Item: Normandie Law Firm
Rating: 5
Author: Gina Rasmussen

Uber as a company was founded in 2009, but it did not get widespread recognition and become a household name and verb until a few years later. It began as a simple way to request rides from people who were willing to offer their time and income to chauffeur people around. The company was founded to be the cheaper and more efficient alternative to taxi cabs and similar services. Even public transportation has had its image slightly damaged because of how unreliable, late, and crowded it can be compared to using Uber. The success of the company has led to other various imitation services popping up, such as Lyft and Juno. It’s also received its fair share of scrutiny and a fair amount of laws altered or clarified to fairly deal with accidents involving the drivers.

Uber allows you to connect with a nearby driver so you can be chauffeured to your destination. This is different from how a taxi cab company works, which primarily sends drivers out to meet customers. Uber connects you with a driver who is in the general vicinity of your location, leading to a drastically reduced wait time to be picked up. The costs of each ride are generally lower than conventional taxi services as well, which resulted in drivers spending a lot of time behind the wheel in an effort to make as much money as possible. This, proportionally, increased the number of Uber driver accidents and Lyft driver accidents.

We at Normandie Law Firm understand that car accidents and the ensuing legal processes can be confusing and troubling for individuals, even those who have been down this road before. We hope to answer some of the most common questions clients have for us. Some of these questions include:

Can I sue Uber for a car accident?
Can I sue Lyft for a car accident?
What kind of compensation can I receive from an Uber accident?
Does Lyft pay for my injuries in a car crash?
Can an Uber passenger file a lawsuit for a car accident?
What can I receive from filing a lawsuit against Uber?
How much is the average settlement amount from a Lyft car accident lawsuit?

Can I Sue for An Uber or Lyft Driver Kicking Me Out of the Car?

Yes, you can bring a lawsuit for an Uber or Lyft driver who kicks you out of a car. An Uber or Lyft driver who forces someone from a car will put his or her hands on the passenger, to kick the person out of the vehicle. The Uber or Lyft driver is in control of the vehicle, and can stop that car at any time to try to kick someone out of the car. You will always be caught off guard when an Uber or Lyft driver becomes violent towards the passenger in their car. No one expects this to happen when they book a ride in an Uber or Lyft vehicle.

There are instances when the angry Uber or Lyft driver has stopped the car, to get out of the driver’s side of the vehicle, go to the back seat and open the door – and start to pull the passenger out of the vehicle. Pulling the passenger out of a vehicle will cause personal injuries to the passenger, who may trip and fall while being pushed forcibly out of the car. You have an action at law to sue Uber or Lyft for this type of aggressive and hostile action from an Uber or Lyft driver.

How Can a Person Be Forced from an Uber or Lyft Vehicle?

Yes, it is possible that a person can be kicked out of, or thrown from an Uber or Lyft vehicle. First off, are you wondering how this can happen? It turns out, it can happen quite easily. If an Uber or Lyft driver is mentally ill, angry or upset to the point of being violent towards the passenger in the car, that driver can forcibly eject someone from a rideshare vehicle. Uber and Lyft drivers are supposed to be screened, to determine that they are not angry and hostile people who will forcibly kick an unsuspecting passenger from their vehicle. If this has happened to you, you must call our office immediately, to discuss this case right now.

Do I Have a Case and Is There a Lawyer Who Can Represent Me?

Yes, you have a case to bring an action, and we are the right law firm to represent you in this type of action against Uber or Lyft for a mean and violent driver. You may have suffered personal injuries as a result of this violence in an Uber or Lyft vehicle. Some people have food crushing injuries, as a result of being forced from an Uber or Lyft vehicle.

Foot crushing injuries are common when a person is forcibly ejected from an Uber or Lyft rideshare vehicle. The foot being crushed is a painful injury, especially if it is run over by the car the person is riding in. If there is a crushing injury on the foot, it can make it difficult for walking, and may present as a compartment syndrome injury. Crushing injuries of the foot often include crushing of the toes. Many people have gait and walking problems after experiencing a crush injury to the toes.

A complication that can arise is that the toes will not heal uniformly, and will present with toe and foot deformities as the foot heals. Some people develop “claw toes” which can make it difficult to walk, when the last two joints of the toe bend downwards like a claw. In those cases, it can be impossible to find shoes that will fit to accommodate the deformity of those toe structures, and it will be painful to walk on claw toes that do not heal properly after a crushing toe injury.

If crushing injuries are not attended to quickly or in time, there can be a poor outcome for the individual who experienced this type of injury. For example, if a crushing injury to the limbs is not treated immediately, there is a risk of:

Bone deformities
Paralysis
Sensory neuropathy
Amputation
Death

The person can also experience a traumatic brain injury, from falling backwards and having the head hit the pavement. A traumatic brain injury or TBI is a serious injury, where there may be a coma or concussion that can result from this type of injury. If the person goes into a coma, there may be permanent brain damage, or the individual can die from swelling on the brain.

