Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers in Fort Collins, Texas

Call (800) 863-5312 To Speak With Our Fort Collins Uber and Lyft Injury Lawyers         

Whether you are trying to get to work, visit a friend, or grab dinner at a nice restaurant, ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft are a popular way to get you where you need to go. They are especially useful in Fort Collins where the city is constantly bustling with many fun locales to visit. Despite the convenience of Uber and Lyft, car accidents are a genuine concern and unfortunately happen quite frequently. If you are injured in a car accident, call Zinda Law Group’s Fort Collins Uber and Lyft injury lawyers who can guide you through what happens next.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident near Fort Collins, call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 for a 100% free case evaluation today with our Fort Collins Uber & Lyft injury lawyers.

Our Zinda law group Fort Collins Uber and Lyft injury lawyers can Investigate your case

Uber and Lyft are ridesharing services that link drivers to people looking for a ride to a particular location. Unlike taxi services, drivers for these companies use their personal vehicles rather than a company-designated car. Further, the prices for a ride vary depending on location, time of day, and total distance traveled.

Allocating liability for an Uber or Lyft injury can be difficult, asUber refers to its drivers as “independent contractors” rather than employees. The difference may seem small but is potentially very significant. That is because most personal insurance policies exclude coverage for injuries that happen at work, forcing the injured person to try and obtain compensation through the responsible party’s work insurance. However, due to labeling drivers as independent contractors, Uber and Lyft can get away with limiting insurance coverage.

Further, if a driver was labeled as an employee, the company could be held responsible for a driver’s accident through the vicarious liability doctrine. The doctrine states that there are circumstances where an employer is liable for the actions of an employee. Importantly, the doctrine does not apply to independent contractors. Despite the difficulties, it is still possible to hold Uber or Lyft liable. That is because Uber and Lyft have insurance policies to provide coverage if an injury occurs while a vehicle was in driving mode. As such, the ridesharing companies only consider themselves liable if a passenger is in the vehicle when the accident occurs or if the driver was en route to picking up a passenger.

A Zinda Law Group Fort Collins car accident Attorney has experience with uber and lyft injury cases

Your Zinda Law Group Fort Collins personal injury attorney will have the necessary expertise to determine how your injury happened and what party, or parties, are responsible. You could be hurt by a ridesharing service as a pedestrian or as a passenger. Further, Uber and Lyft accidents can occur in any number of circumstances anytime, anywhere. A non-exhaustive list includes:

Distracted Driving

Although you probably expect your ridesharing driver to display professionalism when taking you to your location, that is not always the case. Distracted drivers are unable to adequately pay attention to their surroundings while on the road. There are instances of drivers getting into accidents because they were texting while driving, not checking their blind spots, switching lanes without using a turn signal, or operating the vehicle while intoxicated.

Mechanical Failure

An accident may not be the fault of your Uber or Lyft driver, but rather a problem with the car itself such as a blown engine. If that happens, your lawyer can consider pursuing a claim against the car’s manufacturer for building an improperly functioning product. If you have questions about products liability, Zinda Law Group’s accident lawyers can answer your questions.

Read More Here: Product Liability Lawyers

Assault

Uber and Lyft injuries do not just occur from an accident. Injuries can also happen when a driver assaults a passenger. In 2021, Lyft published its first safety report which revealed that between 2017 and 2019 there were more than 4,000 reported sexual assaults perpetuated by the drivers.

What Are Common Uber and Lyft Injuries?

A passenger in an Uber or Lyft can encounter a wide range of injuries that vary in severity. Here are just a few common examples of injuries sustained in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver:

• Brain injuries
• Rib fractures
• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Disfigurement
• Internal injuries
• Paralysis
• Death

As you can see, the variety of potential injuries is numerous. A car accident attorney with Zinda Law Group can help you pursue maximum compensation for injuries sustained, as well as for pain and suffering.

Uber and Lyft Injury Statistics

In recent years, various studies have shown the extent of injuries suffered by Uber and Lyft passengers. A University of Chicago study from 2019 found that Uber and Lyft contributed to a 3% increase in fatalities. The study concluded that various cities saw a rise in fatal car accidents after Uber and Lyft’s introduction. Additionally, Uber published a report documenting its accident statistics from 2017-2018. During that time frame, there were 97 fatal crashes resulting in a total of 107 deaths.

What To Do After An Uber or Lyft Accident

There are several important steps to take following a Fort Collins car accident. Each of these steps is crucial in getting the care you need and preserving important evidence to support your claim. Here are a few important steps to take immediately after an Uber or Lyft accident:

Seek Medical Attention (If Necessary)

The most important thing to do after your Fort Collins car accident is to monitor your health. If your injuries are severe, go to a nearby medical facility as soon as possible. Even if you don’t think you’ve been hurt, schedule a medical evaluation immediately after the accident in case of hidden injuries. Sometimes injuries take days to present themselves.

Furthermore, you should document any and all medical expenses you received while treating your injuries. Include information regarding how the injury from the accident has negatively interfered with your day-to-day life. This will greatly help your car accident attorney determine how much your claim is worth.

Call the Fort Collins Police

After assessing your initial health status, notify 911 of what took place. When a police officer arrives, they will likely ask you questions about how the incident occurred. Be truthful with the police but do not admit any fault.

If your injuries were the result of an accident, the police officer will likely ask you to fill out an accident report. The accident report will include preliminary information including the parties involved, vehicle(s) involved, insurance information, and a brief summary of what took place. You should fill out the accident report and then request a copy of the report when it is available. Having the report will help your Fort Collins Lyft accident lawyer obtain maximum compensation for your injuries.

