With the increased utilization of rideshare services, it's no wonder there has been an increase in the amount of accident fatalities. One study concluded that from 2011 to 2016, there was an increase in occupant and pedestrian fatalities of two to three percent.
Suppose you are injured in a car accident while a passenger in a Lyft or in a collision with a Lyft driver. In that case, you may wonder how long it takes to investigate an accident and, ultimately, allow you to secure compensation. The Lyft accident lawyer of Munley Law is here to explain.
How to Report An Accident With Lyft
According to Lyft's website, for riders or other drivers involved in collisions with a Lyft driver, you should call 911 if the accident is severe. As a passenger in the Lyft, you can call 911 utilizing the Safety Center in Lyft's app.
You'll contact the Claims Customer Care team to report the accident with Lyft. Lyft considers accidents that include:
- Vehicle collision
- Vehicle struck an object (curb, wall, or tree)
- Vehicle damaged third-party property
From there, a Claims Customer Care team member will inform you of the next steps. The Lyft team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Once the accident is reported, you must submit a post-collision inspection report.
In addition to the steps you will take with Lyft, you must also file a police report. Document any damages, collect evidence, and get the driver's contact information and insurance details.
What Is The Car Accident Settlement Process With Lyft?
When you are involved in a car accident with a rideshare driver like Lyft, you'll want to know what you can expect of the settlement process. The overall settlement process with Lyft following an accident is much like any other car accident.
First you'll have to submit your claim to the Lyft insurance company, then you'll provide evidence and a demand letter. From there the settlement countdown clock for you will begin as the investigation can take a long period of time.
How Long Will My Car Accident Case Take?
Having an attorney on your side when involved in a car accident case can be beneficial because companies like Lyft will want to settle on as low an amount as possible, and the investigation and negotiation process will take a while. In many cases, it can take six months or more to see a Lyft accident case to be settled.
However, this settlement will likely come with weeks of back-and-forth negotiations.
Legally, you must receive some communication from Lyft about your claim within 40 days of the company receiving it. While their first settlement will unlikely be what you need, it is the starting point for the rest of the settlement.
Keep in mind, you can negotiate as much as needed so long as you do not accept a settlement meaning your case can take months or years.
What Makes a Lyft Investigation Go Faster?
In general, a Lyft accident investigation will go faster if the accident did not result in significant damages. This may include seeking compensation only for property damage and lost income from missing work because of the collision. These types of settlements go quickly because it will be easy to calculate the total value of the settlement–an estimate from your vehicle mechanic will tally the cost for property damage, and a prior pay stub makes it easy to show how much money you missed out on while out of work.
But, if you were hurt, this adds time to the investigation and settlement process and Lyft's team will try to dispute your injuries and place blame on you for the accident.
Lyft is Dragging out The Investigation. Should I Settle?
Lyft and other rideshare companies will try to drag out the investigation with the hope you'll grow tired of waiting for your compensation and settle at a lesser amount. However, that doesn't mean you have to settle. If you have a rideshare accident attorney, you may be able to bypass a lot of these back and forth negotiations and get to a settlement quicker.
Lyft Gave Me a Settlement, When Will I See It?
Once you have reached a settlement with Lyft, they are legally required to send you a check no more than 30 days after the agreement.
While the timeline to receive the settlement is a quick one sometimes less than four weeks, you still need to make it through the investigation and negotiation process which may last months or years.
What Happens if the Lyft Driver Doesn't Have Insurance?
To receive compensation from Lyft, the driver must be logged into the app at the time of the accident and working. While Lyft carries insurance for their drivers, if the accident occurs when the driver is off the clock, the companies third-party insurance does not come into play, rather it is the drivers car insurance.
According to Lyft, the third-party liability insurance for covered accidents when personal insurance does not apply include coverage for:
- $50,000/person for bodily injury
- $100,000/accident for bodily injury
- $25,000/accident for property damage
In cases where the Lyft app is on, and the driver is picking up passengers or during rides, insurance coverage include:
- $1,000,000 for 3rd-party auto liability
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury and/or first-party coverage
- Contingent comprehensive & collision up to the actual cash value of the car ($2,500 deductible)
These insurance policies are complicated though and will ultimately depend on the state the accident occured in as it can impact minimum and maximum insurance benefits.
Involved in a Car Accident with Lyft? Call Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Today.
If you or a loved one were involved in a car accident with a Lyft driver resulting in damage to your vehicle or injuries, call Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys.
Our rideshare attorneys will handle your claim and determine who is to be held liable for your losses. We will determine what caused the accident including factors like:
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Drunk driving
- Poor weather conditions
- Speeding or other aggressive driving behaviors
Rideshare companies like Lyft try to extend the investigation and negotiation process out as long as possible hoping you'll grow tired of waiting for a payout. This can make you feel frustrated and defeated to the point of accepting a lesser settlement. Don't give in–a rideshare accident attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can help you recover the compensation you deserve by gathering the evidence you need to show Lyft the facts of the case.
The car accident attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can help you claim the money you need to move forward from a Lyft accident such as:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Long-term care
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for people involved in rideshare accidents–let us do the same for you.
For a no-obligation, free consultation, contact the rideshare and car accident attorneys of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys. Remember, we work on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe us nothing until we reach a settlement or verdict on your behalf.