Can I Sue Uber and Do I Have a Case? What Are My Rights as a Passenger?

Yes, you can sue Uber and Lyft, and you have a case for personal injuries, if you are hurt when forced from an Uber or Lyft cars. When people get into an Uber or Lyft vehicle for a rideshare ride, the paid passenger expects to be driven from Point A to Point B by the Uber or Lyft driver. The passenger is not expecting to be physically abused and injured by the driver of the Uber or Lyft vehicle. No one goes into an Uber or Lyft car thinking that he or she will be forcibly ejected from the vehicle a few minutes later. Being forced from an Uber or Lyft is a shocking and difficult to understand turn of events. who can expect to schedule and pay for a rideshare, only to be thrown from it a few minutes later?
Important Insurance Information

One of the key elements to understand about Uber and Lyft accidents is related to insurance. Uber is primarily covered by James River Insurance, while Lyft is primarily taken care of by York Insurance.

Of course, all drivers on the road must have auto insurance of some kind, whether it is extensive coverage or basic liability. Failure to have coverage while driving is illegal. Also, personal auto insurance policies do not cover commercial driving, or driving for money. Initially, this was an issue because rideshare companies did not provide insurance to its drivers, which meant that everyone involved in accidents was essentially at a loss. The companies claimed that, as independent contractors, the drivers’ actions could not be attributed to the companies, and the companies would not be held responsible for anything the drivers did. Eventually, a court ruling declared that Uber and other companies must treat its independent contractors differently and provide insurance, whereupon the companies began to take out policies. This ruling occurred because an Uber driver struck and killed a young girl who was crossing the street with her parents, and there was no clear recipient of the lawsuit.

How Much Do These Policies Cover? To What Extent?

The policies of the companies function in extremely similar manners. When a driver has the app turned on but does not have any fares waiting to be picked up, he is covered for up to $50,000 in liability per person and $100,000 per incident, as well as $25,000 for property damage. These drivers may be paorrked and waiting to start a shift or driving around waiting for a request. Once the driver accepts a ride, the insurance policy increases to $1,000,000 per person; it covers the driver, passenger, and other individuals involved in the crash. The policy returns to normal once the ride has ended and the driver is waiting for yet another customer.

It is also important to understand that Uber and Lyft offer coverage for underinsured and uninsured motorists. If you are involved in an accident with a motorist whose insurance policy would not be adequate enough to cover your damages, you could turn to Uber.

What Is “Bad Faith” When it Comes to Insurance Companies?

An insurance company can be said to act in bad faith when it does not follow through on its promises or if it purposely attempts to sabotage a claim in some way. James River and York Insurance may act in bad faith by refusing to make realistic offers when you file a claim, refusing to investigate your claim or choosing to do a poor job of it, making up information to paint you as wrong or in a bad light, deliberately misinterpreting and adjusting the policy, ignoring your claim, deliberately delaying any progress on your claim, and more.

Insurance companies have a common goal: to retain profits. If they can do that by not paying large sums of money to victims of Uber and Lyft accidents, they will do so.

If you believe that your Uber accident claim or Lyft accident claim is not being properly handled by James River Insurance or York Insurance, you should reach out to an expert attorney for more assistance. Generally, insurance companies will try to take advantage of customers, especially those who are not their own clients; this is far less likely if you have an attorney on your side.
Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents
Car accidents have been occurring for as long as vehicles have been on the road. With the presence of Uber and Lyft, there is an increased demand for cheaper rides around the city, and as such, an increased demand for drivers. Because of the relatively low wages, drivers will try to take on as many fares as possible on their shifts and figure out the most efficient and quick routes to drop off their customers. Of course, this means that there is a higher chance of being involved in an accident. If a driver has to rush to transport his customer to her destination, he is far more likely to drive negligently.

Many times, Uber drivers will pick up their customers and proceed to use their phones while driving. They may be on the Uber app trying to secure another fare, changing the directions or altering settings on their phones’ GPS systems, make phone calls or type texts, and more. This is exceedingly dangerous behavior; a driver who does not pay adequate attention to the road is at high risk for getting in an accident.

Besides using their phones, drivers are often found speeding, changing lanes without signaling, tailgating, ignoring right of way laws, coming to rolling stops at stop signs or not stopping altogether, blowing through yellow and red lights, trying to make left-hand turns into traffic, and more. In some cases, Uber and Lyft drivers may even pick up customers while impaired and under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Of course, Uber drivers may not always be the ones at fault. There is always the possibility that another driver was committing the same actions listed above. For example, if you are in an Uber and you are struck by a car that sped through a stop sign, you would be able to sue the opposing driver for his part in your injuries.
Injuries from an Accident

Car crashes can be completely devastating; even if you are completely strapped in, you may still suffer extreme injuries. Cars are very large, very heavy, and can travel very quickly; adding all of these qualities together creates a deadly vehicle. Additionally, there are all sorts of sharp, bendable, and breakable objects in the car, as well as fluids that are potentially toxic and highly flammable. If you are hit, you may be partially saved by the airbag, but if your door bends, it can cause leg damage; if your windshield breaks, you may suffer numerous puncture wounds; and your airbag, though deployed, may break your nose upon impact. It is virtually impossible to be totally safe in an automobile.

