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Decatur Lyft Accident Lawyer
Any car accident can be frightening and painful, but personal injury claims for Lyft accidents present unique challenges for victims and their attorneys. There is more than one insurance policy, each of which is only valid under certain circumstances, complicating the legal process.
It is crucial for those involved in Lyft car accidents to rely on an accomplished personal injury attorney from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers to give them the best chance at financial compensation.
Eligibility to File a Lyft Accident Claim
Eligibility for a claim depends upon your Decatur Lyft accident lawyer showing a driver’s negligence caused the accident. This is based on four factors: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages.
- Duty of care means the negligent party was responsible for preventing car accidents by acting responsibly, such as following traffic laws and keeping their eyes on the road.
- Breach of duty is when a Lyft driver or other negligent person fails to uphold this duty of care. This can be due to driving drunk, texting, or following other cars too closely.
- Causation means the car accident would have been less severe or avoided altogether had they upheld their duty of care and, as such, you would not have suffered an injury.
- Damages mean you suffered losses as a result of the Lyft accident. This can include physical injuries as well as financial burdens, like medical expenses.
A Decatur Lyft injury lawyer can seek compensation on behalf of anyone who was harmed in a Lyft accident as a result of irresponsible driving. This can include passengers of the Lyft vehicle, other drivers, and pedestrians.
Common Causes of Lyft Accidents
Some of the most common causes of a Lyft crash include the following.
- Reckless Driving – Speeding, illegal passing, and following another vehicle too closely can all lead to an accident.
- Distracted Driving – Lyft drivers who are busy checking for new ride requests may fail to respond to changing road conditions in time.
- Fatigued Driving – A long day on the road may slow reaction times and result in an accident.
- Drunk Driving – Though the city of Decatur and Lyft have no-tolerance policies for drinking and driving, this does not always deter drivers. Drivers under the influence may speed or swerve, which can result in severe injuries for passengers.
- Failure to Abide by Traffic Laws – Though Decatur has added 40 additional license plate readers to their original fleet of 60 readers, drivers still fail to stop at red lights or ignore yield signals, leading to collisions [1].
- Weather Conditions – Decatur gets approximately 40 inches of precipitation per year, including heavy rains that can reduce visibility [2].
- Road Hazards – Across Illinois, there are approximately 7.8 pothole complaints per 621 miles of road, some of which can be serious enough to cause car accidents resulting in severe injuries [3].
- Vehicle Defects – Faulty brakes or loss of steering may be a contributing factor to a Lyft accident.
How Our Decatur Lyft Accident Attorneys Can Help
A Decatur Lyft crash attorney from our Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers has resources the average person may struggle to access. These resources allow us to fully investigate your legal options and ensure you have the best chance at financial compensation.
First, our Decatur ridesharing accident lawyers can investigate the nature of the Lyft accident, including who may have been at fault.
We will gather all the evidence available, including police reports, surveillance footage, phone records, and eyewitness testimony. This can assist us in identifying who may be responsible for your accident, including the driver of the Lyft vehicle or other motorists.
We can evaluate your physical injuries to determine their worth, including any future medical expenses you may have as a result of permanent injuries. Your Decatur Lyft accident attorney will take all factors into account, such as how long you were off work, how the accident may have diminished your earning potential, and what emotional impact this has had on you.
Our Decatur Lyft accident lawyers have years of experience negotiating with insurance companies to achieve a settlement. Lyft liability is more complicated than other car accidents due to the multiple insurance policies involved, so our skills are crucial in managing all communications and holding the other parties accountable throughout the claims process.
Should negotiations fail, our lawyers will file a lawsuit and guide you through the court system, arguing your case to show the other parties are responsible for the accident and that you deserve compensation.
Legal Liability for Lyft Accidents
Legal liability for an accident is greatly impacted by the driver’s current status, as Lyft’s insurance policy will only cover the car accident if the driver is actively engaged in work. There are several different circumstances impacting how your Decatur Lyft accident attorney from our firm will approach the personal injury claims process.
The App Is Off and the Lyft Driver Is Not Working
If a Lyft driver gets into a car accident while their Lyft app is off, their car is considered a personal vehicle, and their personal auto policy will cover the claim.
