Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers in Baltimore

Baltimore and Maryland residents often use rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft to get where they need to go. While these services are convenient, they pose a significant risk to passengers, motorists, and pedestrians. Just because someone drives for a rideshare service does not mean they can’t cause accidents due to negligent driving practices.

If you were injured in a rideshare accident in Maryland, contact Greenberg Law Offices for a free consultation with a skilled Uber & Lyft accident lawyer in Baltimore. We will review the details of your case, go over your options for recovering the compensation you deserve, and answer any questions you have about Maryland’s auto insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit process.

How Can a Baltimore Uber and Lyft Accident Attorney Help Me?

A Baltimore Uber & Lyft attorney who handles cases across Maryland can assist with your case in various ways, starting with investigating the cause of the accident. During this crucial step, your lawyer will identify all liable parties in your case and collect evidence connecting their negligence to your injuries.

The next step is for your attorney to calculate the Uber/Lyft accident compensation you will seek through your claim. To calculate this compensation, they’ll add up your medical expenses, lost wages, and other economic losses. If you have non-economic losses, like pain and suffering, those are typically calculated by multiplying your economic losses by a number between one and five, depending on the severity of your injuries.

Your lawyer will then help you file your Uber/Lyft accident claim within the deadline and can represent you in negotiations with the insurance companies handling your case. If the insurance companies don’t offer a fair settlement during negotiations, your rideshare accident lawyer can file a lawsuit and take the insurer to trial to seek the compensation you need.

What Compensation Could Be Available for an Uber or Lyft Accident?

After a Lyft accident, victims can seek various forms of compensation for their losses. Some of the most commonly sought types of compensation in rideshare accident claims include the following:

• Medical Expenses – This compensation covers your past and future medical treatments, surgeries, hospital stays, prescription medications, medical devices, and physical therapy.
• Lost Wages – This compensation covers the wages you lost while recovering from your Lyft crash injuries and the wages and work benefits you will lose if your injuries impact your ability to work long-term.
• Permanent Disability – This compensation covers accommodations for permanent disabilities you suffered in the accident, such as making your home or vehicle wheelchair accessible.
• Pain and Suffering – This compensation is for the physical pain and emotional suffering you experienced because of your injuries. The more severe your injuries are, the more pain and suffering compensation you can typically receive.
• Emotional Distress – This compensation is for the emotional distress you experience after the incident that caused your injuries, such as if you developed anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Property Damage – This compensation covers repairing or replacing damaged or lost property.

Who Could Be Liable for a Baltimore Rideshare Accident?

Identifying the party or parties liable for your injuries is essential in seeking the compensation you deserve.

Drivers

Rideshare drivers and third-party drivers could be liable for your injuries if their negligence contributed to the accident. In Maryland, all drivers must have the following minimum amounts of liability insurance:

• $30,000 per person for bodily injury
• $60,000 per accident for bodily injury to two or more people
• $15,000 per accident for property damage

If you are injured in a rideshare accident, you can file an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver’s liability coverage policy.

Rideshare Companies

Depending on whether the rideshare driver was looking for a trip or was en route to or on a trip, the rideshare company may be liable for injuries the driver caused. Both Uber and Lyft have the same liability coverage for these situations. When the driver is looking for a trip, the services provide:

• $50,000 per person for bodily injury
• $100,000 per accident for bodily injury to two or more people
• $25,000 per accident for property damage

The services provide up to $1 million in coverage for property damage and injuries when the driver is en route to or on a trip.

Other Liable Parties

Some other parties that could be liable for your injuries include:

• Vehicle manufacturers, if a defective part contributed to the accident or your injuries
• Vehicle maintenance providers, if poor maintenance contributed to the crash
• Government entities, if poor road maintenance contributed to the accident

When you meet with a rideshare accident attorney in Baltimore or Maryland, they can assess your Uber/Lyft accident case and determine who could be held liable.

How Long Do I Have to File an Uber or Lyft Accident Lawsuit in Maryland?

After an Uber crash in Maryland, victims typically have three years to file lawsuits against the party liable for their injuries. You must file your lawsuit within this period or risk the courts barring you from seeking financial recovery for your injuries.

While the statute of limitations applies specifically to injury lawsuits, it’s also important to file auto insurance claims within this period. Once the deadline passes for filing a lawsuit for your injuries, insurance companies no longer have an incentive to accept your claim. This is why it’s important to hire an Uber car accident attorney as soon as possible, so they can make sure to file your claim on time.

What Should I Do if I Get Hurt in an Uber or Lyft Accident in Baltimore?

If you are hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident in Baltimore or anywhere in Maryland, you must take the following steps to protect your right to seek compensation through an Uber/Lyft accident lawsuit:

• Seek ongoing medical attention until you fully recover or will not recover further
• Keep all medical bills related to the Uber accident so your lawyer can calculate your medical expenses
• Document the scene and your injuries with photographs and written notes
• Avoid providing a statement to insurance adjusters, as they will use any statement you make against you
• Contact an experienced Baltimore rideshare accident lawyer to handle your case while you focus on your recovery

What Are Common Causes of Uber and Lyft Accidents?

Understanding the common causes of rideshare accidents is crucial because it can help determine the liable parties. Some of the most common causes of Uber and Lyft accidents in Maryland are:

• Speeding – Excessive speeds are one of the leading contributors to motor vehicle accidents.
• Distracted Driving – Any time drivers take their eyes off the road, they increase their chances of getting in an accident.
• Impaired Driving – Impaired drivers have slower reaction times and may not be aware of their surroundings, leading to accidents.
• Fatigued Driving – Driving while fatigued increases the likelihood of an accident, similar to driving while impaired.
• Reckless Driving – Drivers who don’t follow the rules of the road, such as not stopping at stop signs or red lights, drastically increase their risk of getting in an accident.
• Failure to Yield – Drivers must yield to oncoming traffic when making left turns or merging onto the highway to avoid causing accidents.
• Poor Road Conditions – Adverse weather conditions and poorly maintained roads can increase the likelihood of a crash if drivers don’t adjust their driving accordingly.
• Poor Vehicle Maintenance – If a driver doesn’t take their vehicle in for routine maintenance, the odds of a part failure that could result in a crash increase.
• Defective Parts – In some cases, parts are defective from the start and can fail at any time, leading to a crash.

What Are Common Injuries in Rideshare Accidents?

Rideshare crashes result in various serious injuries that can leave victims with significant medical bills and time off work. Some of the most common injuries include the following: