Rideshare Accident Lawyers
Charlotte | Huntersville | Hickory
Holding Liable Parties Accountable for Our Clients’ Injuries
Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers
There was a time when it took some legwork to get a ride. People in smaller cities had to call a cab company and hope a driver was available. In metropolitan areas, you still had to hail a taxi from the side of the road and hope someone didn’t get in the car before you. This all changed thanks to companies like Uber and Lyft. It’s now possible to request a ride on demand, and you can track your driver’s arrival in real time. Unfortunately, the potential for involvement in an auto collision exists whether you’re behind the wheel or not. If you’ve been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, a rideshare accident lawyer in North Carolina may be able to help.
At Harman Law, we recognize the significant contributions that Uber and Lyft have provided to our community. Studies have actually shown that they offer tremendous benefits for poor and minority communities. Of course, these benefits matter little in car accident cases. If you’re injured due to the negligence of a Lyft or Uber driver — or perhaps wrongful acts by the companies or other third parties — you may be entitled to compensation. Unfortunately, you may never know unless you get sound legal advice. Contact Harman Law today to schedule a free consultation with a North Carolina rideshare accident attorney and learn more about your case.
Are You Entitled to Compensation in an Uber or Lyft Crash?
Just because someone is involved in an accident involving rideshare drivers doesn’t necessarily mean they can recover compensation. In some cases, the injury victim themselves may have caused the collision. Figuring out who might be liable can be a confusing endeavor — which is why we delve more into the issue later in this guide — but whether you have a valid case typically comes down to three important issues. These are a duty of care, a violation of that duty, and damages resulting from that violation. An experienced attorney can help you understand whether these apply in your accident, but having a basic understanding of these elements from the start can also help.
If you hope to secure maximum compensation from your rideshare car accident injury, you must first show that another party had a duty of care. This is not difficult to establish. For instance, you have a duty of care to avoid putting others in harm’s way every time you leave the house. If an Uber or Lyft driver lets you into their vehicle, they have a similar obligation to avoid negligent, reckless, and illegal actions which could endanger your safety. If you’re going to receive financial compensation for injuries in a ridesharing accident, you must also show that the liable party violated their duty of care.
However, even this isn’t enough to secure monetary compensation. That’s because it must also be proven that the violation of a person’s duty directly caused damages. Did your Uber or Lyft driver run a red light and cause an accident that required you to seek medical attention? Did your expensive phone break during the accident? Have you suffered emotional distress since the incident? Did you lose a loved one in a rideshare accident? All of these — and many other losses — can satisfy the requirement that a violation of a person’s duty led to damages. Make sure you speak with a Lyft and Uber accident lawyer to understand whether you’re entitled to compensation.
Who Is At-Fault for a Rideshare Car Accident?
Accidents involving rideshare drivers can be quite complex. That’s because there are various parties that could be liable for an incident. For instance, imagine that your driver was speeding when another vehicle ran a stop sign and caused a collision. While the other driver would probably be at fault, the courts may also hold your rideshare driver partially liable since they were speeding. Additionally, it may come out later that the ridesharing service failed to do a background check that would have discovered that the driver had multiple serious infractions. In such a case, it’s easy to see how liability can get complicated.
Of course, it’s also possible that the accident victim contributed to their own injury. For instance, intoxicated passengers have been known to get a little “rowdy” while in the backseat of a rideshare vehicle. In such situations where drivers are distracted by their own passengers, it’s easy to see how auto accidents can occur. If you think you may have contributed to the incident, it’s imperative that you speak with a rideshare accident lawyer in Charlotte immediately. That’s because North Carolina is a pure contributory negligence state. This means even the smallest bit of fault on your part can bar you from compensation.
Such a situation is a goldmine for the rideshare company, its driver, and its insurance company. All the defendant needs to prove is that you were at least 1% at fault for your accident. Even if you suffer a serious injury that can overwhelmingly be attributed to negligence by the independent contractors driving these vehicles, proof of your own negligence may result in you having to cover your own losses. This can be disastrous when you’re facing lost wages, medical bills, therapeutic needs, and other losses. This is why you should speak with an experienced attorney — and never assume you’re liable — before doing anything else.
Is it Expensive to Hire a North Carolina Rideshare Accident Lawyer?
If you find yourself in need of an Uber or Lyft accident lawyer, you may wonder what it’s going to cost you. This is a completely legitimate concern. In fact, most people who don’t hire attorneys when they need one list cost as the primary factor. However, the Charlotte personal injury attorney at Harman Law don’t believe your bank account should dictate whether you receive just compensation. That’s precisely why we will provide a free consultation to any Uber or Lyft car accident victim. We want you to understand your rights and whether you’re eligible for monetary compensation.
Of course, you’d be hard-pressed to find a Lyft or Uber accident lawyer who didn’t offer free consultations. After all, obtaining compensation for clients is the “bread and butter” of every law firm. However, the legal professionals at Harman Law don’t believe that a consultation should be nothing more than a sales pitch for services you’ll be charged for. That’s why we also offer legal representation on a contingency fee basis. This means you’ll never pay a dime unless we’re able to secure a settlement or court award on your behalf. Our clients often seek compensation to avoid financial ruin, so we never require money they may not have upfront.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a Personal Injury Claim in North Carolina?
There are countless issues that accident victims have to worry about after suffering an injury. For instance, what if an at-fault rideshare driver doesn’t have enough bodily injury coverage to fully reimburse you for any medical attention you may need? What if the rideshare company’s insurance refuses to offer a fair settlement? Perhaps going through the legal process while injured simply seems overwhelming. Unfortunately, North Carolina law adds additional burdens by requiring that lawsuits involving Lyft and Uber car accidents be filed within three years of the accident.
That’s because North Carolina has a personal injury statute of limitations of three years. And if you lost a loved one in such an accident, you only have two years to file a wrongful death claim. If you miss these deadlines, you’re unlikely to recover the compensation you deserve. After all, insurers will have little motivation to provide fair insurance coverage if the potential for litigation doesn’t exist. You may be able to sue the insurance company for bad faith actions, but this is a complicated and typically unnecessary process. By simply reaching out to an experienced Charlotte personal injury attorney in a timely manner, you can avoid these issues.
Contact a Rideshare Accident Lawyer for Help
Whether it’s Uber or Lyft, there’s no denying that rideshare companies have had a major effect on society. In addition to giving impoverished areas an inroad to the transportation industry, there’s mounting evidence that these services reduce drunk driving on America’s streets. Even with such significant benefits, however, it’s impossible to ignore the problems created when almost anyone can serve as a taxi driver. If you’ve been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident due to the negligence of the rideshare driver or other third parties involved, seeking out a Charlotte personal injury attorney may be in your best interest.
At Harman Law, we’ve spent years securing financial compensation for injury victims. While rideshare services may be relatively new on the scene, they face the same legal requirements as any other entity. If you’re dealing with medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, or other losses due to an Uber or Lyft accident, it’s those legal requirements that may entitle you to financial compensation. Contact us today by calling (704) 286-0947 to schedule a free consultation at Harman Law. We know you’ve got a lot on your plate right now, so let our rideshare accident lawyers in Charlotte handle the major issues for you.
