Rideshare company Lyft is proving to be serious competition for Uber. With over one million rides per day, Lyft is gaining traction in the rideshare market. Experts predict that Lyft will control a third of the rideshare market by the end of 2017. Portlanders frequently rely on ride-hailing companies like Lyft to get around when taxis prove hard to find. The easy user interface and reliability make it one of the top go-to resources for a quick and cheap ride across town.
While there are many advantages to using Lyft in Portland, passengers run the risk of getting involved in a car accident. If you were a passenger in a Lyft car accident and were hurt, speak with Portland personal injury lawyer Richard Rizk before taking any insurance-related action.
Urgent Steps Following a Portland Lyft Accident
Since Lyft hit Portland streets in 2015, the city has experienced its fair share of Lyft car accidents. Companies like Lyft retain generous insurance policies to protect their workers and passengers; however, just compensation may be hard to come by without the aid of an attorney with years of negotiation experience. If you have been injured due to Lyft’s negligence, the steps you take after the accident may be crucial to shaping your personal injury case
- Call police to take a detailed report of the accident. Be sure that the officer records your account of the events that transpired.
- Immediately seek medical care. You may be suffering from severe injuries without even realizing it due to the way adrenaline acts in the body to mask the sensation of pain after trauma. A physical evaluation will provide an accurate representation of your current physical state.
- Record insurance information from all parties involved in the accident as you would after any other car accident in Portland.
- Take plenty of photographs of the accident scene including any property damage and physical harm you sustained.
- Discuss your case with a veteran Lyft accident attorney like Richard Rizk.
Lyft Auto Insurance Policy Explained
Lyft offers their drivers significant coverage when they are on-duty. Off-duty Lyft drivers are only covered by their own auto insurance policies, some of which may not cover drivers who drive for hire. Lyft policies include four types of coverage, three of which are in effect from the time a driver accepts a ride request until the ride has ended.
- Contingent Liability
- Primary Automobile Liability
- Contingent Comprehensive & Collision
- Uninsured/ Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
Driver Mode Off: The driver’s own insurance policy kicks in.
Driver Mode On, No Ride Accepted: Contingent liability coverage from Lyft protects the driver. There is a $50,000 bodily injury limit per person, and a $100,000 bodily injury limit per accident, with a $25,000 limit for property damage. There is no deductible under this policy.
Driver Mode On, Ride Accepted: When the Lyft driver accepts a passenger, the other three coverages apply (Auto Liability, Contingent Comprehensive & Collision, and UM/UIM).
As of October 1, 2017, Zurich American Insurance Company provides insurance for Lyft. Lyft provides up to $1,000,000 in bodily injury and uninsured motorist coverage. $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident limits for drivers who have yet to accept a ride request. As a passenger in an active Lyft, you may be able to recover compensation for injuries you have sustained due to negligence.
What Damages Can I Recover?
Anyone experiencing serious physical and mental trauma as the result of a devastating accident has dozens of thoughts racing through his mind. While you are recovering, you may be concerned about how you will pay for all your medical care? When will you get back to work? Will you be able to return to work at all? If you were driving when you collided with a Lyft, you might also be wondering how you will pay for the damage done to your vehicle.
In Oregon, victims of car accidents can recover compensation to address all of these questions and more. Depending on the specific circumstances of your Lyft personal injury case, you may receive payment for:
- Past, present, and future medical bills
- Ongoing costs of recovery and treatment
- Loss of income and future earning capacity
- Noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and loss of consortium
- Punitive damages
Don’t be quick to accept a lump sum from the insurance company to get you off their back; your injuries may require extensive care that can quickly exceed the sum they offer you. Before taking any action to resolve your claim, speak to a dedicated and compassionate attorney who has recovered millions of dollars for accident victims in a span of his decades-long career. Richard Rizk of Rizk Law is the attorney you need on your side to help you achieve a successful recovery. Call 503.245.5677 for a free case review. You won’t pay one cent until Richard recovers every cent you need!
