Whether you are a local or a tourist, Uber and Lyft rides are a popular way to get around Newburyport. Many people will even ride from Newburyport to Boston; the average trip costs about $56. In the city of Boston alone, there were about 96,000 Uber and Lyft rides per day in 2017.
Rideshare drivers using the Uber or Lyft app may be more likely to be rushed, negligent, or distracted. If you were involved in a car accident as a Lyft or Uber passenger in Newburyport, the driver or others could be responsible for your accident and injuries.
Uber and Lyft accidents are much more complex than a typical Newburyport car accident case, but the experienced lawyers at Spada Law Group are here and ready to help. We will represent you to help you recover medical costs, lost income, and other losses. If you were injured as a rider, passenger, or third party, please call today for a free consultation: (978) 744-2117.
What To Do After Being Hurt in an Uber or Lyft Accident in Newburyport, Massachusetts
If you were hurt in a Newburyport car accident while riding in an Uber or Lyft as a passenger, there are three main things you need to do:
- Get information at the scene of the accident
- Get the medical attention you need
- Call a skilled car accident attorney to set up a free consultation
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What to Do on the Scene of the Car Accident
If you’re able to, here are some suggestions of what to do at the scene of the accident:
- Call 911 to get a police report
- Get information about the other driver involved in the accident, including their license plate and car insurance policy information
- Get information from your Uber or Lyft driver: their full name, phone number, address, information about their car, and their insurance policy
- Take photos of the accident scene and all vehicles and property involved
- If any witnesses are at the location, get their names and contact information
- Screenshot the details of your Uber or Lyft ride on your phone, so you have proof that you were a passenger in a ride at the time of your accident
- Email yourself notes about what happened
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Get Medical Attention
Getting the proper medical attention you need after a car accident injury is the most important thing to do. You should go to your doctor or urgent care even if you don’t immediately notice any pain because injuries can sometimes take a few days to settle in after a car accident.
A medical exam soon after the accident will help an injury attorney prove your injuries were caused by the car accident. This will strengthen your case and help ensure you get the compensation you’re entitled to for your injuries. If you wait too long to get medical care, insurance companies will try to argue your injuries did not result from the Newburyport Uber or Lyft accident, or they will try to say that your injuries are not severe.
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Consult a Personal injury Attorney
Set up a consultation with a skilled personal injury attorney with experience handling injuries suffered in Lyft and Uber accidents. Spada Law Group offers FREE consultations and is a top car accident and top personal injury lawyer in Massachusetts.
Who is Responsible for a Newburyport Uber or Lyft Rideshare Accident?
To find out who is at fault for your accident requires an attorney to prove a driver was negligent. Negligence is a well-established legal standard for all Lyft or Uber accidents. There are, however, unique considerations when figuring out who was at fault in a rideshare accident. As Newburyport accident attorneys, we must look into the accident details to find out all the relevant factors that contributed to the accident.
Evidence from Your Newburyport Uber or Lyft Accident Case that Can Prove Your Claim
If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft car accident as a passenger, there are several steps you can take to take care of yourself and to help build a successful injury case.
If you’re able to, at the scene of the accident, call 9-1-1 to get a police report; get information about the other driver involved in the accident, including their license plate and car insurance policy information; take screenshots of the rideshare app; get information from your driver; take photos at the scene; and take notes about what happened while it’s fresh in your mind.
What Other Parties Could be Liable for My Accident?
If you were involved in a car accident while riding in an Uber or Lyft in Newburyport, Massachusetts, the rideshare driver or someone else could be responsible for the accident.
Any negligent party can be liable for damages. For example, if the accident involved a defective vehicle, you would have a claim against the car’s manufacturer. The accident could also be entirely the fault of a third party, such as a driver who ran a red light and hit the Uber or Lyft as it passed through an intersection. Other factors to consider can even include road construction or road conditions. As attorneys, we will look at all the facts, conduct research, and determine all possible liable parties involved in the accident.
An Uber and Lyft Accident Claim Could also Include Other Responsible Parties Due to the Following:
- Negligent hiring
- Negligent training or supervision
- Misrepresentation
What Compensation Can I Recover After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Newburyport?
