College students and visitors to Mizzou use rideshare services like Lyft to get to and from places. What happens when you’re a passenger, and your driver gets into an accident? Do you have a way to get compensation for your injuries?
The answer is yes, and you could get more than you think! Dickman Law has rideshare accident lawyers in Columbia, MO, familiar with Lyft’s insurance policies. You could get covered by the responsible driver’s insurance policy and the one held by Lyft if you meet certain qualifications.
Does the Lyft Driver’s Insurance cover me?
Let’s assume the Lyft driver is the at-fault driver. Does their insurance cover you? The answer is: maybe. Standard auto insurance does not permit drivers to use their insurance to offer rideshare services. Thus, the insurer may try to deny coverage.
However, if the driver was on the clock at the time of the accident, you may be covered by Lyft’s third-party liability insurance. You may be able to access at least $1 million in compensation per accident through this policy, which will cover car accident damages for most situations.
Getting the driver’s and Lyft’s insurance to cooperate with each other can be challenging. Hiring a Columbia, MO, Lyft accident lawyer will help you get your settlement faster and often much larger than fighting with the insurance companies yourself.
For a free legal consultation with a lyft accidents lawyer serving Columbia, call 573-744-4878
Lyft’s Third-Party Liability Policy
Here are the situations where Lyft’s insurance policy applies:
- App is off – your personal auto insurance applies.
- App is on, but no passenger has hired the driver – $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident, plus $25,000/accident for property damage.
- A passenger has hired the driver – At least $1 million for third-party auto liability, first-party coverages, and comprehensive and collision coverage if this is on the driver’s personal policy ($2,500 deductible)
Third-party liability means that you’ll still need to go through the responsible driver’s personal insurance first. Lyft’s policy would cover any excess damages you have. The status of the Lyft app at the time of the crash is an important piece of evidence in any Lyft accident case.
Our lawyers can subpoena the phone’s information to get this information and then help you pursue the right avenues to compensation. We can also help you gather evidence of your damages to get the most compensation possible.
Columbia Lyft Accident Lawyer Near Me 573-744-4878
Does the Lyft Driver Have to Be at Fault to Claim Against Lyft’s Policy?
No. Let’s say a drunk driver crashes in your Lyft after you hired one for your party. Assuming no other factors are at play, the drunk driver is likely at fault. So, you and the Lyft driver would first turn to the drunk driver’s insurance for compensation.
Since you were a passenger, third-party auto liability coverage would apply. You and the driver could make claims for any excess damages suffered in the accident. Also, the first-party coverages would cover situations like if the drunk driver had no insurance policy at all.
Most states have passed laws requiring rideshare companies to offer strong insurance policies because of the risk of crashes and questions about liability. Thus, the odds are good that you can recover all of your costs, but only if you prove that someone else was at fault for your injuries.
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I Was a Passenger. Do I Need to Prove Fault?
Yes, though, this will be easier than you think. A simple accident report that shows you were there at the time of the accident and proof from a doctor that you were hurt after your accident will be enough.
The harder part is proving how much you’re owed for your injuries. Calculating this value is easy when you work with a Lyft accident attorney in Columbia, MO. They know the evidence the court and insurers need to see to prove your damages.
Finding evidence and persuading insurers to pay you what you’re owed is a major part of what personal injury lawyers do. It’s something we do at Dickman Law every day for Lyft accident victims and other personal injury situations.
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How Long do I Have to File My Lyft Accident Claim?
After an accident, the order of people to call are the police, a doctor, and a lawyer. In the ideal situation, you’ll see a doctor as soon as possible after they have cleared you to leave the scene. The same day, if you can.
Missouri has a generous five years from the day of an accident before accident victims cannot recover damages in court. Still, there’s no advantage to waiting before working with a lawyer to file your claim. The longer time passes, the harder it will be to gather evidence.
Once a doctor has said you were injured, take a copy of your medical record and the accident report to your consultation. We’ll review the evidence and assess your chances of success, then explain how we can help you maximize your compensation after your Lyft accident.
Contact Dickman Law in Columbia, MO
Working with a Columbia, MO, Lyft accident attorney helps you cut through the red tape of figuring out which insurer owes you money. Lyft’s huge third-party liability policy could cover you, and we will confirm if you are and help you claim money to cover the costs of injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, and mo
Find out how much your case is worth and how Dickman Law can help by calling our offices for a free consultation. You can also reach out to us through email via our contact form on our website. We look forward to hearing your story and explaining your legal options. Call today.
Call or text 573-744-4878 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form