If you or a family member were injured in an accident involving a rideshare service in Lancaster, PA, it’s important to seek legal advice. Insurance issues in Lyft accident cases can be complex. An experienced Lancaster Lyft accident lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help protect your right to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering.
Our experienced lawyers bring over 120 years of experience to the table. We’ve helped our personal injury clients recover tens of millions of dollars over the years.
It’s never too early to take action if you were injured in a Lyft accident. Contact our law offices in Lancaster, Pennsylvania at (717) 616-2954, to schedule a free consultation today.
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How Can Marzzacco Niven & Associates Help if You Were Hurt in a Lyft Rideshare Accident in Lancaster, PA
After a Lyft accident in Lancaster, it’s reasonable to expect that you should be compensated for your injuries. That said, you can’t count on the insurance company or at-fault driver to help you get a fair settlement. You’ll need an experienced Lancaster personal injury lawyer on your team.
Marzzacco Niven & Associates has received numerous accolades for our legal representation over the years. We’ve been recognized by Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, and The Best Lawyers of America.
When you hire our team, you’ll benefit from a skilled lawyer who will:
- Help you understand your options at every stage of the personal injury process
- Interview witnesses and gather evidence that can prove your case
- Determine the available insurance coverage in your case
- Defend you if and when the insurance company blames you for causing the crash
- Work with trusted and respected experts when needed to strengthen your claim
- Negotiate with Lyft’s insurance company for a fair settlement offer
- Protect your rights in court if the insurance company won’t offer a fair deal
If you were seriously injured, your future may seem uncertain. One thing, however, is clear: You improve your chances of making a full financial recovery with an experienced Lancaster personal injury attorney on your team. Call our personal injury law firm today to get started.
Statistics on Lyft Accidents in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania crash reports do not specifically state whether a rideshare vehicle has been involved in a motor vehicle accident. Because of that, it’s hard to know exactly how many Lyft accidents occur each year.
Lyft did release its own safety report back in 2021. That report found that motor vehicle fatalities involving Lyft were much lower than the national average. Lyft did not provide any information on the number of Lyft accidents that have occurred.
However, independent research has found evidence that rideshare companies Uber and Lyft have made the roads more dangerous across the U.S.
According to a study that used National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics, fatal traffic accidents have increased by between 2% and 4% every year since rideshare companies entered U.S. cities.
What Is My Lancaster Lyft Accident Case Worth?
The answer to this question depends on the unique circumstances of your accident and injury.
As a general rule of thumb, victims with severe, permanent, or catastrophic injuries recover higher settlements and verdicts. However, it’s important to have a lawyer evaluate all the facts before accepting an insurance offer.
Some of the factors that will likely play a role in assessing your case value include:
- The severity of your injuries
- The cost of medical treatment, rehabilitation, and therapies
- Your need for ongoing medical attention
- Your lost wages during recovery
- Your anticipated future loss of earning capacity
- Damage to your quality of life or ability to enjoy life
The amount of available insurance coverage can become an issue in any accident case. That said, the issue is particularly important when Uber or Lyft are involved in a car crash.
How Can Lyft’s Insurance Rules Impact My Case?
When an employee causes an accident while performing job duties, the employer can be held liable under state vicarious liability laws.
Uber and Lyft drivers are independent contractors. So, Uber and Lyft cannot be held liable for negligence when rideshare drivers cause accidents. That’s created problems for accident victims in the past–because typical auto insurance policies won’t offer coverage when drivers are using their vehicles to make money.
Uber and Lyft now must purchase commercial insurance policies to provide coverage when their drivers are involved in accidents.
There are three different periods that determine the amount of insurance coverage available after a Lyft accident.
Coverage When the Lyft App Is Off
If the Lyft driver isn’t logged into the app, no special insurance rules apply. The at-fault driver’s own personal car insurance policy is available to cover damages.
Coverage When the App Is On and Drivers Are Available To Accept Ride Requests
When a driver is available to accept a passenger request, the following coverage applies:
- $50,000 per person for bodily injury
- $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
This third-party coverage only applies when no other insurance is available to cover your damages.
Coverage During Trips and When Drivers are En Route To Pick Up Passengers
A larger policy becomes available once the Lyft driver has accepted a ride request.
This policy must provide at least $1,000,000 in third-party liability coverage. It also provides coverage for uninsured/underinsured motorist claims and may provide contingent comprehensive and collision coverage if the driver has added this coverage to their own policy.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Lancaster Lyft Accident Victims?
Lyft accident victims are entitled to pursue compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages.
Examples of these damages include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Depression
- PTSD
- Loss of consortium
Our Lancaster Lyft accident attorneys can help you evaluate the damages you have suffered. Contact us today to learn more about your legal right to compensation after a crash.
What Is Comparative Negligence and How Can It Impact My Pennsylvania Lyft Accident Claim?
Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence laws prevent victims from recovering the full value of a settlement or verdict if they share some blame for the crash. If you share some fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Once your share of fault reaches 51%, however, you’re entirely barred from seeking compensation. An experienced personal injury attorney can protect your rights and fight back against allegations of shared responsibility.
Our Legal Team Will Fight To Recover Fair Compensation for All of Your Lyft Accident Injuries
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we often handle Lyft accident claims where the victim has suffered:
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Nerve damage
- Whiplash injuries
- Concussions
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
We know that your recovery can take time and energy. We’re ready to start working on your case even if you haven’t fully recovered. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help pursue fair compensation on your behalf.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Lyft Accidents in Lancaster, Pennsylvania?
Car accidents happen for many different reasons. Accidents involving Lyft often occur because of:
- Distracted drivers
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding
- Stopping in dangerous places for passenger pick-ups
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Aggressive driving
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol
- Dangerous turns
- Limited visibility or bad road conditions
Lyft drivers aren’t specially trained. However, they do spend significant time behind the wheel. In the end, that may make it more likely that they were distracted or fatigued despite their driving experience.
How Do I Establish My Right to Compensation After a Lyft Accident in Pennsylvania?
Most Uber and Lyft accidents happen when someone is negligent. Negligence means that someone failed to exercise reasonable caution under the circumstances.
To recover damages based on negligence, you must establish:
- A duty of care existed
- A breach of duty occurred
- Causation
- The damages you experienced due to the crash
In Lyft accident cases, you’ll also have to identify the driver’s status at the time of the accident.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our Uber & Lyft accident lawyers will help by gathering the evidence you need to prove your case. That may include information from the Lyft app, video footage from dash cams, and statements from eyewitnesses. We can also gain valuable information from police reports and your medical records.
What Is the Deadline To File a Claim After a Lyft Accident in Pennsylvania?
The statute of limitations in Lyft accident cases gives two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you wait longer than two years, Pennsylvania law prohibits you from seeking compensation.
There are exceptions to the statute of limitations in some circumstances, and so it is best to contact an attorney to help confirm the deadline for your case.
Contact an Experienced Lancaster Lyft Accident Lawyer for a Free Initial Consultation Today
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, helping injured clients recover fair compensation is our number one priority. To learn how we can help with your case, call a Lancaster Lyft accident lawyer for a free consultation today.
Visit Our Law Office in Lancaster,PA
Marzzacco Niven & Associates
2173 Embassy Dr Ste 123, Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 616-2954