Lyft is a popular rideshare service throughout the US, including in Florida and Massachusetts. Unfortunately, popularity and convenience do not always equate to a safer ride. A Lyft driver might still act negligently and cause an accident on the road.
If you suffer injuries or property damages after a Lyft collision, you have options available for recovering your expenses. However, you could consult first with Lyft accident lawyers before taking any legal action. We can assess the situation to better advise you on what you can do next.
Lyft’s Insurance for Drivers
Like other rideshare companies, Lyft also provides auto insurance for their drivers when logged on to Lyft’s app. One of their coverages includes liability coverage, which pays for the expenses and other losses victims accrue if the Lyft driver causes accidents. You can file claims with their insurance company to recover damages after the crash.
Lyft accident lawyers can help you compile proof of the accident, the driver’s fault in it, and the damages you suffered. They can also negotiate on your behalf if you want the liability insurance provider to reconsider their initial offer.
The limits that apply to your accident also depend on whether the Lyft driver has passengers or not, as we will review below.
If the Lyft Driver Is Online Without Rides
When the Lyft driver is logged on to Lyft’s app but is not engaged in a ride yet, Lyft will provide minimum coverage of:
- $50,000 per person for injury liability
- $100,000 per accident for injury liability
- $25,000 per accident for property damage liability
If the Lyft Driver Has Passengers
When the Lyft driver is on the way to pick up passengers or already has passengers onboard, their liability coverage increases drastically to $1,000,000 per accident for both injury and property damages.
What If the Lyft Driver Is Logged Off?
Since Lyft’s insurance providers will only cover drivers that are logged on, the driver’s own auto insurer will have to pay for the accident if they are logged off the app. If the driver does not have enough coverage or is uninsured, they may have to pay out of pocket to compensate their victims.
Damages in Lyft Accident Liability Claims
Besides helping you collect evidence of the Lyft collision, Lyft accident lawyers can also help you compute your total settlement value. It starts by compiling your accident-related costs, such as:
- Medical Expenses: These can include hospital bills, medications, medical tests, and more.
- Lost Wages: You can summarize the income you lost while unable to work due to your injury.
- Replacement Services: If you hire services such as housekeeping and childcare to assist you while incapacitated, you can also compute them into your expenses.
- Auto Repairs: Motorists whose vehicles were damaged in the Lyft accident can also get compensated for auto repair services.
Beyond your actual expenses, the Lyft accident liability claim can also get you compensated for your pain and suffering or non-economic damages. Some examples of these include emotional or mental trauma and disabilities. The value for these damages generally depends on your injury’s severity or if you lost a loved one. As such, Lyft accident lawyers can assess your condition to project the amount you could recover.
States Can Have Different Insurance Requirements
Do note that states can impose different rideshare liability coverage requirements and general auto insurance rules. Lyft must also adjust its policy limits in that state accordingly. Lyft accident lawyers will consider the state’s insurance laws when helping you get a settlement.
Insurance Claims in Massachusetts
The injury liability requirements in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 175 Section 228 are the same as what Lyft already provides. However, the state requires $30,000 in property damage liability instead of Lyft’s standard $25,000.
Massachusetts follows no-fault insurance rules when it comes to auto accidents. You can only file an injury liability claim with Lyft or their driver if your injury is severe enough or your medical expenses meet the state’s tort thresholds.
Otherwise, you must file a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) claim with your auto insurance provider. PIP pays for your injury-related damages, though it does not cover non-economic damages. On the other hand, this coverage will shoulder the cost regardless of who is more liable for the Lyft collision. You can file property damage liability claims regardless of your medical condition.
How Insurance Claims Work in Florida
Lyft has the same injury and property damage liability insurance policy limits as required by Florida Statutes Section 627.748. However, Florida is also a no-fault insurance state, so you can only rely on your PIP insurance unless your injuries qualify for third-party actions.
Unlike Massachusetts, Florida does not require private motorists to carry injury liability coverage. You might have to consider other options for recovering damages if Lyft will not cover the driver.
You Could Also File a Lyft Accident Lawsuit
You may be able to file a lawsuit after your Lyft accident. They are often your second option if the claim will not work, such as if the Lyft driver does not have enough coverage or if they are uninsured.
The civil court with jurisdiction over the county where the crash happened will preside over your case. They can decide the amount owed to you without getting restricted by the other party’s insurance policy limits.
Our Lyft accident attorney can help you file your lawsuit. Lyft accident lawyers can represent and counsel you in court until your case gets a verdict.
Schedule Your Free Evaluation Today
The office of GED Lawyers offers our legal experience and resources to help you fight for your right to seek compensation after a Lyft collision. For 27 years, our team has settled a diverse range of accident cases throughout Florida and Massachusetts. These include Lyft and other rideshare collisions. As such, we know your filing requirements and can guide you throughout the processes involved.
You can call us at any time to request a free consultation with a member of our team. We can review the information provided and help you get started on your case.