Crashes can be head-on accidents, where two cars slam into each other hood-first; rear-end accidents, which feature one car crashing into the trunk or rear of another; and broadside accidents, which take place on either side of the car,like as in t-bone crashes or sideswipes. The type of crash you are involved in may influence the severity and type of injury you receive.

Commonly, high-velocity crashes cause severe injuries. If you are suddenly struck by a car traveling over forty miles per hour, your boy may be flung around in the car; we have seen numerous instances of individuals whose heads have bounced off and through the glass windows.

Car Crashes Are Extremely Dangerous. How Badly Can I be Hurt in a Lyft or Uber Accident?

The types of injuries you can get from these crashes can be debilitating. Let’s examine some of the varieties you can sustain.

Leg injuries: Broken leg, torn ACL, knee damage, amputated foot, broken foot, shattered patella, and more leg injuries can all unfold during a car accident. Your legs are always situated between other things in the car; as a driver, you have a heavy door on one side and the steering column on the other. The impact can trap your legs between heavy metal and hard plastic and cause severe damages.
Arm injuries: You may suffer a broken wrist, amputated fingers, broken arm, sprained wrist, finger damage, elbow injuries, and more in an Uber or Lyft accident. Often, your arms will instinctively shootout to prevent damage, but if they do that during a car accident, the impact will certainly harm you due to how much stronger a vehicle is.
Back injuries: Your spine is very sensitive, and if you sustain injuries to it, they can linger for months or years. A spinal cord injury, herniated disc, slipped disc, broken back, and other kinds of damage can put you out of commission for a long time. Further, back injuries are often the damages that are worsened by car accidents; many people may have recurring back problems already, and the impact could cause the pain and issues to flare back up and return.
Head and neck injuries: Damage to your head can be extremely debilitating. Normal wounds like facial lacerations, broken nose, loss of teeth, and similar damage may be easily repaired, but some of the more serious ones may not be. A car accident can cause a concussion, whiplash, traumatic brain injury, neck injury, broken neck, and closed head injuries. You may suffer brain damage as well, which can result in you being in a coma or being permanently affected for the rest of your life.
Sensory injuries: Severe wounds that affect your senses can also occur in car crashes. You may suffer hearing loss because of the intense sound or the impact could cause you to suffer inner ear damage or tinnitus. Vision loss and eye injury is also common; the broken glass and sharp metal fragments can very easily slice and scratch your eyes, causing blindness or some alteration to your vision.
Paralytic injuries: If you are in a car crash, you could suffer from paralysis of nearly any apart of your body. A shoulder injury and rotator cuff damage could be severe enough that it paralyzes you, but if you suffer high impact damage to your spine, you may suffer from paraplegia, or paralysis of the legs and waist. Moreover, if you sustain damage to your neck, you could suffer from quadriplegia, or paralysis of all of your limbs and everything below your neck.
Internal injuries: Damage to your external body parts may not be all that you sustain. As stated above, brain damage and concussions can also happen, but there are many ways that your internal organs can be harmed. Most often, internal bleeding and hemorrhaging can happen if the impact is great enough, but you may also suffer heart problems, lung injuries, liver injuries, spleen damage, and more. A common example of the cause of internal injuries is when a driver is rear-ended and the steering wheel smashes into his chest, which can cause damage to the lungs and heart. You may also suffer broken ribs, broken clavicles, and more.

Unfortunately, it generally does not matter where you are situated in the vehicle when an accident happens. Although you are more likely to be severely hurt if you are on the immediate side where the impact occurs, you are not necessarily guaranteed to suffer more damage. Sometimes an accident can cause the vehicle to careen further away and cause your side of the car to slam into something else, such as a tree or a pole.
Defining Negligence
All Uber accident claims and Lyft accident claims are based on the concept of negligence; that is, an entity was responsible for causing you harm due to his negligent actions. In order for you to file a lawsuit against a Lyft driver or Uber driver, you must be able to prove four points of negligence. These four points are as follows:

You were owed a duty of care by the driver. This is by far the easiest point to prove; any driver that is on the road has a duty to protect those around him. He must not participate in any action that could harm another driver or a pedestrian. The safety and preservation of health of other people is paramount.
The driver breached that duty of care. This can be proven when a driver does anything that could potentially place you or another individual in harm’s way. Breaking the law is a common example, but even simple inattention can be enough to be considered a breach.
The breach of duty resulted in an accident. By not paying attention to the road or his surroundings or by purposely breaking the law, the driver became involved in a car accident with you or with another vehicle. There is always the chance that comparative negligence can exist, meaning that your Uber driver may not hold 100% of the fault for the accident.
The accident led to actual physical harm. This is the most crucial point of filing a personal injury claim – the existence of physical injuries that occurred because of the accident. If there were no injuries, you would not be able to file a personal injury claim. Fortunately, you can also sue if the accident exacerbated or worsened previous injuries, such as back problems. So long as you can show that your injuries occurred because of the accident, this point will be proven.

