St. Louis Lyft Accident Lawyer

Lyft has quickly taken over the St. Louis market, but it’s important to keep in mind that the company’s drivers may not have any special training and may be responsible for the accident that injured you. If you were hurt in an accident involving a Lyft driver, reach out for help from the St. Louis Lyft accident lawyers at Miller & Hine. We offer a free case review.

What Is Lyft?

Lyft is a company that connects individuals who need a ride in the area with someone who is willing to provide the ride. Users log into an app to request and accept rides. Lyft offers an XL option, which accommodates a large group that wouldn’t fit in a typical compact car. The price of the trip depends on the vehicle selected, the length of the trip, and the time.

Who Is Responsible for My Lyft Accident?

Lyft accidents can be caused by various parties. Lyft drivers may cause accidents due to:

• Speeding, tailgating, or unsafe lane changes as they hurry to get to the next trip
• Distracted driving caused by non-stop app alerts and GPS directions
• Dropping off passengers in unsafe areas
• Driver fatigue
• Inexperience or unfamiliarity with the roadway
• Impaired driving

However, not all Lyft accidents are due to the Lyft driver’s actions. Sometimes, another driver may be responsible for the accident. Whether you were a Lyft passenger or you were in another vehicle that a Lyft vehicle hit, you could hold the negligent driver liable. Let our St. Louis car accident attorneys build your case against the at-fault driver and handle negotiations with the insurance companies involved.

Filing an Insurance Claim After a Lyft Accident

If another driver is responsible for the accident, you would proceed as usual by filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s liability insurance provider. If the Lyft driver is responsible for the accident, different insurance policies apply depending on the timing of the act during the transaction:

• While the driver is off the Lyft app – The Lyft driver’s personal insurance policy would apply.
• While the driver is waiting for a ride request – Lyft’s insurance when the driver has the app on but has not yet accepted a ride request provides $50,000 of bodily injury to one person, $100,000 of bodily injury for more than one person in an accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.
• When the driver is en route to pick up a passenger or during a ride – Lyft provides at least $1 million in third-party liability coverage during this critical time.

What Causes Lyft Accidents In St. Louis Missouri?

Lyft drivers have a financial incentive to complete as many rides as possible per shift, which may encourage speeding and aggressive driving behaviors. In addition, many rideshare drivers work their Lyft job as a secondary source of income after a full day or night at another job, putting fatigued, drowsy drivers behind the wheel. The most common causes of St. Louis lyft accidents include the following:

• Speeding
• Aggressive driving
• Distracted driving, including using the Uber app to look for the next passenger booking while driving
• Failure to yield the right-of-way at an intersection
• Tailgating
• Unsafe lane changes
• Illegal passing
• Improper merging
• Drowsy driving
• Impaired driving
• Mechanical failures due to inadequate vehicle maintenance

In some cases, other entities cause or contribute to Lyft accidents, such as a negligent road maintenance agency, a third-party driver, or the manufacturer of a defective auto part. Under Missouri’s fault-based accident law, your St. Louis Lyft accident lawyer will pursue all avenues for your compensation from those who caused or contributed to the accident.

What Kinds of Accidents Involve Lyft Cars?

A major university study revealed a 3% rise in overall traffic accident fatalities since the rise of the rideshare industry. With fewer people using public transit in favor of individual rideshare vehicles, the overall rise in traffic congestion may contribute to more accidents. Common types of accidents involving rideshare vehicles include the following:

• Rear-end collisions
• T-bone accidents in intersections
• Head-on collisions
• Sideswipes
• Collisions with obstacles
• Roadway departures
• Rollover accidents
• Multi-vehicle accidents

Lyft cars are also involved in a significant number of pedestrian accidents in St. Louis and the surrounding area, particularly at pickup and drop-off locations.

What Types of Injuries Occur In St. Louis Lyft Accidents?

The crash force of an accident is powerful, propelling the injury victim forward at the speed the car was traveling before the seatbelt snaps them back. The car also collapses forcefully inward at the point of the collision, subjecting motorists to blunt force trauma. Common injuries in Lyft accident claims include the following:

• Fractures
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), ranging from mild concussions to severe TBIs with permanent impairment
• Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Soft-tissue damage like sprains and torn ligaments in the knees, shoulders, wrists, and ankles
• Internal organ injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Spinal cord injuries
• Burns
• Traumatic amputations
• Facial and dental trauma

Injuries are painful, traumatic, and disruptive to all aspects of your life, including your earning ability. Sometimes Lyft car accidents in St. Louis or elsewhere leave an injury victim facing permanent disability and an uncertain future. These consequences of an accident are the damages in a claim against the at-fault party.

What Damages Are Available In a St. Louis Lyft Accident Claim?

Experiencing an accident is always terrifying, but especially when it happens in a strange vehicle with a driver you don’t know. Taking on a complicated claim process may feel overwhelming, but damages add up quickly after a serious accident. Common recoverable damages in a Lyft accident claim include the following:

• Reimbursement for medical expenses
• Anticipated future medical expenses related to the injuries
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Lost earnings
• Future income loss or diminished earning ability
• Compensation for pain and suffering
• Catastrophic injury compensation if you’ve suffered permanent loss, such as disability, disfigurement, loss of limb, organ loss, loss of one of the senses, or loss of enjoyment of life or diminished quality of life

If you lost a loved one in a Lyft accident, a spouse, parent, or child can recover compensation through a wrongful death claim.

What Should I Do After a Lyft Accident?

Here are some steps to follow if you are involved in a Lyft accident:

Report the Accident

Don’t count on the rideshare driver reporting the accident. They’re probably more worried about losing their driving privileges than your health and legal rights. Call the authorities so an officer can respond and conduct an official investigation. Report the accident in your app, too, and take screenshots of everything related to the trip.

Ask the Driver for Their Information

Ask the driver for their name, contact information, and insurance information. Ask for both their personal liability insurance and their rideshare insurance, as these claims often require that you first file a claim with their personal liability insurance policy before you can file a claim with the rideshare insurance carrier.

Document the Scene

Use your cell phone to take pictures of the accident scene, including the damage to all vehicles involved, any debris in the roadway, nearby street signs, and your injuries.

Seek Medical Attention

Seek prompt medical attention following an accident and keep all of your accident-related documentation.

Contact an Experienced St. Louis Lyft Accident Lawyer

Finally, reach out to the experienced St. Louis personal injury lawyers from Miller & Hine. Call us at (314) 413-2053 or contact us online to set up a free case review.