It’s not unreasonable to expect an Uber or Lyft driver to look out for you when you’re in their care or on the road beside them. Even so, many rideshare drivers violate the duty of care they owe other parties. In doing so, these drivers force you to contend with all kinds of losses, all of which can prove expensive to address.
How do you overcome the expenses tied up in your rideshare accident recovery? Ideally, you work with a personal injury lawyer in Indiana to demand equivalent damages. Is there an average settlement for Lyft and Uber rideshare accidents that you should expect, though? Generally, no.
No two rideshare accident claims look alike. You and your attorney will need to individually calculate the value of your losses before you can speculate as to the overall value of your case.
What to Know About Rideshare Accident Settlements Before You File
Rideshare accident cases differ from cases brought against private vehicles for a variety of reasons, including the following:
Contracts Can Change Who You Sue
If you get into an accident with a rideshare driver, you might think you know who to blame for your accident. This isn’t always the case, though. Even if you got hit by a driver, the rideshare driver’s employer may assume responsibility for the driver’s alleged misconduct. In other words, you may have to hold the corporation accountable for the actions of the individual.
That said, many corporations want to protect themselves from assuming responsibility for their employees’ misconduct. Some corporations may subsequently try to reclassify a driver within their company or claim that said driver works on an independent contract.
It’s up to you and an Indiana personal injury attorney to investigate these circumstances and file your claim accordingly.
You May Have to File an Insurance Claim Before You Go to Court
It’s already in your best interest to exchange insurance information with the party you believe to be liable for your losses while you’re still at the accident scene. That said, you may have to file an insurance claim with the liable party’s provider before you can take the liable party to civil court.
This process requires additional paperwork, but it can benefit you in the long run. Even if you receive compensation for your losses from a liable party’s insurer, you may still retain the right to sue the liable party for additional financial support.
Some insurance providers may deny your rideshare accident claim or offer you an offensively ineffective settlement. You do not have to accept an insufficient settlement offer. Our attorneys can appeal a denied rideshare accident claim or take the insurance provider to civil court on accusations of bad-faith misconduct.
What Compensation to Expect from a Rideshare Accident Claim
As noted, there’s no such thing as an average rideshare accident settlement. Instead, you have to estimate the value of your case independently. You can refer to precedent to determine what compensation other parties have received and use that precedent as proof of your right to a certain amount of support, but your losses are your own.
Be prepared to bring forward evidence of every loss you include in your rideshare accident claim if you want to secure the compensation you deserve.
Economic Versus Non-Economic Losses
In general, parties in your position have the right to request compensation for the economic and non-economic losses they endured in a rideshare accident. These losses can include the following:
- Medical expenses related to injuries caused by your accident
- Long-term medical care
- Lost wages and income
- Lost opportunities to work in certain industries
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage and replacement
The losses that leave behind concrete bills, like your medical care, constitute economic losses. These losses have a set value and may thus be directly compensated. Comparatively, pain and suffering, along with other non-economic losses, do not have a dollar value. Our attorneys will need to assign these losses their value and argue for your right to appropriate compensation.
When Should You Contact a Rideshare Accident Lawyer?
If you want to demand a settlement for an Uber or Lyft rideshare accident, you need to do so within Indiana’s personal injury statute of limitations. Indiana Code section 34-11-2-4 gives you no more than two years to investigate your losses, calculate your case’s value, and bring your claim forward.
With that in mind, contacting an attorney well before your statute of limitations expires is in your best interest. You can reach out to Vaughan & Vaughan within days of your accident to discuss your best course of action. We offer you an initial rideshare accident case consultation free of charge.
Let’s Fight for Your Right to a Fair Rideshare Settlement
While there may not be a universally-accepted average settlement you can receive after a rideshare accident, you do have the right to request compensation based on the severity of your losses. You can calculate the total value of the damages you deserve by working with personal injury lawyers throughout Indiana.
Vaughan & Vaughan can begin investigating your losses today. You can count on us to advocate for your right to the most possible compensation after a crash caused by someone else’s negligence. For more information on how we fight for you, contact us and schedule your free case consultation.