Keep in mind that all of these parameters must be met in order for you to successfully file a claim. If any of the points can be shown to be false, the others would not legally hold up, and your Uber accident lawsuit would be thrown out.
Courses of Action

There are a few different courses of action you can take depending on your status in the accident. If you are an Uber driver, you would need to file the accident report and alert Uber to the fact that you crashed. You would likely have to take legal action against the car that hit you or caused the accident.

Uber passenger accidents and Lyft passenger accidents, on the other hand, give you more options. Passengers are seldom held at fault for car crashes; they are often unaware of the situation and will simply be innocent victims. There are exceptions, of course; rowdy passengers may cause a driver to lose control, while others have tried to take control of the vehicle while it was in motion. These types of cases are rare, however.

If you choose to sue Uber, you would need to take action against James River Insurance. Similarly, a lawsuit against Lyft will have to go through York Insurance.

Regardless of what insurance company will be the recipient of your claim, you should still follow the basic steps in the aftermath of a crash.

Firstly, you should ensure that you are safe and not severely injured. If you require immediate medical attention, you should seek it; calling an ambulance is a good option, but if you or someone else can transport you to the hospital immediately, you may be better off going quickly instead of waiting. Even if you are not severely hurt, you should still be treated or at least seen by the paramedics who will arrive. They will conduct tests on you and determine if you are in good health. It is important that you still see healthcare professionals because the abundance of adrenaline in your body may mask pain and injuries for some time. The professionals will be able to tell if something is broken or if you are damaged in a way you did not notice.

Next, you should take photos of as much as you can; these photographs will be ample evidence in a lawsuit. You should snap pictures of your injuries, the damage to the vehicles, the scene of the accident, the parties who were involved, insurance information, and more. Videos are also good options – you can record eyewitness testimony and take statements from anyone who saw the accident transpire.

When the police arrive, you should ask for a copy of the police report. Although it is not considered admissible in court, it can still come in handy when trying to negotiate a settlement with an insurance adjuster. It increases the amount of evidence you have and gives you more proof that the driver you claim to be responsible was in fact responsible.

If you are an Uber passenger or a Lyft passenger during an accident, you should take a screenshot of your trip to show that you were actually using the app and had your specific driver. You can use your trip history and bank history, if you are charged for the trip, to show that you were there.

Lastly, when the accident scene has wrapped up, you should hire an expert attorney to handle your case. Without the advice and counsel of an accomplished attorney, you may not be able to receive the compensation you deserve.
What About a Class Action Lawsuit?
There are different types of lawsuits, but one of the most familiar ones is the class action lawsuit; it can be filed on behalf of numerous plaintiffs to seek compensation for damages from a single company. These class action lawsuits generally require you to show only a small amount of proof. This is due to the fact that compensation will not be handed out in large amounts, but instead be given out to a group. As you would expect, the funds you win would be much smaller; however, the accomplishment of having a successful lawsuit will allow those in similar situations to follow the same path.

Generally, class action lawsuits will be filed in instances of sexual harassment, withholding of funds, and damaged property. You should not seek to be part of a class action lawsuit if it means a potential sacrifice of your fair compensation, but if you do not believe your case will be worth much otherwise, it may be the best option for you.
Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer? Can I File a Lawsuit by Myself?
Many times, individuals will ask us if they need to hire a lawyer for their lawsuits. They believe that if they do not have any legal representation, they will not have to pay any of the legal fees. While this is true, it is also risky – insurance agents that do not have to deal with lawyers and only have to communicate with normal individuals will be able to take advantage in many ways. Even though you may not have to pay the necessary fees for a lawyer, you may not earn nearly the same amount of compensation you would otherwise – in actuality, you may not be able to win your lawsuit at all.

However, if your claim is purely for property damage, you will likely not need an attorney. This is because the evidence for property damage lies in a mechanic’s estimate or in repair costs to your vehicle, or as reimbursement or replacement costs for your personal items and belongings. Insurance agents would find it inconsequential to argue over these small sums; only when injuries are present and the amounts of compensation rise up will they be more likely to throw out claims and argue over the extent of what you request.

What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer?

