Ubers and Lyfts are extremely popular ways to get around Lynn, Massachusetts, whether you are a local or a tourist. While many people use rideshare services locally in Lynn, many people in Lynn also choose to take the 25-minute Uber or Lyft ride to the Logan Airport or the 30-minute ride to Boston’s downtown. In Boston alone, there were about 96,000 Uber and Lyft rides per day in 2017.

Rideshare drivers may be more likely to be rushed or negligent than other drivers. Distracted driving is also a concern, especially as the app is in use during your ride and notifies the driver of potential next rides during your trip. If you were involved in a car accident while a passenger in a Lyft or Uber in Lynn, the driver or others could be responsible for your accident and injuries. 

Uber and Lyft accidents are much more complex than a typical 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 an Uber or Lyft injured you as a rider, passenger, or third party, please call today for a free consultation: (617) 889-5000. 

Who is Responsible for a Lynn Uber or Lyft Car Accident? 

To determine who is at fault and legally responsible for your Uber or Lyft accident requires an attorney to prove which drivers were negligent. Negligence is a well-established legal standard in all car accident cases, including all Lyft or Uber accidents. When determining who is responsible for a Lynn Lyft or Uber accident, however, there are unique factors to consider. An attorney will carefully examine the details of your specific accident to determine all the relevant factors that contributed to your accident and injuries. 

Evidence That Can Help Prove Your Uber or Lyft Accident Case Claim 

If you were injured in a Lynn 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, call 9-1-1 at the scene of the accident 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.  

Other Parties That Could be Liable for Your Lynn Uber or Lyft Accident

If you were involved in a car accident while riding in an Uber or Lyft in Massachusetts, the driver could be responsible for your accident, or someone else could be responsible for the accident. 

Any negligent party can be liable for damages, and sometimes there are multiple negligent parties. For example, if the accident involved a defective vehicle, you would have a claim against the car’s manufacturer. It’s also possible that a third party is entirely responsible for your accident, such as if a driver ran a red light and they collided with the Uber or Lyft you were a passenger in. Just because you were injured while in an Uber or Lyft does not necessarily mean the accident was the Uber or Lyft driver’s fault. 

Other factors to consider when considering responsible parties include road construction or conditions. As attorneys, we will look at all the facts, perform 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 

How Can a Lynn Lyft or Uber Accident Lawyer Help Me? 

Massachusetts has a no-fault personal insurance policy. People injured in accidents, however,  can still sue the responsible party for negligence if their damages exceed the standard severity threshold.

Uber and Lyft companies have a unique relationship with their drivers, which means Uber and Lyft accident cases are much more complex than “typical” car crash cases. Rideshare injury cases are even 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 liable for the accident. The good news is that as a passenger injured in an 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.

What Kind of Insurance is Involved in a Lynn, Massachusetts Uber or Lyft Accident? 

Uber and Lyft carry a $1 million injury liability policy that applies while a passenger rides in the car. Rideshare drivers also must carry their own insurance policies. Sometimes, the driver’s insurance policy applies to your claim, sometimes Uber or Lyft’s policy applies to your claim, and sometimes both policies apply to your claim. 

Rideshare companies do not have the same employer/employee relationship with their drivers as traditional taxi companies. Because Uber and Lyft drivers are not typically considered “employees” of the company, when an Uber or Lyft driver’s negligence causes an accident, their negligence does not automatically make the company liable for your injuries.

The Uber or Lyft driver is considered an independent contractor, meaning the ride-sharing company is not legally responsible for certain 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 some circumstances, however, Uber or Lyft can be liable as a company. It takes a skilled injury attorney like Spada Law Group to know when this is the case. As an 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. This difference in insurance coverage may be a good reason to opt for an Uber or Lyft ride over a taxi.

What Happens if I Was Injured by an Uber or Lyft Driver who was Waiting for a Ride Request? 

Even if you were not a passenger in an Uber or Lyft, it is still possible to be injured by an Uber or Lyft. An Uber or Lyft car may hit your car while you are driving or even hit you as a pedestrian while you are crossing the street. 

Suppose an Uber driver is available for riders but still waiting for a ride request. In that case, Uber’s liability insurance policy may cover the accident if the Uber driver injures a third party. Uber's insurance policy will cover the accident if the driver’s personal insurance does not cover the accident.

In a scenario like this, Uber or Lyft’s insurance policy typically covers up to $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and up to $25,000 for property damage.

Who is Liable if an Uber or Lyft Driver Injured Me on Their Way to Pick Up a Passenger? 

If an Uber or Lyft driver is en route, the rideshare companies’ insurance policy will typically 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.  