Healthcare Costs
If you were injured in a Lyft or Uber accident, you may be entitled to damages for medical bills. This includes emergency or life-saving medical treatment, medical transportation, hospital charges, imaging (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, etc.), and more. It would also include paying for ongoing medical care such as medications, doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, specialists, etc.
Pain and Suffering
Your pain and suffering are “worth” something when it comes to experiencing an injury due to a Newburyport accident. Compensation for pain and suffering includes the physical pain and other intangible hardships you suffer that were caused by your injury and accident. Pain and suffering can also be psychological.
Lost Income and Professional Losses
If you experience loss of income from being unable to work or can show that you had to change careers or your earning potential was harmed due to your injuries in an Uber or Lyft accident, you can recover damages for these losses. Serious injuries could result in cutting back work hours, losing performance bonuses, being less productive, needing to change careers, and more.
Property Damage
You can also receive compensation for any property damage. If you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft, damages could include your cell phone, glasses or eyewear, suitcases, or anything you had in the vehicle. If you were driving your vehicle and were crashed into by an Uber or Lyft driver, then property damage recovery would include any damages to your car and personal items.
Hurt in an Uber or Lyft Car Accident in Newburyport?: How To Get Compensation
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, more people have opted for calling an Uber or Lyft instead of using public transportation such as the commuter rail. If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft car accident in Newburyport, Massachusetts you have a right to compensation. As a passenger or rider, you have a legal right to file a claim against whoever is at fault for the car crash.
If you were injured in a car accident involving a Lyft or Uber, it is very important that you DO NOT talk to anyone’s insurance company until you meet with an attorney.
An injury lawyer knows all your rights and the best ways to protect and advocate for them. Your claim could involve the personal insurance policy of your driver, the insurance policy from Uber or Lyft as a company, and the insurance policies of any other drivers involved in the accident. Because more parties, entities, and insurance companies are involved, Uber and Lyft accidents are more complicated than typical car accident cases.
What NOT to do after your Newburyport Lyft or Uber car accident:
- Do not make any statements to any insurance companies.
- Do not sign any release forms or any type of paperwork.
- Do not discuss or agree to any form of monetary settlement.
Uber and Lyft car accident injury cases can be more complicated due to the involvement of multiple parties and insurance companies. But skilled car accident injury attorneys at Spada Law Group are ready to assist you.
What Kind of Insurance is Involved in a Newburyport Uber or Lyft Accident?
As a general rule, Uber and Lyft carry a $1 million injury liability policy that applies while a passenger is riding in the car. Both companies also require all rideshare drivers to hold their own insurance policies. Rideshare companies are different from traditional taxi companies because they do not have the same employer/employee relationship with their drivers.
Uber and Lyft drivers typically are not considered “employees” of the company, which means when a Newburyport Uber or Lyft driver’s negligence causes an accident, the driver’s negligence does not automatically make the company liable for your injuries.
Because the Uber or Lyft driver is considered an independent contractor, this can mean the ride-sharing company is not legally responsible for any car accidents. Because of this unique liability situation, you need to know your rights if you were in an accident as a passenger or driver in a ride-sharing vehicle in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
In some circumstances, Uber or Lyft may also be liable as a company for your accident. It takes a skilled injury attorney like Spada Law Group to know when this is the case. As a Newburyport Uber or Lyft passenger, you are covered by a $1 million liability insurance policy. This is far more coverage than the $20,000 liability insurance taxicabs carry, which is hardly enough to cover your damages for any substantial injury.
What Happens if the Uber or Lyft Driver Was Waiting for a Ride Request?
Uber’s liability insurance policy may cover the accident if an Uber driver injures a third party while the driver is available for riders but is still waiting for a ride request. Uber's insurance policy will cover the accident if the driver’s insurance does not cover the accident.
In a scenario like this, Uber’s or Lyft’s insurance policy will cover $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and up to $25,000 for property damage.
Who is Liable if the Uber or Lyft Driver is on Their Way to Pick Up a Passenger?
