If you were injured in a Colorado Lyft accident, we have a strong and experienced legal team of Colorado Springs Lyft Accident Attorney who are ready to fight for you. Navigating a personal injury claim after a Lyft accident in Colorado Springs is anything but simple. To maximize your chance at winning a full and fair financial recovery, call our Colorado Springs Lyft Accident Attorneys. We offer a free initial case review so call us today.
Colorado Springs Lyft Accident Attorneys for Complex Accident Cases
Ridesharing services like Lyft offer people a quick and convenient way to get around. But they are subject to accidents just like any other motor vehicle. However, Lyft accidents present unique challenges that are different from typical car accidents. Therefore, the claims process for seeking damage recovery after a Lyft accident will also differ from a normal car accident claim.
One of the trickiest parts of a Colorado Springs Lyft accident is determining liability. The process of establishing liability becomes even more complicated if multiple parties were involved in the accident. You also need to know the status of the driver and how they were using the Lyft app while the accident occurred.
Part of what makes liability a complex issue is that many drivers for Lyft operate as independent contractors rather than employees. As such, by having independent contractors providing ride services, Lyft may not be automatically liable for accidents their drivers cause.
This is why it’s in your best interest to consult with an experienced Colorado Springs Lyft Accident Attorney. They can provide you with trusted legal answers regarding your Lyft accident case and help you devise a strategy to ensure you get the financial compensation you’re entitled to.
Colorado Rideshare Accident Laws
Prior to 2022, Colorado did not have regulations for rideshare coverage to extend to uninsured motorists or hit and run accidents. So if you as a passenger were injured in one of those instances, you may not have been eligible to receive Lyft’s coverage.
However, following the enactment of Colorado House Bill 22-1089, transportation network companies (TNC) like Uber and Lyft must provide uninsured motorist coverage for drivers and passengers.
Who Is Covered Under Lyft’s Insurance Policy?
Generally speaking, Lyft’s liability coverage will cover the Lyft driver, passenger, and drivers and passengers in other vehicles involved in the collisions.
However, there’s a tedious process that is necessary to determine if any of those parties are eligible for Lyft’s coverage. You need to know the Lyft driver’s status at the time of the accident.
For example, if the driver logged into the app and accepted your ride request, but was not en route to get you, you may not be covered. Only if the driver was transporting a passenger with the app open can Lyft’s insurance cover their driver.
So, let’s say you’re not the passenger in the Lyft but another motorist on the road. Even if the Lyft driver has his app open but it is not transporting a passenger and causes a collision with you, Lyft’s insurance won’t cover your damages.
Lyft’s auto insurance coverage . for bodily injury and property damage become effective as soon as a driver starts to transport a passenger.
So, if you were injured in a Lyft car accident in Colorado Springs, we advise you to contact our Colorado Springs Lyft Accident Attorneys. We know how critical an investigation is to uncover all the facts of the case and hold the right party accountable.
What You Need to Know About Lyft Accident in Colorado Springs
As the first state to legally allow rideshare services like Lyft and Uber, Colorado has seen plenty of accidents involving these TNCs (transportation network companies). That means they were also one of the first to enact laws for Lyft and Uber drivers.
The company has a legal obligation to perform regular safety inspections for the vehicles their drivers are operating. Furthermore, they are expected to practice ethical hiring practices, which includes background and criminal history checks.
Lyft drivers require a special permit issued by the public utilities commission and must renew it annually. If our Colorado Springs Lyft Accident Attorneys find that any of these requirements were violated or other unethical practices come to light, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim.
What Type of Claim Do I Make After a Lyft Accident?
Lyft accident claims are considered personal injury claims in Colorado. That means the basis of your claim requires proving the at-fault party’s negligence.
Due to Colorado’s contributory negligence laws, you may also be partially at fault if you did something to somehow cause the accident. A court usually decides on what percentage of fault to assign each party after a Colorado Springs Lyft Accident Attorney presents the case to them in court.
Are Lyft Drivers Always Liable For Accidents?
There are some situations wherein the Lyft driver and another party share responsibility for the accident. Or, they may not be party liable for a passenger’s injuries.
Let’s illustrate some scenarios when another party could be liable in a Lyft accident. If another negligent driver crashed into your Lyft, then your Lyft driver would not be liable. As long as they were following traffic rules and doing everything right, the other party is most likely liable.
