Collisions involving a Lyft or other rideshare company may be more complex than an ordinary car accident. While Lyft drivers are independent contractors, Lyft has insurance policies that may apply when one of their drivers is involved in an accident.
If you were injured in a Lyft accident in York, PA, you may be able to seek compensation for your injuries through a personal injury claim. This compensation may cover medical costs, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and more. Marzzacco Niven & Associates is here to help.
However, filing a claim after a Lyft accident can be complex. An experienced York Lyft accident attorney can help you understand the legal process and fight for compensation for your losses.
We offer a free consultation, so don’t delay in reaching out to our accomplished trial attorneys for help today at (717) 995-8998.
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How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help After a Lyft Accident in York
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our attorneys have over 120 years of combined experience in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and employment law. We’ve recovered tens of millions on behalf of accident victims in Pennsylvania.
Our legal team includes attorneys who have been recognized as:
- Super Lawyers
- Best Lawyers of America
- Super Lawyers‘ “”Rising Stars”
- National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
- Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist”
When you hire one of our nationally recognized York car accident attorneys, we’ll focus on moving your case forward so you can focus on moving forward with your recovery. More specifically, we’ll take the following actions to seek compensation in your case:
- Listen to your story
- Investigate the accident
- Explain your options
- Develop a case strategy
- Gather evidence to support your claims
- Contact the insurance company on your behalf to negotiate a settlement
- Aggressively represent you in court, if a favorable settlement can’t be reached.
Contact our personal injury lawyers in York, Pennsylvania, today to get started with a free case review.
How Common Are Lyft Accidents in York, PA?
It’s hard to find accurate data on the number of Lyft accidents because rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber don’t want to share this information with the public.
However, at least one study suggests that Lyft and other rideshare companies are responsible for a two to three percent increase in traffic fatalities across the country since 2011.
What Is My Lyft Accident Case Worth?
You might assume that the value of your Lyft accident case is the total of your medical expenses and your property damages. That isn’t so. In reality, there are many factors that influence the value of your personal injury claim.
These include:
- The extent of your injuries
- The extent of your property damages
- The extent of any other damages you suffered, such as pain and suffering
- Whether you were partly at fault in the accident
- Whether the Lyft driver was actively working for Lyft when the accident occurred
- The relevant policy insurance limits
There’s no simple formula for estimating the value of your Lyft accident case. Your attorney will review the details of your case in light of these factors to make an educated calculation of what your claim is worth.
What Kind of Damages Are Available to Accident Victims?
Damages refer to the losses sustained in an accident. Personal injury victims can recover both economic damages and non-economic damages. Having a better understanding of these damages can help you understand the potential value of your Lyft accident case.
Economic Damages
Economic damages refer to the financial consequences of the accident or your injuries. They may also be called special damages or tangible damages. They may include:
- Past and future medical costs
- Property damage
- Transportation costs
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning potential
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Economic damages are fairly simple to calculate. You will usually have a receipt, invoice, or other paper trail related to them, as they are based on specific transactions. However, be aware that the opposing party is likely to challenge your damages calculation.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages refer to the emotional or psychological consequences of the accident. They may also be called general damages or intangible damages. They include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of companionship or consortium by a loved one
- Disability or disfigurement
Non-economic damages are harder to calculate, as they are based on the victim’s subjective experience after the accident. An experienced York Lyft accident attorney will be instrumental in helping you calculate your damages.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Lyft Accident Lawyer?
Because most personal injury lawyers accept cases on a contingent fee basis, you won’t have to pay any attorney’s fees upfront. A contingent fee is collected by the attorney at the end of the case if they successfully recover compensation for their client. They don’t get paid unless the client does.
Further, the fee is based on a pre-agreed-upon percentage of the client’s financial compensation. Most personal injury lawyers charge between 33% and 40%.
There may be other costs associated with your case besides attorney’s fees, such as administrative costs for copying for filing documents in court. Your attorney should explain these costs, as well as the percentage they charge, at the beginning of your case.
We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Lyft Accident Injuries
Common injuries experienced because of a Lyft accident include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Amputations
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Our skilled Lyft accident attorneys will help you fight for compensation for all of your accident-related injuries.
What Causes Most Lyft Accidents in York, PA?
As with most car accidents, the main cause of Lyft and other rideshare accidents is distracted driving. Rideshare drivers may be at a heightened risk of this, as the job requires them to be on their phones to use the app and book rides.
Other causes of Lyft accidents include:
- Aggressive driving
- Speeding
- Improper lane changes
- Failure to obey traffic signals
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Driving while drowsy
- Inadequate vehicle maintenance
- Vehicle defects
- Road or weather conditions
If you were injured in a Lyft accident due to someone else’s negligence, reach out to our experienced Lyft accident attorneys in York, PA.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Lyft Accident in York?
If you were injured in a Lyft accident in York, PA, and the other driver was at fault, you will probably have to prove that they were negligent to recover compensation for your injuries. To act negligently means failing to exercise reasonable care and caution under the circumstances.
To prove negligence, you must establish the following four elements:
Duty of Care
You must show that the defendant owed you a duty of care. This is usually the duty to act the way a reasonably prudent person would under the circumstances.
Breach
You must show that the defendant breached the duty of care, such as by acting unreasonably. For example, running a red light is probably a breach of the duty of care when driving.
Damages
You must show that you suffered injuries or some type of harm.
Causation
The defendant’s actions were the factual cause and proximate cause of your injuries. Factual cause means that the accident would not have happened “but for” the defendant’s actions. Proximate cause means that your injuries were a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the defendant’s actions.
You must prove each of these elements “by a preponderance of the evidence.” This means that you must present evidence sufficient to convince the jury that it is more likely than not that the fact asserted is true or accurate.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Lyft Accident in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, you have two years from the date of the Lyft accident to file a lawsuit seeking compensation from the at-fault party. If you do not file your case before the deadline expires, you will likely not be able to file your case in court. It’s crucial that you’re aware of the two-year deadline for filing your case.
There are exceptions to this time limit for some cases. An experienced personal injury lawyer will calculate the deadline for your case and ensure it is filed on time.
Contact Our York Lyft Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you were injured in a Lyft accident in York, PA, consider reaching out to our experienced Lyft accident attorneys to help you navigate the claim process and fight for compensation for your injuries.
You may be able to recover substantial compensation for your medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, property damage, and other unexpected losses.
Our attorneys are here to help. To schedule a free consultation with one of our representatives, contact our office today.