Pre-Settlement Funding: Lyft Car Accident Lawsuit
Ride-sharing services, such as Lyft, have significantly increased in popularity in recent years. In many areas, these types of services are used far more than traditional taxi cabs but generally work the same. What tends to make services with Lyft more convenient is the ability to book rides via an app, receive transparent pricing ahead of time based on your destination, know the vehicle that you’ll be riding in, as well as other advantages. Although this convenient service offers a wide range of benefits, accidents do happen, which is always a risk no matter the vehicle you’re riding in.
Whenever you’re a passenger in someone else’s car, you’re putting your life in their hands, just like any other mode of transportation. In fact, the U.S. Department of Transportation reports that in just one recent year, transportation-related accidents claimed 39,032 lives. A negligent Lyft driver may possibly make a bad judgment call that puts their customers’ lives on the line. Auto accidents frequently result in serious injury and death; minor accidents can still result in painful injuries that require an extensive amount of rehabilitation and treatment. The victim may need to take time off work, which means a loss of wages, often resulting in mounting bills and expenses. When accident victims pursue monetary compensation in a lawsuit, a lot of factors are taken into consideration when negotiating a settlement, with loss of wages being one of those considerations.
A driver may cause a Lyft accident if he or she is:
- Distracted while driving (i.e. texting)
- Failing to obey traffic rules, such as running stop signs or red lights
- Under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
- Speeding
- Driving aggressively
- Operating at unsafe speeds for the current weather conditions (i.e. not slowing down and proceeding cautiously in the rain, snow, fog, etc.)
A study from the U.S. National Library of Medicine also reveals how driver fatigue can play a role in ridesharing accidents. As the report points out, Lyft drivers are often working full-time day jobs and then taking on work as a Lyft driver as a side gig. This means that many Lyft drivers are overworking themselves to the point of exhaustion, and getting behind the wheel of a car in that physical state can be extremely dangerous.
The news is constantly reporting more and more of these ridesharing accidents that result for one reason or another. If you’re driving your car and a negligent driver in another vehicle causes an accident and you’re injured as a result, handling your case can be fairly straightforward, especially if you have a car accident attorney working with you throughout the process. Being a Lyft passenger who is injured in an accident, however, can be a little more complex. There are a lot of variables to consider: for example, was the Lyft driver acting negligently, or was it another motorist? Did your Lyft driver collide with another vehicle, or crash into an object? What is the extent of the injuries? Perhaps you were driving your own car, riding a bicycle, or walking down the street and a Lyft driver hit you. These are all just some of the things that your attorney will review, including Lyft’s insurance policies in detail.
Because ridesharing accident claims can be a little more involved than other types of accidents, they can sometimes take longer to settle than typical personal injury lawsuits. Although you can take comfort in knowing that your attorney is working diligently to get you the compensation you and your family rightfully deserve, it can also be frustrating waiting to receive settlement money, which is completely understandable. After all, many plaintiffs depend on this money to cover bills and expenses. Not only are they often facing a plethora of medical bills as a result of the accident itself, but because of the extent of their injuries, they may have been forced to take time off work. This can be temporary, for a prolonged period, or even permanently. A loss of wages can add more stress to the mix because this often means that other household bills and expenses will begin to accumulate.
If you lost a loved one as a result of a Lyft accident, you may also be struggling financially to cover funeral costs and other expenses, as well as make up for the lack of financial contributions that that individual made toward household expenses. These are all just some of the many factors that go into determining a settlement amount.
At U.S. Claims, we can offer you money sooner though a lawsuit advance, also known as pre-settlement funding. If you have any questions about the process, we’re available to help. Contact us today to learn more about pre-settlement funding, to find out if your lawsuit qualifies, and to get started.
