New BritainUber & Lyft Rideshare Accident Lawyers

New Britain Uber & Lyft Rideshare Accident Lawyers

More people are turning to ridesharing apps because of the benefits they offer. Companies like Uber and Lyft are often more convenient, cheaper, and allow travelers more free time to complete tasks while traveling. Unfortunately, despite its benefits, ridesharing also has risks.

Just as when you are traveling in your own vehicle, you are still at risk of being involved in a car accident when riding in an Uber or Lyft. If you have been injured in a collision as a ridesharing passenger, a Connecticut car accident lawyer may be able to help you obtain compensation for your injuries. Our New Britain Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyers at Tehrani Law Group can investigate your accident to determine whether filing a personal injury claim on your behalf is in your best interest, and if it is, we can work to get you compensation for your damages.

Causes of New Britain Uber and Lyft Accidents

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago reports that Uber, Lyft, and other ride-hailing companies have caused traffic-related fatalities to increase by approximately 3%. As with any motor vehicle collision, there are many causes of accidents; however, many times, with ridesharing accidents, the cause is completely out of the passenger’s control. Common causes of Uber and Lyft accidents include the following:

• Distracted driving
• Disobeying traffic signals
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Driving while tired
• Failing to follow traffic laws
• Failure to yield
• Hazardous road conditions
• Improper turns
• Reckless driving
• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Unsafe lane changes

If your rideshare driver was involved in an accident, reach out to an Uber and Lyft accident attorney in New Britain as soon as possible. We can investigate your accident and determine if it was likely caused by someone’s negligence. If it was, we can file a claim to help you recover damages.

Injuries Sustained in New Britain Ridesharing Accidents

As a passenger in a vehicle involved in a collision, there are many injuries you can suffer. These injuries can range in severity and can lead to tremendous physical and financial hardships. Injuries that can be sustained in Uber and Lyft accidents include the following:

• Headaches
• Bruising
• Lacerations
• Whiplash
• Sprains and strains
• Concussions
• Broken bones
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Brain injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Paralysis
• Death

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a ride-hailing accident, a New Britain Uber and Lyft ridesharing accident attorney may be able to help you obtain compensation for those injuries. We can obtain and review your medical records to determine the extent of your injuries. Then, we can make a claim against the appropriate party’s insurance to try to help ease the burden you are facing after your collision.

Connecticut is a fault state, meaning the person at fault for the accident that caused your injuries is responsible for compensating you for your damages. Compensation is typically paid by the liable party’s insurance company. However, there are three scenarios that determine how damages are paid in a ridesharing accident:

• When the rideshare driver is offline: The driver’s insurance company is responsible for your damages if the rideshare driver was offline and not transporting passengers.

• When the rideshare driver is available or waiting for a ride request: Uber and Lyft may provide some insurance coverage toward your damages if your driver was logged into the app and able to give rides, but was not transporting a passenger at the time of the collision.

• When the rideshare driver is transporting passengers or is en route to pick them up: The ridesharing company’s insurance can provide coverage for damages if you were a passenger at the time of the accident.

Understanding insurance coverage after a ridesharing accident can quickly become complicated. It is in your best interest to consult with an Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer in New Britain as soon as you can after your accident. We can determine who is responsible for paying for your injuries under different ridesharing accident scenarios.

There are different aspects of ride-hailing collisions that make determining who is responsible for compensating you for your injuries and other losses difficult. Insurance coverage is not the only complicated part of accidents involving ride-hailing vehicles. Another complexity is the status of Uber and Lyft’s drivers.

Uber and Lyft hire their drivers as independent contractors. This means that the drivers are technically self-employed and work on a contract basis for the companies. As such, the rideshare companies claim they cannot control when their drivers work or how they operate.

By claiming their drivers are not employees, ride-hailing companies are able to reduce their liability for accidents their drivers cause. This makes suing them for damages difficult. However, our experienced New Britain Uber and Lyft rideshare accident attorneys at Tehrani Law Group will pursue all means necessary to hold the ride-hailing companies accountable for their drivers’ behavior behind the wheel.

Liability in New Britain Ridesharing Accidents

It is important to determine who was liable for your accident because they are responsible for compensating you for your damages. There are several parties that could potentially be held liable for your accident and resulting injuries. Parties commonly responsible for motor vehicle accidents involving ride-hailing vehicles include the following:

• Your Uber or Lyft driver
• Another driver
• A pedestrian
• The vehicle’s mechanic
• The vehicle’s manufacturer
• The manufacturer of one of the vehicle’s parts
• The rideshare company
• A municipality responsible for maintaining the road

Liability regarding a ridesharing company can become complicated because of how they classify their drivers and the scenarios under which their insurance coverage is triggered. Contact us as soon as possible after your accident. We will investigate liability and determine who may be responsible for compensating you for your losses.

