Rideshare accidents can happen even in predominantly rural towns like Rehoboth, Massachusetts. If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident involving a rideshare company such as Uber or Lyft, a Rehoboth rideshare accident lawyer at GED Lawyers is here to help you recover the compensation you need. Our firm offers free case evaluations to accident victims searching for answers to their legal questions.
As the deadline for car accident lawsuits is just three years in Massachusetts, per Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 260, Section 2A, seeking legal help as soon as possible is always in your best interest. You can reach out to our injury firm today to review your accident and legal options during a free consultation.
How Our Rehoboth Rideshare Accident Lawyer Can Help You
Rideshare accidents often involve multiple liable parties, making them different from other collisions. In addition, rideshare drivers are independent contractors, not employees of the companies they drive for, which also makes them different from other vehicle accidents.
People hurt in these collisions may have to seek damages from either the rideshare driver or the rideshare company. The compensation they could recover will depend on certain factors, and that’s only if the rideshare driver is at fault. If a second vehicle is involved, the fault could lie with that driver, making three potentially liable parties. Now apply this to a multivehicle accident.
It may be hard for you to pinpoint who’s actually at fault and then hold them accountable for damages on your own. A Rehoboth rideshare accident attorney on our team can sort out liability for you and hold the right person financially responsible. You will never have to deal with other drivers or insurance companies.
We Demand Fair and Full Compensation for Clients in Rehoboth, MA
Our law firm protects your rights and interests in your rideshare accident claim. We stand up to insurance companies that could hold out on paying our clients their due compensation. Our injury attorneys serving Rehoboth have the knowledge and resources to value your case and demand the maximum compensation you deserve with confidence. We will prove your injuries and the other party’s fault to justify your damages claim.
While we aim to negotiate with insurers for a fair settlement, we will not shy away from a lawsuit or trial if that is what it takes for you to receive financial recovery that can restore your health and life after an accident.
We Can Recover Damages to Help You Pay Your Rideshare Accident Bills
People rarely know what their case is worth when they file a claim against an insurance policy. Some may not know insurers are known to offer settlements that fall short of what injured victims need to cover their losses. Filling the gap between what you should receive and what you get is where our injury lawyers can help.
Receiving the proper financial award always starts with knowing what that amount is. By assessing your economic and non-economic losses, our rideshare accident lawyers serving Rehoboth can provide an exact figure for the compensation they owe you. To calculate this amount, we look at your financial expenses and any pain and suffering you have.
Recoverable Damages in a Rehoboth Rideshare Accident in Massachusetts
We could base your damages on the cost of:
- Paramedic treatment at the scene of the crash
- Hospital stays, doctor’s visits, surgeries
- Physical therapy
- Transportation
- Accessibility equipment (wheelchair, walkers, canes, crutches, etc.)
- Lost income due time off work
- Diminished earning potential due to injuries
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Severe physical pain, disability, or injuries
To understand your financial losses, we generally gather documents, such as:
- Medical bills
- Receipts
- Check stubs
- Payment schedules
- Timesheets or work schedules
- Invoices
- Bank statements
- Professional quotes
Assessing Non-Economic Damages
If you have documents that indicate your financial harm, you should bring them to your meeting with our Rehoboth, MA, rideshare accident attorney so they can evaluate your damages immediately. Non-financial losses will be calculated differently, which do not automatically correspond to a monetary value. To understand what these are, we look at:
- Age
- The injury’s severity
- The likelihood of recovery
- Similar past cases
Additionally, expert opinions and testimony from medical practitioners, financial planners, life-care planners, and disability specialists help us to understand how the above items will impact your compensation so that we can determine an accurate value.
Our Rehoboth Rideshare Accident Attorneys Can Determine Fault
To determine who’s at fault in a rideshare accident, our lawyer will investigate the crash’s cause and gather evidence to prove the at-fault party was negligent. Our legal team will need to show four essential facts:
- The rideshare driver or another party owed you a duty of care, usually the duty to drive safely.
- They failed to meet their duty of care by driving or acting in a way that endangered you.
- Their failure to drive or act responsibly directly caused your injuries.
- Your injuries equated to damages that require compensation.
If the rideshare driver is at fault, proving negligence may include determining if the driver or the rideshare company adhered to state laws for these areas:
- Background checks
- Driving history
- Vehicle requirements
- Maintenance and inspections
- Taking mandatory driving breaks
- Driving under the influence (DUI)
Rideshare Insurance in Massachusetts: a General Overview of How It Works
There are three stages that require a rideshare driver to have insurance coverage:
Offline Driver
Under Massachusetts law, all drivers must carry car insurance that meets the minimum amounts that state law requires, as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ website explains. This coverage will protect drivers and injured victims involved in a car accident while the driver is offline (not logged on to the rideshare app). When the driver is not working for the transportation network company (TNC), they are not covered under the TNC’s policy.
Online Drivers Waiting for Riders
After a driver goes online by logging on to the app, they are officially on duty as a rideshare driver. If the driver is waiting for ride requests when they cause an accident, the TNC’s third-party policy covers them.
Online Drivers Picking Up or Transporting Rehoboth Passengers
When a rideshare driver is en route to pick up a passenger or transport one, TNC’s $1 million liability insurance policy covers any accident that may occur. The policy covers bodily injury, death, and property damage the rideshare driver caused.
Rehoboth Injury Attorneys at GED Lawyers Will Fight for You
No matter the complexity, a Rehoboth rideshare accident lawyer at GED Lawyers can help you identify the negligent party and hold them accountable. Our injury lawyers serving Rehoboth, MA, will fight for your compensation as you recover physically and mentally from your car accident.
Reach out to us for a free consultation today. You don’t pay unless we win your case.