The App Is On and the Driver Is Waiting for Requests
Lyft maintains third-party liability coverage for a car accident that takes place while the driver is waiting for a ride request, which includes:
- $50,000 per person for bodily injury
- $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage [4]
The App Is On and the Driver Is En Route to a Request
When the driver is on their way to pick up a passenger, they have more coverage from Lyft’s insurance, which includes:
- At least $1,000,000 in third-party liability coverage
- First-party coverage, including underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage and MedPay
- Contingent comprehensible collision insurance up to the car’s value, after a $2,500 deductible [4]
The App Is On and the Driver Has a Passenger
The same coverage for a Lyft driver en route to a passenger applies during a car accident with a Lyft passenger present, including:
- At least $1,000,000 in third-party liability coverage
- First-party coverage for the driver
- Additional insurance beyond the driver’s collision coverage, up to the car’s value, after a $2,500 deductible [4]
Other Types of Insurance
In some Lyft accidents, other parties may also be responsible. With these cases, your personal injury attorney will also investigate avenues for compensation, such as another driver’s insurance or a motor vehicle manufacturer’s insurance if product defects contributed to the collision.
Statute of Limitations for Lyft Accidents in Decatur, Illinois
The statute of limitations for a Decatur Lyft accident is two years in the case of personal injury or wrongful death. In most cases, it is also two years for product liability, but this may be extended in certain circumstances. You have five years to file a lawsuit for property damage.
It is crucial to contact a Decatur Lyft car accident lawyer from our firm for a free case evaluation as soon as possible. Since you have such a short period of time to file a lawsuit, we need to start investigating your case immediately.
Damages a Decatur Lyft Accident Lawyer Can Help You Recover
A Decatur Lyft rideshare accident lawyer from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can assist you in seeking two types of damages: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages compensate you for financial losses as a result of the crash, which can include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
- Future medical needs
- Property damage
Non-economic damages are compensation for the intangible losses you have suffered as a result of the accident, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Inconvenience
If you have lost a loved one as a result of an accident, our wrongful death lawyers can also help seek compensation for things such as:
- Burial expenses
- Hospitalizations before death
- Lost income
- Grief
- Loss of companionship
What to Do After a Lyft Car Accident in Decatur, IL
It’s important to act quickly after a Lyft accident to ensure your safety and legal rights. Follow these steps as soon as possible.
Stay at the Crash Scene
Do not leave the scene of the accident until police arrive to take statements from you and others involved. If necessary, ask the driver to move out of the flow of traffic so you do not cause a pileup.
Call 911
Always call 911 if there have been serious injuries. Provide your location and explain how you have been hurt. Crash reports must be reported to the Illinois Department of Transportation within 10 days of the accident, so you must speak to the responding officer to ensure that the report is sent in [5].
Take Photos
If possible, get photos of every angle of the crash, including the interior and exterior of the vehicle. Also take pictures of your injuries, as this will help prove you were hurt at the time of the accident.
Exchange Information
Get the insurance information and contact details of every driver involved, and ask for a good phone number for anyone who may have witnessed the crash.
Get Medical Attention
Always go to the hospital after an accident, even if you do not feel injured. Not only does this ensure you do not have any injuries, but it also provides further evidence you were hurt.
Submit an Insurance Claim
You should submit a claim as soon as possible. If you are making a claim against another person’s policy, the company has 15 days to provide you with the relevant paperwork [6]. Once you have contacted the insurance company, a Decatur Lyft crash lawyer from our firm will handle all communications with the company on your behalf.
Gather Evidence
You should keep records of all paperwork related to the Lyft accident, such as the crash report and your medical records, as we will use this to substantiate your claim. Continue to take pictures of your injuries as they heal to demonstrate the extent of your recovery process.
Call a Personal Injury Lawyer
Contact a Decatur Lyft accident lawyer from our firm as soon as possible. We will speak with third parties on your behalf so that you can focus on recovering.
Cost of Hiring a Decatur Lyft Accident Attorney
Our Decatur personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we are able to win your case. Everything, from the case evaluation with an accomplished Lyft accident lawyer to court representation, will cost you nothing out of pocket.
Contact a Decatur Lyft Accident Attorney Today!
Working with a Decatur Lyft accident lawyer ensures you the best possible chance at compensation, and Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is widely considered the best throughout the Midwest. We have recovered millions for our clients and work on a contingency fee basis, so you will owe us nothing upfront.
Get in touch with us at (888) 424-5757 or online to schedule a free consultation with a Decatur rideshare accident lawyer and learn how we can assist you in getting justice for your Lyft accident.
Related Practice Areas
- Decatur Personal Injury Lawyer
- Decatur Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
- Decatur Rideshare Accident Lawyer
- Decatur Slip and Fall Lawyer
- Decatur Uber Accident Lawyer
References: [1] WAND, [2] US Climate Data, [3] Stacker, [4] Lyft, [5] Illinois Department of Transportation, [6] Illinois Department of Insurance
All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.