Insurance agents have a tendency to delay claims for as long as possible. They often throw them out without giving them a second look, and if you are not aggressive in your pursuit of compensation, you will likely never receive any. This, of course, requires a lot of time, as the agents are sometimes unavailable or will only be able to take calls at certain points during the day. You may not have the necessary time to hunt down an insurance agent and plead your case; you may have already returned to work and cannot afford to take time off. A lawyer will be able to constantly pursue your settlement – it is our job, after all.

You will need to have all of your evidence compiled and ready to be sent. You should not send anything in bits and pieces, nor should you forget important documents. It can be extremely detrimental to your case if you do not provide the necessary details to show that you were injured. Of course, you may not be aware of what is worthwhile and what is not; thus, an attorney will come in handy. We know exactly what will benefit your claim and what will make it so that your insurance agent has no choice but to give you the settlement you deserve.

It can be tempted to accept the first offer that an insurance agent presents to you, but generally, these offers are low-balled and meant to get you off their backs. They purposely offer you drastically less than what your case is worth; if you accept it, you will not be able to pursue additional compensation later. You may find that the insurance agent will not make this offer until weeks after you file your claim; often, the agent is banking on you growing sick of waiting and will take anything you can get. If you bite on this bait, you will not receive what you deserve. An attorney will be able to value your case and ensure that the offers you receive are realistic and viable.

When it comes to negotiating, you will likely be outmatched by the insurance agent or a fellow lawyer representing Uber or Lyft. Your negotiation skills may not be able to net you a settlement at all, and if you cannot accurately show how the evidence you provide proves that you are innocent and deserve compensation, you may walk away with nothing. An attorney will be able to negotiate a settlement in a better manner, as he will have ample knowledge of the law and will be able to refer to similar cases and show what others have earned in similar situations.

In all, you would be much better off if you chose to hire a lawyer from Normandie Law Firm to help you with your case. If you do not choose to hire legal representation, you may find yourself with no way of winning your lawsuit.
Average Settlement Amounts

Few people pursue legal action if they are told that their claims are not worth the trouble and time they will take to receive such a meager sum in return. However, many victims push forward with lawsuits anyway; convinced that they will earn millions of dollars when the judge sees the event their way and awards them huge verdicts. The cases that make the news and spread by word of mouth are, of course, the ones with huge settlement amounts, but they are by no means the standard; in fact, they are relatively rare across all personal injury lawsuits.

Uber accident settlement amounts and Lyft accident settlement amounts are hard to find; the insurance companies generally mark the settlements as private and confidential, and few cases have been well-documented. Moreover, finding the average settlement amount for your accident can be extremely difficult because of these million-dollar cases. When a case is settled for more (or settled for less) than you would expect, it pulls the single average up and increases the median. This means that the numbers become artificially inflated due to a few outlier cases that are beyond the realm of normal.

For example, if ten car accident cases unfolded and nine resulted in $20,000 settlements each, but one yielded a settlement of $1,000,000, the average of those ten cases would equal $118,000. This is clearly not indicative of the truth, but it is a common occurrence when searching for average amounts.

Can You Calculate Your Settlement? How Is it determined?

The value of an Uber accident case or value of a Lyft accident case is determined by numerous factors. It should be noted that there is no compensation calculator that exists that allows you to merely plug in your injuries and expenses and a settlement amount will be returned to you. Insurance adjusters and attorneys will debate and negotiate payouts together, and if no agreement can be reached, a judge or jury will reach a conclusion and award a settlement (assuming the lawsuit is successful).

In order to calculate the cost of your settlement, the insurance adjuster will look at a few different things, such as your injuries and how much they impact your daily life and career opportunities.

As mentioned above, there are numerous kinds of injuries you can sustain in car crashes. Some of these are minor and do not have lasting effects on your career a sprained wrist, for instance, will heal up in a few weeks, and while you may not be able to complete your typing duties, a person who works as a driver would not be greatly impacted. However, that same sprain may cause constant pain in your hand, or it may even cause complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). If the physical pain is permanent or drawn out, you could earn more than you would if it were to heal within a few weeks and have no permanent damage.

Some injuries are naturally worth more than others, as well. An amputated finger, for instance, will certainly yield more money than a broken finger, while facial scarring and disfigurement will earn more than scarring to a seldom seen part of the body.

Further, the impact that the injuries have on your daily life will be taken into account. If you suffer permanent damage to your legs and require a wheelchair, you may have to alter your entire life to resume somewhat normal living – your apartment may need to become handicap accessible, for instance. This kind of drastic change is not cheap, and the responsible party, be it Uber or the Uber driver, should be held to those expenses.

Additionally, your injuries can have an effect on your job. Initially, you may not be able to return to work because of how wounded you are, and you may need to spend time recovering. However, once you have reached the maximum healing potential, you may find that your job is not as easy or doable as it was before. To continue with the example above of being forced to use a wheelchair – you may hold jobs that require you to constantly be mobile and move through crowds of people, such as a position as a waiter. If you do not have room to maneuver anymore, or the speed and dexterity that accompany walking, you very well may not be able to hold that position and would need to search for a new job, perhaps at a desk. This potential ruining of a career could happen with almost any body part.

