Have you recently suffered injuries or lost a loved one in a Lyft car accident in Carbondale, Pennsylvania? Contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates. It’s important to assert your legal rights and demand accountability from those responsible. Our Carbondale Lyft accident lawyers have the experience and resources you’ll need to make the most of your fight for compensation.
Marzzacco Niven & Associates has been a trusted champion for crash victims in Carbondale and throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for more than 15 years. As leaders in motor vehicle accident litigation with 120+ years of experience, our award-winning trial attorneys have helped deserving clients win tens of millions in life-changing settlements and jury awards.
Today, we’re ready to help you fight for the maximum financial recovery you deserve. Contact our law office in Carbondale, PA, to schedule a free consultation to learn more, or call (717) 995-8810.
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How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help You After a Lyft Accident in Carbondale
Can you sue Lyft if you get into an accident with one of its drivers? Are you protected if you’re injured as a passenger in a Lyft accident? What kind of evidence will you need to make your case? How can you protect yourself if insurance companies try to blame you for the accident?
When a car accident involves a Lyft, things can get complicated. Focus your time and energy on getting better, rather than fighting a contested legal claim for damages. Leave your pursuit of compensation to our experienced Carbondale personal injury lawyers.
We’re recognized as Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America because of our dedication to our clients and demonstrated ability to win top results.
When you turn to our law firm for help after a Lyft rideshare accident in Carbondale, you’ll be able to count on us to:
- Conduct a prompt investigation into your Lyft accident
- Gather evidence needed to build a compelling legal claim for damages
- Interview the Lyft driver and witnesses to the accident
- Identify all available insurance policies and benefits
- Consult expert witnesses as we calculate what your Lyft car accident case is likely worth
- Take care of all administrative elements of your insurance claim and/or lawsuit
- Negotiate with the defendant and/or insurance company on your behalf
- Aggressively pursue a top-dollar verdict at trial if you don’t receive a fair settlement offer
Money can be really tight after a Lyft accident. Medical bills can add up quickly, and you might have to tap into your savings to make ends meet. Our Lyft accident attorneys in Carbondale want to help you make things right without adding to the stress you’re under. That’s why we work on contingency.
You pay nothing unless we win compensation for your Lyft rideshare injury case.
Call our law office in Carbondale to set up a free consultation. We’re here to help 24 hours a day.
What Are the Top Causes of Lyft Accidents in Carbondale, PA?
Statistically speaking, driving has gotten more dangerous since Lyft, Uber, and other rideshare services began operating over a decade ago. Fatal car accidents have increased since Lyft vehicles hit the road. This isn’t to say that Lyft vehicles are involved in all of these new accidents. However, rideshare vehicles have added to road congestion and made driving conditions less safe.
One reason is due to the fact that Lyft drivers aren’t professionals. Drivers are under no obligation to obtain a commercial driver’s license, undergo additional driver’s tests, or demonstrate a superior ability to drive safely.
Quite the contrary, Lyft drivers tend to be way more distracted, fatigued, and rushed than most other drivers on the road.
After all, Lyft drivers:
- Get paid based on the number of rides they complete, so they’re more likely to speed and engage in dangerous behaviors behind the wheel
- Often work for rideshare companies as a second source of income, meaning many have already put in a full day’s work before driving
- Focus on their Lyft apps, GPS, and passengers rather than the traffic conditions around them
- Might be inclined to rely on drugs and/or alcohol to cope with the stresses of the job
Lyft drivers are also responsible for driving safe vehicles. Lapses in maintenance or inspections – due to time or money constraints – can allow passengers to be driven around in unsafe or defective vehicles.
It’s essential to consider every possible cause of a Lyft accident in Carbondale. At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we’ll carefully evaluate your accident from every angle and work to pinpoint precisely why and how the crash happened.
Understanding Liability for Carbondale Lyft Accidents
You might wonder if you can sue Lyft after an accident in Carbondale, PA. As a general rule, the answer is no. Lyft drivers are independent contractors, so the corporation is not vicariously liable for driver negligence.
