Van Nuys Lyft Accident Lawyer

Your plan for the day was pretty mellow: meet your mom at the Japanese Garden just southwest of town, go out for lunch, and then maybe take a walk around Lake Balboa. But you never made it out of Van Nuys. Since you can’t get your car serviced until you get your next paycheck, you’ve been taking Lyft to work and around town. It’s super convenient, but you learned the hard way that not all Lyft drivers are skilled at their job. Your driver was tailgating cars the whole way after picking you up, until the truck in front made an abrupt stop. Your driver slammed on the brakes but still plowed into the back of the truck.

Your seatbelt worked but your collarbone broke upon impact and you suffered severe whiplash. You’re already living paycheck to paycheck, so going to the doctor and taking the medicine prescribed to you, not to mention the cost of taking a couple of days off work, is going to cost you. Thankfully you have the right to file a claim for your injuries and should call a top Van Nuys Lyft accident lawyer at Walch Law, as these types of claims can be complicated. We know how to take on big companies like Lyft and not back down from their low-ball settlement tactics. Want to know how much your lyft accident case is worth? We can tell you that and much more when you get in touch with us.

The following is a primer on what to do after an accident involving a Lyft driver (whether as a passenger or another motorist), different types of damages you may claim, and the benefits of working with an attorney. Remember, even if you’re strapped for cash many accident attorneys offer free initial consultations and won’t collect until you win your claim.

You’re just glad you were wearing your seatbelt, since your injuries could have been much, much worse without. You were also able to call the police without too much pain to get an official report. The driver checked on you right away and took notes on what happened, although it’s always a good idea to take your own notes. It’s also a good idea to snap photos with your phone, including damage to any vehicles involved. After helping you out of the car, the driver moved his vehicle to the side of the road to prevent any other traffic issues.

Regardless of whether it’s a Lyft-related accident, you’ll want to obtain the following information after a car accident:

• Names and contact information of any drivers involved in the accident
• License plate numbers and descriptions of all vehicles involved
• Insurance information

If you’re too injured to check the following, then don’t worry about it for now. But your Van Nuys Lyft accident lawyer can better help you with your claim if you check the following:

• Is the driver logged into their Lyft app (when a Lyft driver is off duty, they’re covered solely by their own personal insurance policy)?
• If the app is in driver mode but there’s no passenger, Lyft provides contingency coverage of $50,000 per injury, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage coverage (in case the driver’s own policy denies coverage).
• Lyft also provides up to $1 million in liability coverage per accident for passengers.
• Remember to report your accident with Lyft

It can’t be stressed enough: the most important thing to do following an automobile accident is to make sure emergency care is given to everyone who needs it. If someone has a back or spine injury or otherwise immobile, don’t move them. It could make the injury worse. Your attorney will help you obtain the necessary information and will help with any investigations that may be needed.

With any claim, it’s important to understand that the insurance company isn’t motivated to write big checks to claimants. They will try to keep payments low and close cases quickly, often by making quick settlement offers before you’ve had a chance to fully assess your injuries and their impact. But it gets even more complicated when it involves a Lyft driver, since it’s yet another party.

Commonly reported issues with Lyft-related accident claims include the following:

• Claim is denied, suggesting it wasn’t the Lyft driver’s fault)
• Failure to reply to claims or questions about claims
• Low settlement offers
• Claiming your injury was a “pre-existing condition” and not in fact caused by the accident

When monetized, the losses you sustain from the other party’s negligence are called damages. They include, but aren’t limited to, the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Disfigurement
• Permanent disability
• Pain and suffering
• Diminished future earning potential
• Loss of consortium (intimacy and affection)

Injury claims can be quite tricky, particularly when multiple parties are involved. If you were injured as a Lyft passenger or by a Lyft driver, you owe it to yourself to seek out skilled legal counsel. The legal professionals at the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, a Law Corporation will work diligently to make sure you get every penny that’s owed to you.