Injured In Lyft Accident: Now What?
It is not uncommon to have many questions about what to do after you have been injured in a Lyft accident. Our attorneys want to help by offering the following tips and information about how to get the medical care you need and to protect your legal rights to compensation and benefits.
Protecting yourself after being injured in Lyft accident
If you have been injured in a Lyft accident, I encourage you to follow these important safety steps to protect yourself and your legal rights:
- Seek medical treatment now and if you experience new symptoms later
- Report ALL injuries to first responders and emergency room personnel
- Never give statements to an insurance adjuster or sign a release
- Notify your insurance company immediately and file an application for benefits
- Obtain a copy of your police report
- Attend all medical appointments
- Keep good records
- Check your auto insurance policy for very specific notice requirements
- Those are also the steps that all crash victims should take
Pain and suffering compensation
If you were injured in a Lyft accident, then you may be able to recover pain and suffering compensation as well as excess medical expenses and lost wages from the at-fault Lyft driver. Your recovery will largely be limited to the amount of liability insurance coverage that the Lyft driver had in effect at the time.
Michigan law requires Lyft drivers to have the following minimum levels of liability coverage, depending on whether he or she is on-call and available transport passenger or whether he or she is actually transporting passengers:
- On-duty liability ($50,000/$100,000) – There must be liability coverage “in the amount of at least $50,000.00 per person for death or bodily injury” and “$100,000.00 per incident for death or bodily injury . . .” (MCL 257.2123(2)(a); 257.518b(1)(a)(i))
- Liability while transporting Uber passengers ($1 million) – There must be liability coverage “with a minimum combined single limit of $1,000,000.00 for all bodily injury or property damage.” (MCL 257.2123(3)(a); 257.518b(1)(b)(i))
The liability coverage on a Lyft vehicle may be provided by auto insurance liability policies maintained by the Lyft driver, Lyft or a combination of both. (MCL 257.2123(5) and (6))
Claiming No-Fault benefits for passengers injured in Lyft accident
If you were injured in a Lyft accident as a Lyft passenger, you may be able to recover No-Fault benefits that would pay for your medical expenses, lost wages if your injuries prevent you from returning to work, mileage and transportation costs for traveling to and from your doctor appointments, household replacement services and attendant care services.
Here is what Lyft passengers like you need to know after being hurt in a Lyft crash:
- You must file an application for No-Fault benefits – which is also called your “written notice of injury” – with the responsible auto insurance company within one (1) year after the crash. (MCL 500.3145(1) and (4)) Failure to file – within ONE YEAR from the date of your Lyft crash – will result in you forever losing any and all No-Fault benefits you would have otherwise been entitled to.
- As a Lyft passenger, the auto insurance company that is responsible for paying your No-Fault benefits will be one of the following: (1) your own auto insurance company; (2) the insurance company for your spouse or a relative who lives with you; and (3) if no coverage is available through those sources, then the auto insurance company that insurers the Lyft vehicle will be responsible to pay your No-Fault benefits.
No-Fault benefits for pedestrians hurt in a crash
Pedestrians and bicyclists who have been injured in a Lyft accident will be entitled to recover No-Fault benefits much the same way that passengers are. However, the process for determining the auto insurance company that is responsible for paying your benefits will be slightly different.
Under the No-Fault law’s “priority” rules, you will apply for No-Fault benefits from the following auto insurance companies in the following order of priority:
- Your own auto insurance company
- Your spouse’s auto insurance company
- The auto insurance company of a relative who lives with you
- The Michigan Assigned Claims Plan if coverage is not available through any of the other sources
Call the attorneys at Michigan Auto Law for a free consultation
Call toll free anytime 24/7 at (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys if you were injured in a Lyft accident and you have questions about what to do to get the medical care you need and to protect your legal rights. Michigan Auto Law attorneys have spoken at national seminars and legal conferences, teaching injury lawyers across the country how to better handle rideshare crash cases and better protect our clients. You can also get help from an experienced accident attorney by visiting our contact page or you can use the chat feature on our website.