However, Lyft is legally required to have insurance in place to cover crash-related damages. You may also have the opportunity to seek damages from a liable third party (or their insurance carrier).
How Lyft Insurance Works After an Accident
After an accident with a Lyft vehicle, insurance will be your primary source of compensation. Whose insurance company pays – and in what order – depends on the Lyft driver’s status.
- Lyft driver off duty. The Lyft driver is personally responsible for accidents when they’re off duty. You can file a claim against their personal insurance company for benefits, and/or sue the driver directly for damages.
- Lyft driver waiting for a ride request. If the Lyft driver is logged into the Lyft app and waiting for someone to request a ride, Lyft has a limited insurance policy that covers accidents.
- Lyft driver actively engaged in ride through the app. Lyft has a $1 million insurance policy that activates when a driver accepts a ride request through the app. It terminates once the ride is completed.
Lyft’s insurance policy is secondary. In other words, you have to exhaust other insurance benefits before you can recover compensation from Lyft’s insurance carrier.
Since Pennsylvania is a “choice no-fault” insurance state, it can be difficult to determine your best course of action after an accident. Contact our law personal injury law firm for a free case evaluation, at which time we can offer some initial legal advice.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Lyft Car Accident Victims?
Whether you’re a passenger in the back of a Lyft or an occupant of another vehicle, you can generally recover both economic and non-economic damages after a Lyft accident in Carbondale, PA.
This can include money for:
- Medical expenses
- Disability
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Nursing care
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement
Our Lyft accident lawyers in Carbondale will work to recover all compensation available to you under Pennsylvania state law.
Common Lyft Rideshare Accident Injuries
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we’re here to help you pursue compensation for all of the injuries you’ve suffered in a Lyft accident, including:
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injury
- Nerve damage
- Eye injury
- Concussion
- Brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Whiplash
- Back injury
- Burn injury
- Degloving injury
- Amputation
- Catastrophic injury
- Wrongful death of a family member
Report your accident to Lyft and the local police immediately, then seek prompt medical attention at the closest hospital in Carbondale. These simple steps can be critical for your well-being and the future success of a claim for damages.
Can Shared Responsibility Affect My Lyft Car Accident Settlement in Pennsylvania?
Yes. If you’re involved in a car accident with a Lyft rideshare vehicle, your contributory fault can affect your ability to recover compensation – at least as far as claims against the other driver go. If you’ve selected “limited tort” insurance coverage, you can file a claim with your own insurer regardless of fault. However, keep in mind that even with that type of insurance, you still may be eligible for additional compensation.
Pennsylvania has a modified comparative negligence system of fault. Sharing more than 50 percent of the blame for a Lyft accident will be a complete bar to a third-party financial recovery.
Sharing some of the blame will result in a reduction in damages. If you’re 30 percent at fault, your settlement or jury award will be reduced by 30 percent.
Our Carbondale personal injury attorneys will help you fight back against allegations that you caused or contributed to your Lyft accident. The less liability you share, the more money you can potentially receive when your case is resolved.
Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Lyft Injury Claim in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania’s two-year statute of limitations applies to most Lyft accident lawsuits.
This gives you until the second anniversary of your Lyft accident to take legal action and demand accountability from those responsible for your injuries.
Don’t let the deadline pass by without filing a claim. Once the statute of limitations expires, so does your opportunity to get the money you deserve.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Trusted Carbondale Lyft Accident Lawyer
Call Marzzacco Niven & Associates if you’ve been injured in a Lyft rideshare accident in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. You may have the right to demand compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other crash-related damages. Our experienced Carbdonale Lyft accident lawyers can help you fight for maximum financial recovery.
Collectively, our team has 120+ years of experience and a proven ability to help our clients achieve meaningful results.
Call our Carbondale, PA, law office to learn more about how we can help you get back on your feet after your Lyft accident. Your first consultation is free.