Suppose an Uber or Lyft driver is en route to pick up a passenger and causes an accident. In that case, the rideshare companies’ insurance policy will pay for the third party’s or driver’s injuries. Even if the accident involves an uninsured driver, the policy includes up to $1 million in total liability coverage.
What if the Rideshare Driver Was not Using the Uber or Lyft App?
If a driver was not using the Lyft or Uber App, several things should be considered. Still, in general, if the driver was unavailable to pick up passengers and if the app was turned off at the time of the accident, the driver’s personal insurance policy will be what covers any accident. The idea is that if the app is off, the driver was acting as a typical driver at the time of the accident, not driving for profit while “working” for the rideshare company.
How Can a Newburyport Lyft or Uber Accident Lawyer Help Me?
Uber and Lyft accident cases are far more complex than a “typical” car crash case because of the unique relationship that Uber and Lyft companies have with their drivers. The cases are far more complicated than an injury from a traditional taxi cab accident.
It takes a skilled injury attorney like Spada Law Group to know how to ensure Uber and Lyft are held liable for the accident. The good news is that as a passenger injured in a Newburyport Uber or Lyft Accident, the companies carry a $1 million liability insurance policy – much more coverage than the $20,000 liability coverage taxicabs are required to have.
You Must File a Newburyport Uber or Lyft Accident Case Within the Time Limit
Massachusetts has a no-fault personal insurance policy for car accidents. However, people injured in accidents can still sue the responsible party for negligence if their damages exceed the standard severity threshold.
A car accident injury case can be filed within three years from the accident date, but it is better to bring the case as soon as possible. There may be circumstances that require a case to be brought more quickly. The sooner you consult an attorney, the sooner a claim is filed against the responsible parties, the better your chances of a successful recovery. The sooner an attorney is on board, the sooner we can help connect you with recommended health care, and the sooner we can start our investigation.
Many ways we recover information about a car accident case in Newburyport require us to act quickly. For example, suppose we want to hire an accident reconstructionist to analyze the crash scene. In that case, this must be done as soon as possible so the analyst can observe any physical signs of the accident, such as skid marks and property damage. Another resource we often use is security camera footage from local businesses, and often stores and businesses only keep this footage for about 30 days before deleting it.
Changes in Massachusetts Law Regarding Ride-Sharing
Governor Charlie Baker officially passed legislation in August 2016 to regulate ride-share services in Massachusetts.
Traditional taxi companies criticized the legislation for being too liberal and putting them at risk of eventually going out of business. The regulations included requirements for ride-share drivers to have special, supplemental insurance because once they launch the app and log in, they are no longer covered under their own personal auto insurance policy.
Pursuing legal action against a ride-share company like Uber or Lyft in Newburyport can be a complex process. It is essential to have a proven, experienced Newburyport car accident lawyer to represent you during this process.
At Spada Law Group, we have a proven track record of fighting for our clients to get the best possible result, and we used to work for insurance companies – which gives us a unique advantage.
How We Help People After Car Accidents in Massachusetts
Check out our car accident case results to learn how our Massachusetts injury attorneys have helped people recover after being injured in a car accident.
- Learn how Spada Law helped someone get a $120,000 settlement after an insurance company said our client was responsible for the accident.
- Learn how Spada Law helped a passenger injured in a rear-end accident recover $100,000.
Injured In a Newburyport Uber or Lyft Car Accident? Text or Call Newburyport Car Accident Injury Attorney For A FREE Consultation
As Newburyport car accident attorneys, we know the unfortunate truth: Car accidents in an Uber or Lyft are inevitable.
Over the last three decades, we’ve helped thousands of people in Massachusetts get the recovery they need after a car accident injury. Spada Law Group was recently recognized as one of Boston’s Top 20 Car Accident Attorneys. Attorney Spada was named one of Boston’s Top Personal Injury Lawyers. As personal injury lawyers, you never pay us a penny until we win your case. We’re here and ready to help.
We have offices in Newburyport, Chelsea, Peabody, and Worcester, but we proudly serve the entire state and can meet with you remotely from the comfort of your own home.
Contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help you get the recovery you deserve after your injury.
