If you or a loved one recently suffered injuries in an accident involving a Lyft car in Rock Hill, you may have the right and ability to receive significant compensation, especially if the Lyft driver was at fault.
The experienced Lyft accident lawyers at the Elrod Pope Law Firm in Rock Hill can help. We fight to get Lyft accident victims and their loved ones the maximum compensation possible from at-fault parties and insurance companies. Contact our car accident attorneys in Rock Hill, South Carolina, today to learn about what we can do for you.
Why Do Lyft Accidents Happen in Rock Hill?
Lyft is a popular ridesharing service. Cars offering rides through its app have become a familiar presence on the streets and highways of Rock Hill and its environs.
Unfortunately, as Lyft ridership has grown in Rock Hill, so has the number of accidents involving Lyft cars. Some of those accidents occur because of careless or reckless driving by someone other than the Lyft driver or because of unsafe road conditions unrelated to the rideshare service.
Crashes in which the Lyft driver bears the blame often involve dangerous driving behaviors that are especially common in the ridesharing industry, such as:
- Speeding and driving too fast for road conditions to maximize the number of rides completed in a shift
- Distracted driving while interacting with the Lyft app, talking to a passenger, monitoring a GPS map, or scanning the roadside for a pickup or dropoff address
- Drowsy driving due to working a Lyft shift in off-hours from another job, late at night, or early in the morning
Lyft drivers are also susceptible to the same mistakes and lapses of attention as anyone else. But no matter what the specific cause of a Lyft accident is, its victims have valuable rights to compensation, and the team at the Elrod Pope Law Firm can get it for them.
Liability and Insurance in Rock Hill Lyft Accidents
As a general rule, anyone who negligently causes a car accident can be liable for the physical, emotional, and financial harm suffered by crash victims, including their medical expenses, lost income, pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life.
The party (or parties) liable for a Lyft accident could include, for example:
- A careless or reckless Lyft driver
- Another negligent motorist
- A business that employed an at-fault motorist
- A manufacturer of defective automotive parts
- A government agency or contractor at fault for dangerous road conditions
When it comes to identifying the parties liable for a victim’s losses, in other words, Lyft accidents in Rock Hill are no different from most other motor vehicle crashes.
But Lyft crashes do differ from other accidents in one way that can be critically important in determining how much compensation a victim receives.
By law in South Carolina, Lyft drivers must carry extra accident liability insurance that specifically covers the damages resulting from an accident they cause while logged on to the Lyft app. That coverage, when available, offers significant financial protection for Lyft accident victims:
- At least $50,000 for death and bodily injury per person, at least $100,000 for death and bodily injury per incident, and at least $50,000 for property damage for accidents the Lyft driver causes while logged on to the app but not connected with a passenger; and
- At least $1,000,000 for death, bodily injury, and property damage for accidents the Lyft driver causes while engaged with a prearranged ride until the ride’s completion.
These required levels of coverage are far higher than the minimum auto liability insurance South Carolina law requires all drivers to carry. Accordingly, the ability to prove a Lyft driver’s status on the Lyft app at the time of an accident can be a crucial factor in determining whether an injured crash victim receives full compensation for their losses.
Contact a Rock Hill Lyft Accident Lawyer at the Elrod Pope Law Firm Today
At the Elrod Pope Law Firm, we appreciate the essential importance of securing evidence to establish a Lyft driver’s app status and responsibility for causing an accident.
We can take quick action to protect your rights and build the strongest possible case on your behalf after a Lyft crash to maximize your chances of substantial compensation for your losses. To learn more about your rights and options, contact us today for a free consultation with a member of our team.
FAQs About Lyft Accident Cases
Does Lyft’s extra insurance only cover injured Lyft passengers?
No. It covers anyone who sustains injuries in a Rock Hill crash, at least partially caused by a Lyft driver — not just Lyft passengers, but also occupants of other vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Can I sue a Lyft driver for damages if they weren’t logged on to the app at the time of the crash?
Generally speaking, yes, but in that case, the driver’s personal auto liability coverage may cover you instead of the extra (higher dollar) insurance. But don’t lose hope — the driver’s insurance may be sufficient to cover your losses, and you may have the option of pursuing payment from other at-fault parties.
Should I accept a settlement offer from the Lyft driver’s insurance?
Talk to an experienced lawyer at the Elrod Pope Law Firm first. That offer might not pay you what you deserve, and in many cases, a skilled attorney negotiating on your behalf can get you far more.