Therefore, how much you can receive in Uber accident settlements or a Lyft accident lawsuit is determined by the injuries you receive, how severe they are, how permanent they are, and how much they affect your career.

Of course, other factors go into the process as well, such as the amount of medical expenses that have been racked up and the amount of emotional, or non-economic, damages you sustained.

Sample Car Accident Verdicts and Settlements

The majority of lawsuits filed against Uber with known settlement amounts have been based on the tactics the company uses; for example, a rather well-known case involving a blind man who was turned away because of his service dog was settled for a large sum of money, as well as the class action lawsuit involving sexual assault victims who were harmed by Uber drivers. However, lawsuits against a company’s practices seldom happen more than once, as the lawsuit usually brings with it some kind of change – now, for example, drivers cannot reject trips from customers who have service dogs with them.

Regardless, Uber settlement amounts of and Lyft settlement amounts are not too drastically different from the normal payouts present in other car accident cases. We have provided a few examples below. However, it is important to remember that these sample verdicts are not to be looked at as perfect representations of what you will earn in a lawsuit – rather, they are meant to show what is possible and what you may receive. If you have a similar situation, you could compare the two, but always remember that there are dozens of minute differences between cases that could mean the difference between a small sum and a hefty sum.

$290,000 Verdict: A woman was driving home from work when she was rear ended. Because of the impact, she suffered a tear in a muscle in her back. Initially, the offer from the insurance company was a meager $8,200. After going to trial, the jury awarded her total coverage.
$90,000 Verdict: A driver was rear-ended by a commercial truck. As a result of the crash, the driver suffered disc injuries in his back, which required surgery. He needed three separate discs fused.
$2,000,000 Verdict: A young woman was hit by a vehicle that negligently ran a stop sign. Due to the crash, she suffered a severe concussion; the accident also exacerbated back injuries that were previously dormant. Her concussion was treated, but her back injuries permanently changed her life and put a damper on her career opportunities. She requested the limit for coverage, but was offered a drastically low amount to settle. Instead, a court awarded her a large sum.
$22,000 Settlement: After a multi-car accident in which he was rear-ended, a 58-year-old man was diagnosed with a disc injury. He sought much more than what he was awarded, but due to the long gap he spent between the accident and treatment, there was no way of properly determining if his injuries were directly caused by the accident.
$32,000 Verdict: Two drivers get into a significant car crash, but from the occurrence of the accident through the trial itself, there is no dispute over the details and facts of the situation. Both drivers and parties representing them agree that the plaintiff was not at fault. She did claim that she suffered from permanent back injuries in the wake of the accident, which was disputed by the defendant, and a judge awarded her a small sum.
$18,000 Settlement: A rear-end collision resulted in a man being taken to the hospital with minor injuries; he does require a few months of physical therapy, however. The defendant was driving while distracted, a fact to which he admitted.
$3,000 Verdict: After being involved in a car accident in which he received numerous wounds to the head and back, a motorist received the limits of his policy. His medical bills were not fully covered, and he winds up suing the defendant for his additional bills, which were not excessive. They disputed the injuries, but to no avail.
$8,000 Verdict: Two drivers were involved in a crash on a snowy road. The defendant lost control of his vehicle and slammed into the rear of the plaintiff’s car, resulting in various back injuries. The defendant claims that the man had enough time to avoid the accident, but wound up paying anyway.
$930,000 Verdict: A woman entered an intersection when she had the right of way. The defendant ran the red light and crashed into her vehicle, leaving her with severe ankle damage. The damage turned out to be long-lasting, and she was unable to stand for long periods or walk without limping. She was required to pursue a different career due to the nature of her injuries. The defendant outright denied the extent of her injuries, but the jury sided with the plaintiff.
$300,000 Verdict: An uninsured motorist struck a man on the road, resulting in various injuries. As usual, the extent of the injuries and the total medical expenses were disputed; the verdict wound up being primarily pain and suffering damages in addition to coverage of medical bills.

If you feel that your current case is similar to one that is listed above, you should get in touch with an accomplished attorney to determine if there are many similarities that could earn you more compensation. You will receive more information about some common Lyft accident settlements and Uber accident settlements.
How Long Is the Statute of Limitations?
If you are a victim of a car accident involving Uber or Lyft, you should be very aware of how long you have to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations in legal matters exists so as to prevent claims from sitting around too long and to ensure that all matters are handled quickly and efficiently. The longer you wait to take legal action, the higher the chance that evidence will be lost or corrupted, that the intended defendant will leave the state and not be adequately punished, and that eyewitnesses will have their memories fogged over and will not be able to accurately recall the situation. Further, the punishment for a crime that happened so long ago may not even fit the problem anymore; some courts and judges may view the gap in time as hours you spent recovering and healing, and any attempts to get compensation long after the incident happened could just be desperation. It is, thus, extremely important that you familiarize yourself with how long you have to file a claim – or ensure that you seek legal counsel with an expert lawyer.