Learn More: How to Obtain a Fort Collins Car Accident Report

Report the Accident to the Relevant Ridesharing Service

Depending on which company you rode with, you should report the accident to Uber or Lyft, respectively. Uber allows you to file a report on its website. Additionally, Lyft also allows you to file a report on its website. Both websites are accessible through their apps and provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to report your accident.

Contact Your Insurer

Notify your insurer that you intend to file a claim against the party responsible for your accident. However, do not divulge too much information about your condition before contacting an attorney. That is particularly relevant  if you contacted the insurer not long after the accident occurred, as symptoms of an injury may not have manifested yet. You may be in as much pain as you will be in later, so your statement to them may not accurately reflect your true physical condition.

Document Evidence

If it is possible and safe to do so, document evidence following the accident. Collect evidence regarding:

• The name and contact information of the Uber/Lyft driver
• The Uber/Lyft driver’s personal insurance information
• The location of the accident
• Your injuries
• The vehicle that caused your accident (focus on the license plate for identification purposes)
• The road conditions
• The damage done, if any, to others and/or property nearby

If any witnesses are present on the scene, try to get their names and contact information. Witnesses can greatly help a Fort Collins Uber accident lawyer present corroborating evidence of your side of the story during litigation.

Retain A Fort Collins Injury Lawyer

You should obtain the services of a Fort Collins Uber accident lawyer or Fort Collins Lyft accident lawyer. The attorney may want to talk over the phone or in person about your accident. He or she will want to gather information from you that will help clarify who was responsible for your injuries. Also, your attorney will be able to guide you through the legal process of getting your case filed on time according to Colorado law.

You should provide the lawyer with your medical expenses, the contact information you have of any potential witnesses at the scene of the accident, a copy of the police report, and any other information the lawyer believes is helpful to your case. The lawyer will take the evidence and use it to strengthen the value of your case.

After filing a lawsuit against the responsible party or parties, the lawyer may negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to obtain a favorable monetary settlement for you. If the negotiations are unsuccessful, your lawyer will bring your case to trial and pursue maximum compensation in court.

Learn More: Negotiating a Settlement

How much can you recover after an uber or lyft injury?

After an Uber or Lyft injury, you are likely wondering what you can receive in compensation. For a personal injury lawsuit under Colorado law, you can obtain economic damages, non-economic damages, and possibly punitive damages. Here is an explanation of each category of damages:

Economic Damages

Economic damages is compensation for monetary losses such as medical expenses (past and future), loss of earnings, loss of use of property, and loss of future employment. To ensure you receive accurate compensation for your economic damages, keep documents which demonstrate your medical expenses, property damages, and missed work.

Non-economic Damages

Non-economic damages is compensation for non-monetary losses such as pain & suffering, emotional distress, inconvenience, and loss of companionship. Non-economic damages are harder to quantify than economic damages; however, your attorney will help determine the value of your non-monetary losses.

Punitive Damages

Unlike economic and non-economic damages, which are designed to make the victim “whole again,” punitive damages punish the responsible party. A court may award punitive damages in a situation where the responsible party acted with malice or willful and wanton conduct. The statute defines those terms to mean an action committed purposely by a party who knew that what they were doing was dangerous, reckless, without regard to consequences, and without concern for the safety of others.

Even if you can meet the threshold for punitive damages, Colorado law has a damage cap on what you can receive. For example, if you receive $3,000 in compensatory damages, you may not receive more than $3,000 in punitive damages. Consult with your Fort Collins injury lawyer to determine whether you should pursue punitive damages.

Learn More: How to Calculate the Value of a Case

uber and lyft insurance policies

It is important to note that even if Uber or Lyft must compensate you, the companies’ insurance policies may limit what you receive. For an accident covered by , Uber is liable up to $50,000 per person for bodily injury, up to $100,000 for total bodily injury, and up to $25,000 in property damages when the driver was in driving mode. This means that even if your injuries are more than Uber’s policies, you cannot receive more compensation from Uber.

For an accident covered by Lyft’s policies, Lyft is liable up to $50,000 per person for bodily injury, up to $100,000 for total bodily injury, and up to $25,000 in property damages when the driver was in driving mode. The driver’s Lyft app must be on for Lyft’s insurance coverage to kick in. If not, only the driver’s personal insurance applies. If your injuries cost more than what the policy offers, you cannot receive more money in compensation.

What Are The Statutes Of Limitations?

Colorado law states that any action arising out of a personal injury has a two-year statute of limitations from the date of the accident. However, when the injury was from a motor vehicle accident, the statute of limitations is two years.

This means that if you wait more than two years from the time of your accident to file a personal injury claim, you will not be able to receive compensation even if your claim is valid. Therefore, it is important to understand that time is of the essence in filing a claim.

Zinda law group’s Fort Collins Uber and Lyft injury lawyers are here to help

Injuries are highly emotional for everyone involved. When navigating police reports, medical expenses, and rehabilitation, it is important to have a Fort Collins car accident attorney who will help you pursue maximum compensation for your injuries. You should not have to go through the legal process alone.

If you or a loved one has experienced an Uber or Lyft injury in or near Fort Collins, call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 for a 100% free case evaluation with a Fort Collins Uber accident lawyer or a Fort Collins Lyft accident lawyer. You pay nothing unless we win your case. That is our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.

Meetings with attorneys are available by appointment only.