When You Can Sue Uber or Lyft for Your Car Accident

Even though Uber and Lyft claim they cannot be held responsible for accidents caused by their drivers, they can be held liable if they contributed to your damages. There are several situations when a rideshare company could potentially be held legally responsible for your injuries. Examples include the following:

• If the company was negligent in hiring or training its driver
• If the company failed to warn passengers of an unsafe driver
• If the company entrusted an unsafe driver to transport passengers
• If the company failed to monitor complaints regarding a driver or their driving patterns

According to Uber and Lyft, the companies screen their drivers. However, there are still instances of rideshare companies hiring drivers with multiple citations for various driving violations. A New Britain personal injury attorney at Tehrani Law Group can investigate the history of the rideshare driver responsible for your accident and determine if you are able to file a legal claim against the company for negligence.

Negligence in New Britain Ridesharing Accidents

Once liability is determined, you will need to prove that the party acted negligently in order to recover damages. In Connecticut, there are certain elements that must be proven to establish negligence or the violation of the legal duty owed by one party to another. These elements are as follows:

• Duty: You were owed a duty by the at-fault party.

• Breach of duty: The party responsible for your accident breached their duty.

• Causation: The liable party’s actions materially contributed to the accident that caused your injuries.

• Actual injury or damages: You suffered an actual injury in your accident.

You must meet all these elements of a tort to prevail in your personal injury claim. An experienced Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer in New Britain can analyze your accident and collect the evidence necessary to demonstrate these elements. We will use the evidence obtained to fight for maximum compensation for your injuries and other losses.

Damages You Can Recover in a New Britain Rideshare Accident Claim

Once we successfully establish liability and meet the elements needed to prove negligence in your claim, you can be eligible to obtain compensation for your injuries. In a personal injury claim, this compensation is known as damages. Damages you may recover in your rideshare accident claim include the following:

• Economic damages: These are your monetary losses that are easily quantifiable. They often include your medical expenses, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses.

• Non-economic damages: These are your immeasurable losses that are more difficult to calculate. They often include your pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life.

• Punitive damages: These are only awarded by a judge or jury in exceptional circumstances. You may be awarded punitive damages if the liable party acted deliberately or with reckless disregard.

If you have been injured in a ridesharing collision, you likely have both economic and non-economic losses. Our Uber and Lyft accident attorneys will collect your medical records and bills to determine the amount of your losses. Then, we will pursue maximum compensation from the liable parties. 

What to Do if You Have Been Involved in a New Britain Uber or Lyft Accident

If you have been involved in a ride-hailing accident, there are several important steps you should take. Taking these actions will support your claim for compensation. Here is what you should and should not do after your Uber or Lyft collision:

• Call the police
• Report the accident to Uber or Lyft
• Request an accident report
• Get contact information for any witnesses
• Take photos of the accident scene
• Seek immediate medical attention
• Take screenshots of your rideshare information, including your driver’s name and photo, their vehicle information, and your trip details
• Consult with a New Britain Uber and Lyft rideshare accident attorney as soon as possible
• Do not give a written statement to the insurance adjuster
• Do not speak to Uber or Lyft without consulting with your lawyer first
• Do not post anything about your accident on social media

Following these guidelines will help you protect your rights after your accident. They will also provide important evidence that will support your claim against the party responsible for your injuries. The sooner you retain a New Britain Uber and Lyft rideshare accident attorney, the sooner we can help you ensure these steps are taken and important evidence is collected.

Statute of Limitations for Connecticut Rideshare Accident Claims

If you are hurt in a motor vehicle accident in Connecticut, you typically have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit against the responsible party. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations. Hiring a personal injury lawyer from Tehrani Law Group can help you focus on recovering from your injuries while ensuring no important deadlines are missed in your claim.

How a New Britain Ride-Hailing Accident Attorney Can Help You

A ridesharing accident lawyer can help you in many ways after your accident. We will manage your case from inception to resolution. Examples of ways we can help support your legal claim after your collision include the following:

• We will collect and organize evidence of your accident and injuries
• We will collect your medical records and bills
• We will establish liability for your accident
• We will determine whose insurance policy is responsible for compensating you for your losses
• We will identify how Uber or Lyft and their driver were negligent
• We will communicate and negotiate with the insurance adjuster and opposing lawyers
• We will consult with expert witnesses to support your claim
• We will try your case in court if a settlement cannot be reached

Our team at Tehrani Law Group will work diligently to get you justice after your ride-hailing accident. We understand the complexities of ridesharing claims and have years of experience obtaining favorable results for our clients. Do not wait to reach out to us for help.

Tehrani Law Group Can Help You After Your New Britain Rideshare Accident

Uber and Lyft accident claims are complex, and obtaining compensation for your injuries can be difficult. At Tehrani Law Group, our rideshare accident lawyers are experienced and aggressive and will thoroughly and tirelessly fight on your behalf. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your claim and learn how we can help you after your New Britain rideshare accident.