovering from your injuries. You could make mistakes with your case filings or overlook available avenues of compensation, settling for less than you deserve. You could also face other risks that you will now know how to address by yourself. Hiring a Lakewood rideshare accident attorney makes handling your case much easier, and you are more likely to maximize your final recovery as much as possible.
Q: How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Lakewood Rideshare Accident Attorney?
A: The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal will not add to your financial stress when you are struggling in the aftermath of a rideshare accident. We take personal injury clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning our client only pays a percentage of their final case award as our fee. There are no upfront or ongoing attorneys’ fees for our representation, and you pay nothing if we cannot secure compensation on your behalf. This eliminates the risk of your legal fees eclipsing your total compensation.
The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal has years of professional legal experience handling a variety of civil claims on behalf of clients in Lakewood and surrounding communities. Whatever your situation requires, we can be readily available to provide guidance and support as you seek compensation for your damages. Contact us today and schedule your consultation with a Lakewood rideshare accident attorney and learn more about the legal services we offer.