This means if a driver has their app turned on, and you are injured in any way by a Lynn Uber or Lyft driver (even though you are not a passenger), there is coverage for you to seek compensation for your injuries. 

What if I Was Hurt When The Rideshare Driver Was Not Using the Uber or Lyft App? 

If you were hurt by a Lyft or Uber driver when they were not using the app, there are several things to consider. Typically, if the driver was unavailable to pick up passengers and the app was turned off during the accident, the driver’s personal insurance policy covers any accident. 

This is because, at the time of the accident, the driver acted as a typical driver, not driving for profit while “working” for the rideshare company. 

Hurt in an Uber or Lyft Accident in Lynn?: Here’s What To Do

If you were hurt in a Lynn car accident while riding in an Uber or Lyft as a passenger or injured in any other way by an Uber or Lyft driver, there are three main things you need to do:

  1. Get information at the scene of the accident
  2. Get the medical attention you need
  3. Call a skilled car accident attorney to set up a free consultation
 

  1. What to Do on the Scene of the Car Accident

If you’re able to, here is what you can do 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. 
  • 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 scene, 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.

  1. Get Medical Attention Right Away

Getting the proper medical attention you need after any car accident injury is the most important thing you can do. You should go to your doctor or urgent care after an accident, even if you don’t immediately notice any pain. Sometimes injuries can take a few days to settle in after a car accident because of the adrenaline your body may experience in an accident. 

A medical exam soon after the accident will help an injury attorney prove your injuries were actually caused by the car accident. This will help strengthen your case and help ensure you get the compensation you’re entitled to. If you wait too long to get medical care, insurance companies will try to argue your injuries did not result from the Uber or Lyft accident, or they will try to argue that your injuries are not severe.

  1. Consult a Lynn 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 Boston and all of Massachusetts.

What Compensation Can I Recover After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Lynn, Massachusetts?

If you were hurt in a Lynn Lyft or Uber car accident, you might be entitled to many different forms of compensation. You may be owed health care costs, damages for pain and suffering, compensation for lost income, property damage, and more.

Healthcare Costs

If you were hurt in a Lyft or Uber accident, you might 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 any ongoing medical costs such as medications, doctors’ appointments, physical therapy, specialists, and more. 

Pain and Suffering

Compensation for pain and suffering includes physical pain and other intangible hardships you suffer from accident injuries. When you experience an injury due to an accident, your pain and suffering is “worth” something. Pain and suffering also includes psychological harm caused by the accident.

Lost Income and Professional Losses

Suppose you experience loss of income from being unable to work or can show you had to change careers or that your earning potential was harmed due to your Uber or Lyft accident injuries. In that case, 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 caused by the accident. As 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 own car and were crashed into by an Uber or Lyft driver, then property damage recovery would include any damages to your vehicle and personal items.

How Can I Get Compensation After An Uber or Lyft Car Accident Injury in Lynn, Massachusetts?

More people have opted for calling an Uber or Lyft instead of using public transportation such as the MBTA bus or T ever since the COVID-19 pandemic. You have a right to compensation if you were injured in an Uber or Lyft car accident in Lynn or Massachusetts. As a passenger or rider, you have a right to file a claim against whoever is at fault for the car crash. 

One of the most important things to know if you were injured in a car accident involving a Lyft or Uber is NOT to talk to anyone’s insurance company until you meet with an attorney.

An injury lawyer knows all your rights and the best way to advocate for and protect them. Your claim may 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.

What NOT to do after your Lyft or Uber car accident: 

  • Do not make any statements to insurance companies (even your own!).
  • 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 are often 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. 

Time Limits For Filing an Uber or Lyft Accident Case in Massachusetts 

A car accident injury case must be filed within three years from the date of the accident in Massachusetts. However, it is better to bring the case as soon as possible. There may be circumstances that require a case to be brought more quickly, and a lawyer is best positioned to get you the best outcome possible on your case the sooner he is on board.

Changes in Massachusetts Law Regarding Ride-Sharing

Governor Charlie Baker officially passed legislation in 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 unique, 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 can be a complex process. It is essential to have a proven, experienced Lynn 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. We have a unique advantage because we used to work for insurance companies.

How We Help People After Car Accidents in Lynn

View our car accident case results to learn how our Lynn injury attorneys have helped people recover after being injured in a car accident. 

Injured In An Uber or Lyft Car Accident in Lynn? Text or Our Car Accident Injury Attorneys For A FREE Consultation

As Massachusetts 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. We’re here and ready to help.  As personal injury lawyers, you never pay us a penny until we win your case.

We have four offices but we proudly serve the entire state. We 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.

Call or Text Spada Law Group for a Free Consultation Today: (617) 889-5000