Charleston Lyft Accident Lawyer

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Mr. Bringardner and his staff were absolutely incredible and made this stressful situation much easier. I have and will continue to recommend his firm to anyone in need. Thank you for all your help, kindness and attentiveness!

KELSEY ROBBINS - CHARLESTON, SC

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Filling out the form below and scheduling a free case evaluation is an important step towards obtaining justice in your injury case.

Lyft Accident Attorney

Ridesharing companies like Lyft allow people to get almost anywhere without having to worry about finding a parking space, or worrying about drunk driving. The way Lyft works is simple:

  • You use the Lyft smartphone app to request a ride
  • You are matched with a nearby Lyft car.
  • The app tells you the make and model of the car that’s picking you up and when it will arrive,
  • You are charged a base charge and then per mile and per minute.

Commuters use ride-hailing services because they are more comfortable and convenient than taking a bus or train. Many companies that send employees on work trips will have employees take Lyft transportation instead of renting cars, as this is cheaper and does not involve needing to compensate people for parking.

Ride-hailing Apps Have Increased Congestion and Accident Rates

We know that about 2-3% of auto accidents are attributed to ridesharing or ride-hailing services like Lyft. Since ridesharing became popular in the last decade, there has been a notable increase of vehicles on the road, as drivers spend about 40-60% of their time looking for and waiting for passengers (this is called deadheading). In 2018, the NHTSA reported the percentage of drunk driving deaths were lowest on record, while pedestrian and bicyclist deaths had both gone up. These trends are likely due to the explosion of ride-sharing services like Lyft.

Driver Fatigue Problems With Rideshares

The perks of driving with Lyft are attractive: flexility, no minimum hours, no uniform, and no boss, and many people find driving an attractive side-hustle job. In 2018, Reuters revealed fatigue is a real problem for the ride-share industry. This is partly because so many Lyft drivers are side-hustlers – they go out and drive after working full-time in their primary jobs, which can leave little time for rest. Other drivers who drive full-time with Lyft may stay active as long as possible to be available for the most trips, being in their car for 10-12 hours a day. Although Lyft mandates a full, uninterrupted 6-hour break for every 12 hours in driver mode, this does not prevent a driver from being available on another app.

Possible Lyft Accident Scenarios

Despite all the convenience offered by Lyft transportation, accidents still happen. And when they happen, they are extremely inconvenient. Multiple insurance companies may be involved: Lyft’s corporate insurance company, the policy owned by other drivers involved in the crash, and your Lyft driver’s personal insurance policy. Accidents involving a Lyft rideshare vehicle can be complex. Some of the types of Lyft accidents we see include:

  • A Lyft passenger is hurt in an accident that was caused by their Lyft driver.
  • A Lyft passenger is hurt in an accident that was caused by someone else.
  • A driver in a private passenger vehicle is hit by a Lyft driver.
  • A pedestrian or bicyclist is struck by a Lyft driver.

Lyft has contingent liability insurance, which means it applies in certain scenarios when the app is in Driver Mode. This coverage would apply if the Lyft driver has not accepted a ride yet but is going to pick up a rider. Contingent liability coverage only applies if personal insurance does not cover you.

Once you are a passenger in a Lyft vehicle on a ride, Lyft’s primary liability insurance kicks in and covers the drive. This policy will cover you up to $1,000,000.

If the driver was not on a Lyft ride when the accident occurred, and you were the occupant of another vehicle or a pedestrian, their personal insurance policy will apply.

Common Types of Lyft Accident Injuries

Injuries resulting from a Lyft accident can range from mild to serious:

  • Whiplash / soft tissue injuries
  • Concussion / traumatic brain injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Fatal injury / wrongful death

If you’re involved in an accident as a Lyft passenger, you should gather information and evidence the same way you would in any other traffic accident. Get the other driver’s name and contact information, their insurance policy, and Lyft’s insurance policy. Collect contact information for any witnesses. As soon as possible, get treated for your injuries by a doctor. This medical treatment will be part of your personal injury claim for damages.

Get A Free Lyft Accident Injury Consultation Today

Attorney Mark Bringardner understands how car accident injuries can affect your life. When you’ve been injured through no fault of your own, a knowledgeable and experienced Charleston car accident lawyer can help you protect your rights and recover compensation for medical bills, rehabilitation and physical therapy and lost earnings from being unable to work. Pain and suffering compensation will also be available for the physical and emotional stress caused by your injury.

With all of our personal injury cases, there are never any fees unless we recover money for you. This means you can focus on recovering and healing while we fight to recover the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation.

The Auto Accident Claims Process

You are Injured in An Accident

What should I do after an accident?

Immediately after an accident, if you are injured, you should call 911 and seek immediate medical attention. This may seem obvious if you have pain at the scene of the collision, but often times injury victims may not feel pain until the adrenaline wears off, hours or even days after an accident. Any delay in seeking medical attention and the appropriate diagnostic testing could lead to problems down the road. Next, before contacting any insurance company, it can be smart to consult an experienced South Carolina accident attorney to protect your rights.

You will likely want to make sure that your medical records, bills, lost income, and other issues are being handled and documented properly.

Does health insurance pay for your medical bills? Does the other person’s insurance company pay? What is Medpay? How do you submit a claim for lost income? Should you go to your primary care doctor or a specialist? What if you don’t have a doctor? Who fixes your vehicle? Where do you take your vehicle? These are questions an experienced South Carolina personal injury attorney can assist you with. It may also be a good idea to have your attorney conduct an investigation on your behalf as soon as possible so important evidence does not get lost.

