Rideshare Accident Attorney in Fort Lauderdale

Rideshare accidents can occur for various reasons. A few of the most common include:

Distracted Driving

Rideshare drivers are constantly on their phones. They may use them to help navigate your trip if they’re unfamiliar with where you are going. In addition, drivers are continually waiting for new rides to come in. They regularly accept new rides through the Uber or Lyft app, even during a trip with a passenger.

Uber and Lyft drivers often try to converse with their customers during a ride. While talking isn’t dangerous, it becomes riskier if the driver constantly turns their attention away from the road during the conversation.

Drowsy Driving

Often, driving an Uber or Lyft is the operator’s part-time job. They may have another part-time job or a full-time role somewhere else. If drivers are tired from balancing their regular job, family responsibilities, and working for a rideshare company, they can quickly become too drowsy while behind the wheel.

Fatigue can impact a driver’s reflexes. They may miss vital road signs or traffic lights or not realize when they’re following another car too closely. In the worst cases, they may fall asleep while driving, resulting in a severe collision.

Aggressive Driving

Sometimes, drivers are aggressive when behind the wheel. Aggressive drivers may disobey speed limits, change lanes without using their blinkers, or follow other drivers too closely. 

Aggressive driving increases the potential for a severe accident. You can ask your driver to slow down or follow the rules of the road, but it may cause them to become angry. 

Even if you’re not involved in an accident with a rideshare driver who drives aggressively, it’s important to report their behavior to Uber or Lyft. The rideshare companies will take action and may bar the driver from using the platform.

Driving While Intoxicated

Most people don’t suspect their Lyft or Uber driver will be under the influence, but it does happen. Occasionally a driver will drink alcohol or use drugs before going on the platform to offer their services. Unfortunately, neither rideshare operator has a system to check drivers for alcohol usage before driving.

Drunk or intoxicated driving has the potential to result in severe accidents. Often, passengers aren’t aware their driver is drunk until the ride begins. If you notice signs that your driver is intoxicated, you can text 911 through the app for assistance without alerting the driver. 

No matter the cause of the collision, rideshare lawyers in Fort Lauderdale can help you determine who is at fault and try to recover compensation on your behalf.

You may sustain various injuries if you’re involved in a rideshare accident. Common injuries from car accidents include:

• Whiplash
• Broken bones or fractures
• Back injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussion
• Cuts and lacerations
• Internal organ damage

No matter what kind of injury you sustain, you must seek medical treatment following the accident. Often, people don’t realize the extent of their injuries for several hours or days following a collision. Visiting the hospital or an urgent care center allows you to obtain treatment for any injuries after an accident.

There are several steps you need to take following a rideshare accident.

Check Yourself and the Driver for Injuries

The first thing to do is check yourself, other passengers, and the driver for injuries. If anyone needs immediate medical attention, call for an ambulance. You should attempt first aid to slow bleeding on anyone with cuts and lacerations. 

If anyone complains of back pain or a potential fracture, don’t move them. Moving them may make their injuries worse.

Call the Police

The police will need to investigate the crash scene and clear the area for traffic. When the police arrive at the accident, the police will speak with the involved drivers and examine the evidence to determine the cause of the collision. They may issue tickets to individuals responsible for the accident. 

Make sure to obtain a copy of the police report for the accident. You can get a copy by visiting your local precinct.

Assemble Evidence at the Crash Scene

If you’re physically able to, try to document as much about the crash as possible. Take photos of the vehicles involved in the accident and their damage. If you or other passengers have injuries, photograph them. 

If there were any witnesses to the accident, ask for their contact information. Ask all the drivers for their insurance details, and note their vehicle details, including their license plate numbers.

Report the Accident to the Rideshare Company

Both Uber and Lyft have an option for reporting accidents within their app. Make sure to report the accident to the company so they may perform their own investigation. They may reach out to you for additional information if necessary.

Seek Legal Assistance

Often, it’s not clear who is responsible for covering the cost of injuries and lost wages following a rideshare accident. While both companies carry insurance policies that protect passengers from injuries sustained in an accident, they’re often unwilling to accept fault. To avoid unnecessary arguments and protect yourself, seek the assistance of rideshare lawyers in Fort Lauderdale.

It’s not always easy to determine who is at fault. Your driver may be negligent, or other drivers may have caused the collision. You may be able to obtain compensation directly from Uber or Lyft, or you may need to go through the involved driver’s insurance coverage.

Rideshare lawyers in Fort Lauderdale can review the circumstances of your accident to determine the best path for obtaining compensation for your injuries. A rideshare lawyer will consider all available evidence, including the police report, videos from the accident, medical records, and witness statements.

A rideshare lawyer is familiar with the intricacies of personal injury law and can pinpoint who is to blame for the accident. They will negotiate with insurance companies to obtain a settlement on your behalf. If insurance providers are unwilling to provide you with fair compensation, they’ll take the case to court.

You can receive damages to cover the cost of your past and future medical expenses, lost wages while recovering from your injuries, and any out-of-pocket costs related to the accident. In some cases, you may be able to recover compensation for emotional pain and anguish, loss of quality of life, or the injury itself.

You can sue for damages if you are the loved one seeking compensation for a wrongful death claim in a rideshare accident. You may recover the costs of funeral and burial expenses, along with damages for loss of companionship or parental guidance.

The value of your case depends on your injuries and other factors, like who was responsible for the accident. Every case is different. For an estimate of the value of your case, it’s best to seek legal advice from rideshare lawyers in Fort Lauderdale.

The Florida statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is two years. The statute of limitations is two years if you file a wrongful death claim in a rideshare accident.

While Florida offers injury victims and their loved ones some time to file a lawsuit, it’s best to begin the process as quickly as possible. It takes time for a lawyer to assemble the evidence and develop a case strategy. In addition, it’s common for people to forget important facts concerning the accident as time passes.

You’ll likely need the money from a rideshare accident lawsuit quickly to replace the lost income and pay for medical expenses. The quicker you begin the legal process, the sooner you recover compensation.

The timeline for receiving compensation differs from case to case. Sometimes, defendants are willing to come to an adequate settlement agreement quickly. In other situations, the defendant may deny fair compensation, resulting in a case ending up in court.

Your rideshare lawyers in Fort Lauderdale can advise you of the approximate timeline for resolving your case.

As the nation’s largest personal injury law firm, Morgan and Morgan has obtained over $20 billion in compensation for its clients. We have over 1,000 attorneys fighting for victims every day. To get qualified legal advice from our team, schedule a free case review using our convenient online form.