For personal injury claims, there is a two-year statute of limitations. This means that you have two years from the date of the injury or discovery of the injury to file a lawsuit. This number is not etched in stone, however; there are numerous ways that the deadline can be temporarily extended.

Who Extends the Deadline? Can It be Further Extended?

Generally, a judge will grant a tolling of the statute if your lawyer brings up that it should be extended. For example, if you were a minor at the time of the injury (under the age of eighteen years old), the statute of limitations would not begin until your eighteenth birthday. You could technically have years go by before the deadline even begins. This exception exists because not every minor is capable of pursuing legal action or has a guardian who would be prepared to help the case along with cooperation and agreement.

Additionally, if the defendant were out of the state or country for some time, he could theoretically run out the statute and return when it was finished so as to escape punishment. The deadline, thus, is extended for the amount of days the defendant spent traveling elsewhere or abroad.

Also, the ability of the plaintiff to file a lawsuit is important. In the wake of a car accident, the plaintiff may be physically incapacitated by way of a coma or intense physical injuries. He may also be mentally unable to make rational decisions and file a lawsuit, as evidenced by those with traumatic brain injuries or those who suffer severe concussions. When the plaintiff returns to adequate health, the state of limitations would start or resume.

You will need proof of any of these occurrences in order for the deadline to be extended, however. You cannot merely make the claim without any support.
For What Can I Receive Coverage?

Uber accident claims and Lyft accident claims can yield various types of compensation for your damages. Personal injury lawsuits, in general, offer you a few different rewards for your injuries, much more than a worker’s compensation claim, for instance. Of course, the amount that you can earn will be highly dependent on the nature of your injuries, the amount of negligence that can be assigned to the defendant, and more. With the help of our expert attorneys, you can receive damages for:

Medical Expenses: Medical expenses can be covered if you sustain physical injuries. These medical expenses can include hospitalization fees, surgery costs, medication costs, physical therapy expenses, ambulatory transportation amounts, and more. Further, if you require additional medical treatments in the future for lingering injuries or if more surgeries must be performed after the lawsuit, those expenses can be taken care of as well.
Lost Wages: Because an accident involving an Uber driver or Lyft driver can be quite severe, you may miss work for any amount of days due to your injuries. There is a chance that you will not be able to return until you are fully healed, or at least able to get around on your own. Reasonable accommodations may also be unable to be provided if your injuries are particularly severe. The wages you lost out on from missing work could be reimbursed. Additionally, if you will miss work in the future because of more medical treatments or time spent recovering, those anticipated lost earnings can be doled out as well.
Property Damage: Depending on your involvement in the accident, you may be able to recover copious amounts of compensation for damaged property. If you were a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, your property that may have been damaged could include personal belongings, like cell phones and laptops, or anything that you brought in a backpack or suitcase. However, if you were driving your own vehicle at the time of the accident, the damages that your car suffered could be reimbursed. Your mechanic’s costs or costs to get a new vehicle, or at least rent one, can be covered. Any property that was damaged, lost, or broken can be reimbursed.
Pain and Suffering: The emotional, or non-economic, damages that accompany personal injury lawsuits can result in large amounts of compensation. These are often damages that do not have dollar values attached to them, nor do they have guaranteed paths to healing. A broken bone can be set and you could be forced to wear a cast for some time, but the mental pains that accompany an accident do not heal as easily. Pain and suffering damages could result in you receiving compensation for fear, anxiety, PTSD, mental scarring, psychological anguish, emotional pain, and more. You could be permanently affected on a mental level from an Uber or Lyft accident, and it may take years of therapy to overcome the problems.
Punitive Damages: Punitive damages are simply additional forms of monetary compensation that are handed out with the intention of punishing the defendant. They are handed out when the defendant displays gross negligence in his actions or when he acts with the intention of causing harm, such as by attempting to run you over, trying to purposely crash into you, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These damages are very difficult to win, however; many juries and insurance adjusters view them as excessive and do not believe they help the situation. They are often handed out in civil cases in lieu of criminal charges. Only a truly skilled lawyer will be able to negotiate punitive damages for your case.

You may not be fully aware of what the value of your case is until you speak with an expert lawyer. The longer you wait to file a claim and receive legal counsel, the higher the chance that your case value will diminish because of fewer witnesses and a more solid display of the effects the accident had on your life and career. Waiting to file a claim is always a wise choice; the sooner you take legal action, the sooner you will be able to receive compensation.
Can I Sue Uber for the Wrongful Death of a Loved One?
Some car accidents result in truly tragic consequences in which individuals pass away from their injuries. Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the country, and often, the person who dies is not responsible for the accident. In cases of drunk driving, right of way violations, and speeding, the perpetrator more often than not walks away with minor injuries. The wrongful death of a loved one can allow you to recover certain types of compensation that you otherwise would be unable to receive.

