Ever since Uber and Lyft started operating in the previous decade, ridesharing has increased in popularity— and as a result, so have accidents involving ridesharing vehicles. Let’s see how can a personal injury lawyer help in an Uber or Lyft accident in Birmingham. If you’ve been in an accident involving a ridesharing vehicle, here’s everything you need to know.

Uber and Lyft Accidents

If you were recently involved in an accident with an Uber or Lyft, you can file for damages. Under the law, an Uber or Lyft driver needs to have their car insured. The policy limits apply to your case depending on whether or not your Uber driver had logged in to your ride before the accident.

According to Alabama law, if the driver wasn’t logged in, then the minimum compensation to be received is $25,000 per injury, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damages.

Uber provides $50,000 for personal injury and $100,000 per accident if the driver’s insurance limits are exceeded. However, if a passenger is in the car, then Uber provides $1 million in liability and $1 million in uninsured motorist coverage.

However, to file for a personal injury claim, sufficient proof needs to be provided. That’s why, right after the accident, make sure you do the following things:

• Photograph the scene of the accident, including property damage, injuries, witnesses
• Get the correct contact information of everyone involved, including bystanders
• Involve the police
• Contact Uber or Lyft immediately

After doing all of this, you should look into hiring a personal injury lawyer to protect your rights under the law, and ensure you get the compensation that you deserve.

Who is Liable?

Under Alabama law, a couple of parties may be deemed liable involving an Uber or Lyft accident. A new ridesharing law took effect in Alabama in 2018, stating that the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC) is responsible for regulating ridesharing companies and issuing permits.

Potential parties that are liable for the accident include, but are not limited to:

• The driver of the Uber or Lyft vehicle
• The other vehicle’s driver (if another vehicle is involved)
• The manufacturer of the vehicle
• The vehicle part manufacturer
• The government, in case of poorly maintained roads
• Uber or Lyft if the driver did not go through a comprehensive background check

A personal injury lawyer will help determine who is liable for your injuries, and how you can file for damages in your particular case.

What is a Personal Injury Lawyer?

When you’ve been physically hurt or injured at the cost of someone else, a personal injury lawyer can help out.

Personal injury lawyers help in getting you monetary compensation for your injuries. For most people, as a result of being in a serious accident, it can lead to permanent health issues or injuries. Hospital bills can pile up, time is missed from work, and sometimes even caretakers are required. As the quality of life lowers, it’s unfair for the injured party to have to cover all the costs.

A personal injury lawyer will provide you with legal representation, and they handle all types of accidents, including Uber and Lyft accidents. The injured party may be liable for compensation for the injuries that they have suffered, and personal injury lawyers are able to help in receiving compensation for:

• Medical expenses, including hospital bills
• Wages lost due to time missed at work or inability to work
• Permanent disability as a result of the accident
• Loss of future wages/earnings

The non-economic damages include compensation for:

• Pain and suffering incurred by the plaintiff
• Emotional distress
• Lower quality of life after the accident

Why Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

With regard to Uber and Lyft accidents, you need to be able to prove a couple of things in order to receive compensation. Your personal injury lawyer will work on finding enough evidence to help support your compensation claims.

This is because most insurance companies refuse to pay insurance claims straight away. When accidents occur, insurance companies lose money and will deny compensation for minor reasons by any means possible. Often, they offer the plaintiff a one-time lump-sum payment. Though it may seem like a lot at that point, as medical bills begin to pile up and future earnings are lost, it isn’t enough. A personal injury lawyer will ensure that the insurance company is being held accountable for their clients and that you’re receiving the amount of money you deserve.

A personal injury lawyer will help demonstrate:

• That you were in the car at the time of the accident
• The car accident was a direct result of the Uber or Lyft driver
• You sustained injuries
• The injuries you sustained were a direct result of the car accident
• Provide medical bills and records to show proof that you were injured

Without hiring a personal injury lawyer, it may be difficult to demonstrate this proof to the court, and you may not end up receiving the compensation that you deserve.

Personal Injury Lawyers for Uber and Lyft Accidents in Birmingham

Looking for the best personal injury lawyers in Birmingham, AL? Look no further.

Get professional legal help at Hare | Wynn, where they deal with a number of personal injury cases, including Uber and Lyft car accidents, brain and birth injuries, injuries, medical, and medication errors, burn injuries, and more. Having helped clients recover at least 3x more than they would have without assistance from attorneys, Hare | Wynn’s team of lawyers has decades’ worth of valuable experience.