A car accident can change your life completely, preventing you from performing your normal work and enjoying your free time with your family and friends. Although such incidents often involve private people, they sometimes happen because a professional driver working for Lyft, Uber, or another rideshare company made a mistake. In such a case, a car accident attorney can help you receive the compensation you need to restart your life.
Because rideshare drivers often earn low wages and are therefore under pressure to drive as quickly as possible, increasing risk of an accident. Fortunately, they are required to be insured, so making a claim will be reasonably straightforward. In this way, you’ll be able to get compensation for your medical bills, any loss of income, the emotional toll the incident has on you, and the wrongful death of a loved one.
What Is a Rideshare Accident?
In recent years, rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft have become increasingly popular. They are not only cheaper than regular taxis, but they are also extremely convenient because you can order a driver within minutes from the comfort of your home. However, the people working for such organizations are often not as highly qualified as regular taxi drivers, which makes them more dangerous on the roads.
What’s more, the companies don’t pay very well, so drivers have to accept as many customers as possible to make a profit. As a result, they might drive more quickly or pay less attention than they otherwise would. If you’ve been injured while riding with a Lyft or Uber driver, you have been the victim of a rideshare accident. This also applies if you were driving and such a car hit you.
Who Is Responsible for Paying Your Bills?
Generally, the person responsible for the accident is the one who has to pay for any medical bills and car repairs. Thus, you won’t have to worry about the cost of your treatment, and if you were hit by a rideshare driver, they might also cover the mechanic’s bills or the cost of purchasing a new vehicle if the old one is totaled.
Almost every rideshare driver is insured, and their policy often covers them for up to $1 million. Because of this, it can be straightforward to make a claim and receive compensation for what happened. However, the driver’s insurance company might try to offer you a lower amount than you need, so it’s worth speaking to an experienced car accident attorney who can tell you how much you should ask for.
What Compensation Can You Receive?
You can get compensated for your losses in a variety of ways. Getting the person responsible to pay for your medical treatment is reasonably easy because you have clear evidence of the cost. However, this is often not enough, as you may be facing other consequences such as a loss of work. A good lawyer will help you figure out all your losses, put a value on them, and ask for the correct amount from the other party’s insurance company.
Medical Bills
After an accident, you should not delay treatment. The longer you wait to get the medical help you need, the higher the chance that you will need ongoing treatment and your injuries will affect your life permanently. After you’ve received the urgent care you need, you can explore a variety of avenues, such as physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage.
Depending on your injuries, all these treatments could help you regain your mobility and confidence. Since they will be covered by the person responsible for your accident, you don’t have to worry about incurring high medical costs. If in doubt, have a chat with your lawyer. They might be able to recommend medical practitioners who are used to dealing with car accident victims.
Loss of Income
If the injuries you suffer from are extensive, you may have to take prolonged time off work. This could result in a lower income or even job loss. In certain extreme cases, the patient won’t ever be able to go back to their old job because their injuries don’t allow the same type of work.
They will have to find a new way of earning money, which can take a lot of time and may require continued education. A good attorney can estimate the amount of income you have lost due to the accident and help you receive compensation.
Emotional Upset
It’s important to remember that the physical and practical aspects of your case aren’t the only ones that matter. In addition to the pain you’re in, you might also be suffering emotionally from the trauma of what happened. Often, you won’t be able to enjoy your life as much as before, and you will have some mental health challenges like anxiety or depression.
Getting treatment for this is just as important as receiving medical care for physical injuries. Most people who’ve been in a rideshare accident could benefit from counseling. The person responsible for the incident will also have to pay for this.
Wrongful Death
Some of the most challenging cases are those that involve a wrongful death. This happens when someone has passed away as a result of the accident caused by a rideshare driver. If your loved one died, this can have a number of effects on your life. Aside from the grief and trauma you’re dealing with, you might also be worried about paying for your life, especially if the deceased person was the main breadwinner of your household.
Although it can’t make your loved one come back, the compensation you receive for wrongful death helps to take the pressure off your financial situation. That way, you can focus fully on healing and moving on without having to struggle with money worries.
Finding a Highly Qualified Car Accident Attorney
It’s highly likely that you can make a claim if you’ve been hurt by a rideshare driver because they almost always have insurance. However, the amount you receive depends on the quality of your lawyer. You should always hire someone who is experienced with these kinds of accidents and has fought similar cases before.
Have a look at potential lawyers’ websites to find out whether they regularly deal with rideshare accidents. You should also check out the attorneys’ biographies, which can give you important information about their experience. Great law firms will usually offer you a free consultation, so you can meet the professionals and figure out whether you’d like to work with them on your case.
A highly qualified and experienced car accident attorney can help you make a claim. They will determine whether the rideshare driver was at fault and how much compensation you need to move on from what happened. Get in touch with us now at Gamez Law Firm in San Antonio, TX to speak to one of our expert attorneys. We will be happy to welcome you to the free consultation and help you move forward with your life after a devastating accident.