There are a few laws determining who can sue for wrongful death; the most common plaintiffs include spouses suing for the deaths of their significant others, parents suing for the deaths of their children, and children suing for the deaths of their parents. There are some exceptions and extenuating circumstances that can alter these parameters; for instance, if a child is raised by his grandparents and he winds up passing away from a car accident, the grandparents, as primary caretakers, could sue for wrongful death. Similarly, this exception may extend to brothers and sisters. Further, you may not need to be married to someone in order to sue for his or her untimely death, but if you are engaged in a domestic partnership – such as living together for a certain amount of years – you would be considered together and legally bonded, allowing you particular legal rights.

Some other types of compensation that you can earn in a wrongful death lawsuit include:

Funeral Expenses: Funerals are not cheap, and the expenses that accompany one can be taken care of by Uber or Lyft. This includes the funds for the casket, ceremony, burial plot, and more.
Loss of Inheritance: There is a chance that the individual who passed away would have left an inheritance to his surviving family members. This sum could be reimbursed.
Loss of Consortium, Companionship, Sexual Activity, Love, and More: The pains that come with losing a partner can be hard to overcome, and all of the relationship benefits could have some monetary reimbursement.
Pre-death Medical Expenses: The deceased may have undergone various medical treatments or been hospitalized prior to his death. These expenses could be taken care of.
Pre-death Pain and Suffering: Similar to medical expenses, the deceased may have undergone intense mental stress and psychological pain prior to his death. These non-economic damages should be covered.

We know that no amount of money can bring back your family member or loved one. We hope that the compensation you receive can lessen the financial burden that comes with a sudden death. Uber or Lyft should be held responsible for their part in a wrongful death accident and be made to cover the expenses that accompany such an ordeal.
Our Law Firm’s Promise

If you have any other questions about filing a lawsuit against Uber or Lyft for injuries you sustained in an accident, we will gladly answer them. Our lawyers at Normandie Law Firm are here to provide you with the services you need to file a claim and receive the compensation you deserve. We believe that all of our clients should have ample knowledge about the law and should be adequately informed before they take legal action. If you hire us to represent you, we will aggressively fight to bring you the compensation you deserve. We will ensure that your claim is filed within the statute of limitations and that all of your evidence is properly gathered and will be effective in winning your case. With the assistance of our lawyers, you will be on your way to receiving full coverage for your damages.

Free Second Opinion

Many times, victims of rideshare accidents will acquire legal representation and not be sure if they made the right choice. Some lawyers display acts of bad faith and do not properly represent their clients; they may purposely try to settle claims quickly and for low settlement amounts so that they can earn their own paychecks and move on to the next case. This is unethical, and all it does is allow the insurance company, the rideshare company, and the law firm to profit off an accident, while the victim is left without ample compensation or any way to pay for his damages.

If you already have legal representation but you are unsure if you are being properly treated or if your lawyer is doing all he can to bring you the compensation you deserve, reach out to our law firm for a free second opinion. One of our lawyers will look over your case and determine if you are being fairly represented. If we feel that your case is worth more than what you are currently being offered or is worth more than what your present lawyer claims, we will recommend a different course of action.

Free Consultation

Call us today for a free consultation with one of our accomplished lawyers. We will look over your case and tell you what we believe it is worth. If you have questions, we will answer them, and we will also tell you how we plan to win your case. Do not feel as though there is anything you cannot ask – we will gladly give you the information you need to make a decision you are comfortable with. All of our lawyers are available around the clock – twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. If you need help at any time, do not hesitate to call.

Zero Fee Guarantee

If you do select us for legal representation, you will be able to receive our zero fee guarantee. This guarantee promises that you will never pay any out of pocket expenses during your case and during the litigation process. Our attorneys will cover all of the expenses of the case, such as hiring experts to provide statements and testimony that support your claim. Our fees will only be taken care of if we win your case, and the money will be taken out of the settlement we bring you; that way, Uber or Lyft will be responsible for paying both your requested expenses and your legal bills. If we do not win your case, you will not have to pay us a dime; our lawyers will eat the costs, and you will be able to walk away off the hook. Your financial integrity is important to us, and we do not believe that people should be asked to pay for legal representation if they do not have the means to do so. You will never have to worry about your savings being touched when you work with a lawyer from our law group.

If you need more information on filing a lawsuit against Uber or filing a lawsuit against Lyft for injuries you sustained in an accident, reach out to our Los Angeles law group today. An attorney at Normandie Law Firm will be able to take your call and provide you with the help you need.

Do not hesitate to start your claim today, and you will be well on your way to receiving the compensation you deserve.