How do I hire Bringardner Injury Lawyers?

First, you should call our office and speak with us directly about your case. Or, you can fill out our online form and we will call you as soon as possible to go over your claim and answer all of your questions. We are happy to meet with you in-person, through a virtual conference, or over the phone.

If you decide to hire us, we will send you the necessary paperwork so we can immediately begin working on your case.

So I've Hired A Lawyer. Now What?

When you hire us, we immediately go to work on your case. We will deal with the insurance company, the investigation, gathering of your medical bills, and building your case.

After getting your vehicle repaired or replaced, you only have 1 job to do after hiring us. Get better. We want you to focus on your recovery and follow all your doctors' orders. Doing this will hopefully put you on the path toward a full recovery.

Building Your Case

Immediately after you hire us, we will begin building your case. First, we will send a letter to the insurance company stating that you have retained representation, and that they are not allowed to contact you directly. They must go through us.

The Investigation

We quickly start investigating your accident by obtaining witness statements, obtaining evidence, gathering your medical records, calculating your wage losses and future medical bills, and any other damages you may have suffered as a result of your accident. Your only job is to go to the medical appointments and try to get better.

Settlement Negotiations

What's a Settlement?

A settlement is typically a sum of money paid by an insurance company. The vast majority of cases settle before going to court. However, we prepare all of our cases for a trial if that becomes necessary. We will fight to the fullest extent of the law to try and get you full and fair compensation.

How Long Will It Take?

Typically clients want to know two things: How much is my case worth and how long will it take? No lawyer knows the answers to those questions when you first hire them. The fact of the matter is that there are hundreds of factors that will determine the answers. Early in the case, you may not know the extent of any permanent injuries for which you may need compensation, and you may not know the total amount of your medical bills until a later date. Once your condition stabilizes and our investigation into the case is completed, your South Carolina accident attorney will be able to give you a more informed legal opinion. At that time a “demand” is typically sent to the insurance company to begin the potential settlement process.
Once a demand is sent to the insurance company, the insurance company usually responds after completing an evaluation of your case. At that point, your accident attorney will discuss the insurance company's response with you. If you are not satisfied with the insurance company's settlement offer or response, and no settlement is reached, then the next step is for your accident attorney to file a lawsuit. Most settlements are paid within 4 weeks of being accepted. However, if an acceptable settlement is not reached at this phase, the next step is for us to prepare and file a lawsuit.

Filing a Lawsuit

Filing The Complaint

Most of the time, auto accident cases are resolved in a settlement, but in some instances, they require a lawsuit to get resolved. In this instance, the first step is for your auto accident attorney to write a legal document called a complaint. The complaint is filed at the courthouse, and then the defendant (more likely his insurance company) will have an attorney file a formal response with the Court. Filing a lawsuit does not mean that you are going to trial. Again, the vast majority of lawsuits also settle before trial. People often think they are “going to court” if the file a lawsuit. In layman’s terms, the filing of a lawsuit simply takes the case out of the informal setting between your lawyer and the insurance company and formally puts it in into the court system so that a judge can assist with any legal disputes that arise.

Discovery

The discovery phase begins after a lawsuit is filed. This phase of the case allows both sides to ask questions and obtain additional documents that may not have been available without a subpoena. The purpose is to “discover” the other side's evidence, and learn more about the opposing party's case. This is done by many methods, including submitting requests for documents, and submitting interrogatories (questions in writing that the opposing party must answer) or depositions (in-person or videoconference interviews conducted by the attorneys.)

We will be by your side, every step of the way, to fight for a favorable outcome in your case.

Alternative Resolution Methods

At any point during the case, you can decide to settle your case. There are several ways to settle a case.

Negotiation

Sometimes cases settle on “the court house steps”. That means that the case settles right before trial. Often times, the threat of a jury trial is the only thing that encourages the insurance company to increase their settlement offer. That is because during your case, the settlement money is under their control. Once a trial begins, the insurance company loses some of that control and it is placed in the hands of the judge and/or jury – who may order a lot more money to be paid to you than what the insurance company wants to offer. Sometimes the most reasonable and fair settlement offers do not get made until right before a trial is scheduled to begin. Some cases even settle during or even after trial. While this is less common, it occurs from time to time.

Mediation

Mediation is a process where both parties meet in front of an agreed-upon mediator. Mediators are trained professionals who are skilled at moderating fair negotiations. The goal of mediation is a resolution, but if no resolution is reached, the case will continue on.
During The Course Of The Case, Both Parties May Also Engage In Direct Negotiations.

Trial

We prepare every case as if we are going to trial. We believe the best way to avoid trial and obtain the best settlement possible is to show the insurance company that we will accept nothing other than a fair settlement, and take it to a trial if it is necessary.

What Happens At Trial?

At trial, we will present your case in front of a jury or judge to let them decide the fair value of your case.

Resolution

At the end of trial, we typically receive a verdict, which can result in a judgement. Trial can take anywhere from a day to a week (or more) depending on the complexity of the case.
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Get in touch with us today to get started on your free case review. After you submit your information, we will contact you as soon as possible before the end of the business day. We review all submissions as quickly as possible in the order in which they are received.