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Millions of people use ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft every day. In comparison to regular taxis, they are cleaner and more convenient.
However, like other public transportation methods, ridesharing service vehicles are not 100% safe from car accidents. After all, rideshare drivers are human, too.
If you have been involved in a New Orleans Uber or Lyft car accident leading to an injury and you want to file a claim, you need to seek the help of a rideshare accident lawyer near you.
A personal injury lawyer near you will know what you need to do to improve your odds of receiving compensation for your injuries and any damage to your belongings. Personal injury lawyers can guide you through your legal options following a New Orleans Uber accident.
For a free consultation with an experienced rideshare accident lawyer, reach out to our experts at Big Easy Accident Attorney today. An attorney from our team will listen to your story, learn about your injuries and any damages done to your belongings, and provide guidance on your options moving forward from your Uber or Lyft accident.
A modern innovation, ridesharing services allow you to hail a ride without worrying about carrying cash. A ride can be booked and accepted by nearby drivers in their personal vehicle using a smartphone app (usually Uber or Lyft), with payment handled entirely within the app.
However, the drivers you’re contacting aren’t actually employees of the ridesharing service. They are authorized to operate as independent contractors, giving rides for a fee.
In the US, two of the biggest ridesharing services available are Uber and Lyft. They are both available in hundreds of cities across the country and serve millions of clients nationwide.
The main difference between ridesharing and taxi services is how you hail a ride. For traditional taxi services, you need to go outside and wait for an available taxi to pass by. A ridesharing service, on the other hand, allows you to conveniently book a ride using a smartphone that has either the Uber or Lyft app installed.
Another noticeable difference is the price. Due to price surges, ridesharing services could be significantly more expensive than traditional taxis when the demand for Uber or Lyft vehicles is high. That’s why, despite its convenience, many people still prefer hailing a taxi during rush hour.
If a person is involved in a New Orleans rideshare accident, there are also considerable differences regarding their legal options. Rideshare accidents involve more red tape compared to other commercial transportation accidents in New Orleans.
Typical car accidents involve communication with other drivers and their insurance companies. In the case of a rideshare accident, however, you must also deal with the company offering the service. Additionally, most rideshare drivers do not carry commercial driver’s licenses or commercial car insurance. Accident lawyers can help you deal with all the parties involved.
All of the above can make an accident in an Uber or Lyft vastly more confusing and complicated to navigate legally than a typical accident. If you have sustained an injury or even multiple injuries in an accident while you were a passenger in the rideshare vehicle of an Uber or Lyft driver, your best bet will be to find an attorney or personal injury lawyer near you.
An attorney will help you calculate the appropriate amount for your claim, including the cost of your injuries and any damages done to your belongings.
Uber and Lyft implement strict rules and regulations in hiring drivers. This allows them to filter applications and provide their client base with the best possible experience. By running extensive checks on drivers’ backgrounds and driving records, ridesharing companies are doing their best to ensure that only responsible drivers will be eligible.
In addition to this, both Uber and Lyft drivers are required to undergo random drug testing. This is done in accordance with the regulations from the Department of Safety and Permits of the City of New Orleans.
In case of an accident, it is mandatory for the involved rideshare driver to undergo drug testing within the 24 hours following the crash or accident to determine whether the driver was inebriated.
The most important thing to do right after an Uber or Lyft accident is to seek proper medical care, especially if anyone involved in the accident has sustained severe injuries. Even if you don’t think you are injured, it’s best to still go to a hospital as soon as possible, just to be sure. This will ensure your health and also create documentation of any injuries you’ve sustained in the accident.
If you did not sustain a severe injury, make sure to call the police to report the accident. While waiting for the authorities to arrive, collect evidence, such as photos and videos, to document the scene of the accident. The more documentation you have, the better, as this can help you when you decide to file a case.
Next, seek the help of New Orleans rideshare accident lawyers as early as you can. Accident lawyers can guide you through the complicated claims process of an Uber or Lyft accident case. Your attorney can also help you gather evidence and synthesize it into a strong case.
Due to the rising popularity of Uber and Lyft in New Orleans, it’s not surprising that accidents involving their vehicles become more and more common each year.
Unfortunately, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hasn’t released any data specific to ridesharing accidents in New Orleans; however, a research study released by the University of Chicago revealed that ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft are associated with a 3% increase in the number of motor vehicle fatalities and fatal accidents.
Passengers involved in these motor vehicle accidents suffered from many injuries, including:
If you have suffered from any of these injuries, get in touch with a rideshare accident attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal rights and your next steps.
Hiring the services of a rideshare accident lawyer is crucial; rideshare accident attorneys in New Orleans can help you recover the expenses for your medical treatments and other damages due to the Uber or Lyft accident injuries.
Without a personal injury lawyer near you, your chances of recovering damages and receiving compensation for your injury are far lower.
The most common causes of rideshare accidents include:
If you ever notice any sign of misbehavior, call out your rideshare driver. If they are speeding or not obeying traffic signals, make sure that you tell them directly.
They know you can rate their service or report them to the rideshare company, so they will most likely listen to you. This may help avoid an accident and any hassle, damages, injury, or trauma that may come along with it.
If you want to recover damages for your injury, your New Orleans personal injury lawyer will need to determine who is at fault. After all, your injury from the Uber or Lyft accident may have been caused by a number of different parties.
Reckless driving is among the most common reasons for any kind of car collision; your rideshare driver or another motorist may have been negligent in this situation.
Another potential cause for the accident and any resulting injury or damage is hazardous road conditions. If your Uber or Lyft accident was brought on by a dangerous roadway element, like an unsecured construction area, an unrepaired pothole, or a similar situation, you might be able to file a personal injury claim against the agency in charge of road maintenance.
It’s also possible that one or more of the cars’ components failed to perform as expected. In this case, you may be able to pursue legal claims against multiple parties, including the car manufacturer.
New Orleans Uber and Lyft accident lawyers may need to launch a comprehensive investigation into the specifics of your case to establish liability and calculate the appropriate amount of compensation for your injuries and any injury or damage dealt to others involved.
The many possible liable parties are part of what makes these cases so complex. Finding a personal injury lawyer near you is vital to ensure that you are pursuing compensation for injury and damage from the appropriate party; it’s not always the Uber or Lyft driver, after all.
To refresh your mind, here are the important things you should do if you’ve been in a rideshare accident:
When it comes to rideshare accidents, there are many parties involved. As a passenger, you may not just deal with the rideshare driver and the rideshare company; depending on the scenario, you may also deal with a potential third party, such as the driver of another vehicle involved in the rideshare accident.
Due to its complex nature, it’s important that you get in touch with a New Orleans Uber and Lyft accident lawyer as soon as you can. This way, you’ll be able to determine if you are eligible for financial compensation claims to cover your injury or damage to any of your belongings.
The statute of limitation in New Orleans for car accidents, including those involving Uber and Lyft vehicles, is one year from the date of the rideshare accident. The same law applies to all other cities and towns in Louisiana.
If you fail to pursue a case within the statute of limitations, the judge will most likely dismiss your case. You might lose your right to compensation for the injury and damage you and your belongings have sustained. For this reason, you need to file a Uber or Lyft accident claim with the help of a rideshare accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Looking up “personal injury lawyer near me”?
If you’re looking for a ridesharing accident lawyer, seek professional guidance from Big Easy Accident Attorney. Our personal injury attorneys will be happy to help you understand all your rights and everything else you need to know. A rideshare accident lawyer will represent you during negotiations and ensure that your interests are well taken care of.
Schedule a free consultation with a rideshare accident lawyer today by calling (504) 370-4471.
