Michigan Lyft Fatal Accident Law: What You Need To Know

For people who have lost a loved one in a fatal Lyft accident, Michigan’s law allows them to pursue a claim for wrongful death damages against the at-fault Lyft driver and a claim for No-Fault survivor’s loss benefits against the responsible auto insurance company.

Wrongful death damages

The dependents and family of a person who was killed in a fatal Lyft accident in Michigan may be able to sue the at-fault Lyft driver and sue the at-fault Lyft driver for damages under the wrongful death act. 

Lyft may also be liable under the “respondeat superior” doctrine which makes an employer liable for its employee’s negligence that occurs within the scope of the employee’s employment if the Lyft driver is determined to have been a Lyft employee.

A wrongful death lawsuit, which must be brought by the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate, allows for the recovery of compensation for the victim’s pain and suffering as well as damages for the dependents’ loss of financial support and loss of society and companionship.

Liability insurance coverage

Lyft drivers are required to carry liability insurance with the following minimum limits to provide coverage in the event they are at-fault in causing a crash or a fatal Lyft accident in Michigan:  

• On-duty liability coverage ($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 coverage while transporting 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))

A Lyft driver’s liability coverage may be provided by auto insurance liability policies maintained by the driver, Lyft or a combination of both. (MCL 257.2123(5) and (6))

Settlements after a fatal Lyft accident in Michigan

One of the most important factors in determining how much a settlement might be is the lawyer who represents the dependents and family members who lost a loved one in a Lyft crash.

Insurance companies use claims software to evaluate exposure and risk for automobile crashes. Having an experienced lawyer with an established history of successful settlements and trial verdicts can increase a settlement by 3 to 4 times more.

The attorney whom you choose to hire matters because attorneys who are known for going to trial can settle cases for significantly more money and often much faster.

No-Fault benefits after a fatal Lyft accident in Michigan

The dependents and family members of a Lyft passenger whose life was lost in a Lyft crash may be entitled to recover financial support through “survivors loss benefits” under Michigan’s No-Fault law.

To make a claim for survivor’s loss benefits, an application for No-Fault benefits must be filed with the responsible auto insurance within ONE YEAR from the date of the crash. (MCL 500.3145(1)) 

Failure to file on time – within ONE YEAR of the Lyft crash – will forever disqualify dependents and family from claiming survivor’s loss benefits. 

When a crash with a Lyft results in the death of a Lyft passenger, the auto insurance company that will be responsible for paying No-Fault survivor’s loss benefits will be the passenger’s insurer or the insurer of his or her spouse or a resident relative or with the auto insurance company that insures the Lyft vehicle.

Protecting your rights after a Lyft fatal accident in Michigan

Consulting with an experienced lawyer is one of the first and most important things that dependents and family members can do after a Lyft fatal accident in Michigan. A lawyer can help:

• Ensure that families get all of the benefits and compensation they are entitled to such as survivor’s loss benefits and wrongful death damages which may include funeral and burial expenses.
• Protect grieving family members from being taken advantage of by misrepresentations made by an insurance company for an at-fault negligent Lyft driver – which happens far too often because Michigan’s refusal to enact bad faith laws.

Lost a loved one in a fatal Lyft accident in Michigan? Call the attorneys at Michigan Auto Law now for a free consultation

If you lost a loved one in a fatal Lyft accident in Michigan, call now (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation with an experienced wrongful death lawyer. There is no cost or obligation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website.

Michigan Auto Law is Michigan’s largest and most successful law firm that specializes exclusively in helping people who have been injured in auto accidents.

Our secret? Our attorneys deliberately handle fewer cases than other personal injury law firms.  This allows us to focus more time and attention on our cases.

Unlike other law firms, our attorneys are never too busy to promptly return phone calls and answer questions. 

We have more than 2,500 5-Star reviews that reflect this care and attention to detail.

More importantly, this client-focused approach leads to better and faster settlements for our clients. Michigan Auto Law has recovered more million-dollar settlements and trial verdicts for motor vehicle accidents than any other lawyer or law firm in Michigan. We’ve also recovered the highest ever reported truck accident and car accident settlement in the state.

Call now so we can start making a real difference for you.