Have you been injured in a Lyft accident in Monterey County, California? Don’t hesitate to call the award-winning legal team at Mercado Kramer, LLP at (888) 3114050 for a free consultation. You have the right to seek compensation for your medical expenses, short-term and long-term disability, and other damages. Our experienced Monterey County Lyft accident lawyers can help you maximize your recovery.
At Mercado Kramer, LLP, we know that every second after a rideshare accident counts. We’re here to offer the kind, compassionate, winning legal representation needed to get your life back on track. As top-rated California trial attorneys with decades of collective experience, we’ve helped injury victims and families recover millions in settlements and jury awards.
Discover what it means to have our respected legal team fighting for you by calling our Monterey County law office now. Your first case review is free.
Why Hire Mercado Kramer, LLP After a Lyft Rideshare Accident in Monterey County, CA?
While any type of car accident can be stressful, those that happen while you’re in the back of a Lyft rideshare vehicle can be particularly overwhelming. It’s important to know that you don’t have to navigate the aftermath of your Lyft accident on your own. Mercado Kramer, LLP is here to make things as easy as possible for you while also putting you in the best position to obtain a life-changing monetary award.
Our Monterey County personal injury lawyers are feared and respected litigators who’ve been recognized as:
- Top 40 Under 40 attorneys by The National Trial Lawyers, and
- Members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Choosing our personal injury law firm to handle your Lyft accident case sends a clear message to the insurance company—you won’t be manipulated or tricked into walking away with less than your Lyft injury claim is worth. You’re going to be ready to do whatever it takes to do whatever it takes to win your case and secure a life-changing monetary award.
Get answers to your questions and learn about the benefits of working with our acclaimed legal team by calling our Monterey County legal team today.
How Much is My Lyft Accident Claim Worth?
No two Lyft accident claims are the same. Different people will have different experiences in the wake of a Lyft accident, and it’s those things that will dictate how much money you might be able to recover through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Consider:
- How have you been injured?
- Are your injuries permanent?
- Were you hospitalized?
- Can you still work?
- Has your earning capacity changed?
- How old are you?
- Do you share any of the blame for the Lyft car accident?
- Did you do anything to mitigate your damages?
- Who’s at fault?
- How has your quality of life changed since the Lyft accident?
The more your life changes, the more you might be able to recover through a Lyft injury claim. The best way to know what your case is worth and to maximize your recovery is by trusting an experienced Lyft accident attorney in Monterey County to represent you.
Mercado Kramer, LLP has helped injury victims win millions. Call us to discuss the specific details of your Lyft accident today.
Can I File a Lawsuit Against Lyft After a Rideshare Accident in Monterey County?
Not usually. Even though Lyft rideshare vehicles are driven commercially, Lyft and other rideshare companies have worked hard to make sure their drivers aren’t legally classified as employees. One reason for this is to ensure that the doctrine of respondeat superior doesn’t apply when there’s an accident involving one of its drivers.
Respondeat superior means that an employer is vicariously liable for its employee’s negligent or harmful actions.
Since Lyft drivers are independent contractors, Lyft isn’t responsible when there’s an accident.
However, the state of California requires Lyft to maintain insurance to protect accident victims. Lyft has two insurance policies that can potentially be used to cover crash-related costs.
When a Lyft driver is looking for work through the app, Lyft’s commercial policy covers:
- $50,000 per person/ $100,000 per accident in bodily injury, and
- $25,000 in property damage
When a Lyft driver accepts a ride request, Lyft’s corporate policy increases to cover up to $1 million in damages. Coverage is effective until the ride is completed in the Lyft app.
Both of Lyft’s insurance policies are secondary to other coverage. You typically have to exhaust benefits available under the Lyft driver’s personal insurance policy before Lyft’s benefits become available to you.
What Damages Can Be Awarded to Monterey County Lyft Accident Victims?
After an accident in a Lyft rideshare vehicle in Monterey County, you can file a claim to request compensatory damages from a negligent party or their insurance company.
Compensatory damages can include two different monetary awards: economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover your verifiable and projected financial losses, such as:
- Current medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Therapy and rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Expenditures related to a funeral and burial
By carefully calculating both your current and future financial losses, we can pursue the full amount of compensation you need to protect your financial stability moving forward.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages cover your harder-to-value life changes, such as:
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced quality of life
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Embarrassment
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Pain and suffering
- Chronic physical pain
- Disfigurement
Our California Lyft accident attorneys in Monterey County will investigate your crash, analyze key evidence, and consult expert witnesses to value your losses and build a winning legal claim on your behalf. If the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement, our experienced trial attorneys won’t hesitate to take your Lyft accident lawsuit to a jury to fight for better results.
Common Lyft Accident Injuries
Car accidents—including those involving Lyft rideshare vehicles—can cause serious and debilitating injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Chest injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Brain injuries
- Concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Paralysis injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Leg injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Burn injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
If you’ve suffered injuries in a Lyft accident in Monterey County, you’re bound to have questions about your legal rights, your options, and your future. We can provide the answers you need. Once you’ve reported your accident and sought medical care at the closest ER, don’t hesitate to call our Lyft accident attorneys for help.
What Causes Most Lyft Accidents?
Lyft drivers aren’t professionals and aren’t held to higher standards than other motorists on the road. Many people drive for Lyft to supplement their income, which means they might be extremely fatigued when they get behind the wheel for a shift. Once they’re driving, they’re likely to be distracted by their phones, their passengers, and the Lyft app. Plus, there are incentives to speed and drive recklessly because the more rides they complete, the more money they can potentially rake in.
Not surprisingly, some of the leading causes of Lyft accidents include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Driver fatigue
- Drunk driving
- Drugged driving
- Aggressive driving
- Tailgating
- Stopping improperly
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Unsafe passing
- Illegal turns
- Blind spot errors
Negligent vehicle maintenance, potholes and road defects, and even bad weather conditions can contribute to Lyft car accidents in Monterey County, too.
Can Shared Fault Affect My California Lyft Accident Settlement?
Yes. Under California’s pure comparative negligence system, shared fault reduces the value of a settlement or jury award. The more responsibility you bear for a Lyft accident in which you’re injured, the less compensation you can get from a negligent driver, an insurance carrier, or another liable party.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lyft Accident Attorney in Monterey County?
It costs nothing to hire our Monterey County car accident attorneys until we win compensation for your Lyft accident case.
When we win, our fees won’t come out of your pocket. Instead, they’ll be deducted from the settlement or jury award we’ve obtained on your behalf.
While every case is different, the standard attorney fee averages between 30 and 40 percent.
What’s the Statute of Limitations for Lyft Accident Lawsuits in California?
Unless an exception applies, you will have up to two years to file a Lyft accident claim in the state of California.
The two-year statute of limitations also applies to wrongful death claims when a Lyft accident is fatal.
You have to file before the statute of limitations runs out, or you will lose the ability to secure compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and suffering.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Monterey County Lyft Accident Lawyer
Call Mercado Kramer, LLP for help after a Lyft accident in Monterey County, California. We know this is a stressful time and that you’re going to face a lot of adversity as you pursue compensation. Our Monterey County Lyft accident lawyers can bring the experience and resources needed to win your case and maximize your damages.
We offer a complimentary case evaluation, so don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your Lyft injury claim today.