Another scenario is if there were unsafe road conditions that caused the Lyft driver to get into a collision. So rather than the lyft driver’s negligence, road hazards, or other dangerous circumstances, roadways conditions caused the accident. In that case, the party responsible for maintaining the roads could be liable.
Determining liability is not a walk in the park. It requires a skilled Colorado Springs Lyft Accident Attorney with experience in handling rideshare accident cases. Our legal team has the experience and expertise to understand how to get our clients the best possible outcome after a Lyft accident.
When Should You File A Lyft Accident Claim in Colorado?
A Lyft accident claim may be the only way to get the full financial recovery you need to cover all your losses and move forward in life. From medical expenses to missed work and emotional suffering, you can seek all these changes through a Colorado springs personal injury lawyer.
The best time to file a Lyft accident claim with the help of a Colorado Springs Lyft Accident Attorney is as soon as possible. In doing so, you will not only strengthen your claims’ credibility but also potentially prevent any negligent parties from doing further damages to other passengers.
Common Causes Of Colorado Springs Lyft Accidents
IF you were injured by no fault of your own and any of the following contributed to your accident injuries, you may want to consider getting advice from a Colorado Springs Lyft Accident Attorney.
Some common causes of Lyft accidents in Colorado Springs include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drug and alcohol use
- Stopping abruptly to pick up a passenger
Determining the exact cause of the accident and who is at fault is a multi-faceted process that requires a strategic approach. From working with other experts to investigating the case and carefully collecting evidence, our Colorado Springs Lyft Accident Attorneys know how to devise a winning case strategy.
Damages You May Be Entitled to After a Colorado Springs Lyft Accident
Damages are any losses or impacts your life suffered and for which you can seek financial compensation. Damages are either economic or noneconomic – they either have a set value or need to be assessed to determine a subjective value.
Examples of damages you may be eligible to claim after getting injured in a Lyft accident include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death
You will need to work closely with a Colorado Springs Lyft Accident Attorney to determine what damages you are eligible to claim and assess the value of such damages.
How Much Is a Lyft Accident Settlement Worth in Colorado Springs?
There’s no one set way or formula to calculate the cost of a Lyft accident settlement in Colorado. Estimating the amount can be tricky and requires considering all aspects of you injury and the extent to which its impacted your life.
Lyft drivers have a maximum of $1million in liability coverage per accident which includes bodily injury coverage. The state of Colorado places a limit on the amount of non-economic damages a personal can claim per accident (i.e., pain and suffering, emotional anguish, etc.)
By working with a Colorado Springs Lyft Accident Attorney who is well-versed with legal stipulations regarding Lyft cases, you can maximize your odds at winning fair compensation
Are There Insurance Requirements For Lyft Drivers In Colorado Springs?
In a typical car accident, you only need to consider the drivers and passengers involved in their respective insurance companies. But when a Lyft accident occurs, there are two potential insurance companies who can be liable – the driver’s personal insurance or Lyft’s commercial insurance. Even though Lyft drivers are required to carry a minimum amount for liability coverage, this may not be enough to cover your damages.
Moreover, there is a difference between a driver having a rideshare insurance policy and a personal police with a TNC (transportation network company, i.e., Lyft). If the driver did not get additional insurance or business purposes, they likely only have a personal auto insurance policy.
When Does Lyft Insurance Coverage Apply For Accident Victims?
For the most part, Lyft’s insurance will apply for inured drivers and passengers if the following conditions are met:
- The driver was working and had the Lyft app turned on when the accident occurred
- The driver had already accepted a ride request and was on their way to pick up
- The driver had a passenger in the car with a ride in progress
Lyft’s Third Party Liability Insurance Limits in Colorado
Under Colorado law, transportation network companies (TNCs) like Lyft and Uber are required to carry minimum liability coverage for drivers and passengers. Lyft will cover anything beyond these limits if the damages are not fully covered by the driver’s personal insurance (if the app was on and they were waiting for a ride request at the time of the accident):
- $100,000 for bodily injury per accident
- $50,000 for bodily injury per person
- $25,000 for property damage per accident
Get Expert Legal Representation In Colorado Springs For Your Lyft Accident Case
It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed with the idea of having to file a claim after an unexpected Lyft accident.
On the bright side, our legal team has experienced Colorado Springs Lyft Accident Attorney who know the laws regarding these accidents and who want to help you. With our experience and skill, we find the most effective way to build and present a solid case that will maximize your chance of getting the full compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for a free initial case review.
