Have you been injured in a car accident involving a Lyft rideshare vehicle in Columbus, Georgia? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm. As a crash victim, you have rights, including the opportunity to seek damages for your medical expenses and suffering. Our experienced Columbus Lyft accident lawyer can help you seek the maximum financial recovery you deserve.
Since 2016, rideshare accident victims in Columbus have continually turned to the Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm for help. We’re led by an award-winning Georgia litigator with an unrivaled ability to take on powerful insurance companies and secure top results for our clients.
We’ve won tens of millions in settlement and jury awards. Now we’re prepared to help you win a meaningful financial award, too. With more than 26 years of experience, our top-rated team has helped injured victims in cases of Columbus car accidents, electric scooter accidents, product liability cases, dog bites, bicycle accidents in Columbus, and many more.
Contact our law offices at (706) 940-4030 today to schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we can use our experience to your advantage.
How the Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm Can Help You After a Lyft Car Accident in Columbus, GA
Can you sue Lyft after a car accident? How can you prove that the Lyft driver was negligent? Can other parties be liable for your damages, too? What happens if you get blamed for the crash? How much is your Lyft injury claim really worth?
Let our Columbus personal injury lawyer handle the tough questions for you.
When you choose the Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm, you become a part of our family. You give yourself the time and opportunity you need to recover while also setting yourself up for the financial victory you deserve.
Count on our top-rated legal team to:
- Thoroughly investigate your Lyft accident to understand precisely why and how it happened
- Determine fault and liability for the crash
- Evaluate critical pieces of evidence obtained through the discovery process, including the accident report, Lyft app data, driver cell phone records, photographs, video recordings, medical records, and witness statements
- Prepare and file your claim with the insurance company and/or local court
- Aggressively pursue a life-changing settlement during negotiations with the insurance company and other parties
- Be there to support you when you’re asked to make important decisions about your case, like whether you should accept, counter, or reject a settlement offer
- Bring your Lyft accident lawsuit to a Muscogee County jury, if necessary
You’ve got one shot at recovering compensation from a negligent party or their insurance company. Let our Lyft accident attorney in Columbus help you make the most of it.
We work on contingency, so you’ll never have to stress about asking for help. You only pay when we recover compensation on your behalf.
Give us a call or reach out to our Columbus personal injury law firm today to get started with a free consultation.
What Are the Leading Causes of Columbus Lyft Accidents?
Driver negligence is the leading cause of Lyft accidents in Columbus, Georgia. After all, Lyft drivers are not professionals. They aren’t required to get a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or pass additional tests to drive for Lyft. They are regular people, often driving for the rideshare service as a second source of income.
Then consider that Lyft drivers are under a lot of pressure, which can create dangerous situations for themselves, their passengers, and others on the road.
- Lyft drivers are incredibly distracted by their phones, the Lyft app, GPS, and passengers, all of which draw their attention away from the road.
- Lyft drivers may be inclined to speed or drive recklessly because their earnings are based on the number of rides they can complete.
- Lyft drivers may be fatigued before starting their shift because they’ve already worked a full day.
- Lyft drivers may use drugs or alcohol to help them stay awake or cope with the stresses of driving.
Not surprisingly, some of the most common contributors to Lyft accidents include distracted driving, drunk driving, speeding, reckless driving, tailgating, fatigued driving, and inexperienced drivers. Other factors, like road defects, vehicle defects, and bad weather, can also contribute to Lyft car accidents in Columbus.
What Damages Can I Get if I’ve Been Hurt in a Lyft Rideshare Accident?
When you file an insurance claim or lawsuit after a Lyft accident in Columbus, Georgia, you can request compensatory damages to help you recover.
Compensatory damages can include economic and non-economic awards.
Economic damages, which are awarded to make up for the financial losses related to your Lyft accident, can include:
- Hospitalization, surgery, and other current medical expenses
- Future medical bills
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Diminished earning capacity
- Temporary lost wages
- Disability
- Property damage
- Nursing care
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Funeral expenses if a Lyft accident in Columbus is fatal
Non-economic damages, which are awarded to help you cope with the intangible, hard-to-value consequences of a Lyft accident, can include:
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Physical scarring
- Loss of consortium
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Reduced quality of life
- Mental anguish
- Embarrassment
If you can’t reach a settlement and your Lyft injury lawsuit goes to trial, a jury has the discretion to award punitive damages. In Georgia, punitive damages, which are intended to punish the defendant, are applicable when there is clear and convincing evidence of gross negligence or intentionally harmful actions.
Count on our Lyft accident attorney in Columbus to aggressively pursue all of the damages to which you’re entitled under state law. We’ll build a strong claim backed by solid evidence, expert testimony, and compelling facts, designed to leverage a meaningful recovery on your behalf.
How Do I Recover Compensation After a Lyft Accident?
Typically, you can seek insurance benefits and/or damages in a personal injury lawsuit after a Lyft accident in Columbus. Anyone who contributes to your Lyft accident can be liable.
Things can get more complicated when the Lyft driver is at least partly responsible for your Lyft accident. In these situations, you may be entitled to benefits from the driver’s personal policy or benefits from policies held by Lyft. It ultimately comes down to the driver’s status at the time of the Lyft crash.
- Lyft driver off duty: When the Lyft driver is off duty, they will be personally responsible for the consequences of an accident. You can sue them directly or pursue benefits from their personal insurance policy.
- Lyft driver waiting for a ride request. When the Lyft driver is logged into the app but has not yet received a ride request, two insurance policies will cover your accident. The driver’s personal policy will be effective, but Lyft’s policy may apply in some cases. Lyft will cover bodily injury damage ($50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident) and property damage ($25,000), but only if the driver’s personal coverage does not.
- Lyft driver accepted a ride request. Once the Lyft driver accepts a ride request, Lyft has a million-dollar policy that becomes active.
You can file a lawsuit if a liable party is uninsured or if their insurance policy doesn’t cover the full extent of your damages. However, you won’t be able to sue Lyft directly. Vicarious liability does not apply since its drivers are independent contractors.
Common Lyft Accident Injuries
Lyft car accidents can be catastrophic for everyone involved – from passengers to occupants of other cars and bystanders on the road.
While the type of Lyft car accident you’re involved in can influence the types of injuries you may sustain, the Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm can help you seek damages for:
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injury
- Nerve damage
- Degloving injury
- Amputation
- Eye injury
- Dental injury
- Concussion
- Brain injury
- Whiplash
- Back injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Neck injury
- Burn injury
- Catastrophic injury
- Wrongful death of a loved one
After your accident, report it to Lyft and the local police right away. Then, don’t hesitate to seek medical care at a local hospital or emergency treatment center near you in Columbus. Taking these steps can be critical for your recovery and the success of any legal claims you pursue in the future.
What’s the Deadline for Filing a Lyft Injury Claim in Georgia?
Most Lyft accident lawsuits in Georgia will be subject to a two-year statute of limitations. This time limit applies to cases involving personal injury and wrongful death.
There may be exceptions, such as when the victim of a Lyft accident is a child.
You must file your claim before the statute of limitations runs out. Once the deadline passes, you will give up the right to recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us as soon as you reasonably can after your accident to confirm the deadline for your particular case.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Columbus Lyft Accident Lawyer
Call the Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm if you or a loved one has been injured in a Lyft accident in Columbus, Georgia. You have the right to seek compensation from a negligent party or their insurance company. Our experienced Columbus Lyft accident lawyer can help you make the most of your legal battle.
We offer a free consultation, so contact our award-winning legal team for help today.
