Rideshare applications like Uber and Lyft have put a new wrinkle in vehicular accident cases. This new landscape has created a need for Uber and Lyft accident lawyers who can help accident victims navigate the legal complications these rideshare incidents create.
Most people are not aware of these legal details – like all of the different companies that are actually behind Uber, for example – even if they’re in an accident with a rideshare driver. But Cohn & Swartzon, an experienced personal injury law firm in Southern California, has worked closely with numerous victims of rideshare accidents to help obtain compensation for their physical injuries as well as pain and suffering from all companies behind the rideshare company’s main brand name.
What exactly do Uber & Lyft accident lawyers do for clients? We will break it down in the sections below.
What Do Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers Do For Clients?
First and foremost, when you choose to work with an attorney on your rideshare accident case, that attorney should provide peace of mind and confidence that they know how to handle such a case. After all, it shouldn’t be your job to make your case to your own auto insurance company or pursue the at-fault parties. Your primary focus in this situation should be recovery while your attorneys handle the rest.
In any vehicular injury case, your attorneys will need to investigate. They’ll need details about the accident, which could include eyewitness testimony, medical records, and other forms of data that can be used to strengthen your claim. (For example, if you have your own dash cam, that footage could come in awfully handy. If you were a rideshare passenger, screenshots of the driver and car who picked you up are also valuable.)
It’s important to choose attorneys who understand the laws that govern rideshare accident claims. Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft are unique under the law, which can create complications. Your best bet for a favorable outcome is working with attorneys who have been down this road (pun intended) before.
What Can You Be Compensated For in a Rideshare Accident?
If you’ve been in an accident and a rideshare vehicle was at fault, you may be wondering what sort of compensation you and your legal representative can pursue. Compensation for rideshare accidents falls into two categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages in a rideshare accident case include anything you can attach a dollar value to. A few common components of economic damage are:
- Lost wages (past and future)
- Medical treatment (past and future)
- In-home modifications due to loss of mobility
- Transportation costs
- Vehicle or property repair costs
Your attorney should identify these costs, verify them, and incorporate them into your claim for compensation.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are the other major portion of any compensation claim. Again, you’ll need experienced attorneys who know how to build an effective case to prove non-economic damages, which can include:
- Mental distress (anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc.)
- Pain and suffering
- Damage to relationships
- Humiliation or poor sense of self-image or self-esteem related to scars or physical disfigurement
Cohn & Swartzon Are Southern California’s Preferred Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers
When you’re pursuing a claim for damages, it’s important to remember that the insurance companies and their attorneys are not concerned with your best interests or what you’ll need to get back to a normal life.
They have experienced legal counsel and trained professional insurance adjusters working against you, and if your rideshare accident claim is going to succeed, you’ll need legal representation that knows how to counter their moves and come out on top. (It’s kind of like wrestling, but with a lot more paperwork.)
“Proving non-economic damages can be a gray area, although jury instructions do list the non-economic damages that can be proved and compensated for. That’s why victims in rideshare accidents need representatives who can push back against insurance companies when they try to minimize or reduce what you’re rightfully entitled to.”
– Jason D. Cohn, Founding Principal, Cohn & Swartzon
Finally, even though these cases are relatively new compared to other types of vehicular accidents throughout the decades, Cohn & Swartzon has successfully pursued compensation in numerous rideshare accidents. You can trust Cohn & Swartzon to provide an honest, up-front and transparent review of your case and candid counsel on the steps you should take to move forward.