Southern California Criminal Lawyer Blog
When an Uber or Lyft driver causes a car accident due to negligence, the injured victim (or passenger) may be entitled to several types of damages when they file a claim. The compensation will depend on the severity of injuries and other losses.
Rideshare companies and their insurance providers will do everything they can to dispute your claim and minimize their liability from the incident. They may even rob you of your compensation entirely, especially if you’re not represented properly. For these reasons, it is highly recommended to hire an experienced rideshare accident lawyer in Los Angeles for going toe-to-toe against their defense teams.
Types of Damages You Can Claim in a Rideshare Accident
Let’s take a closer look at the types of damages you can claim.
Medical Expenses
If you are in a rideshare accident, your injuries may vary from minor cuts and bruises to serious physiological or psychological harm such as paralysis or even permanent disability. It’s not always easy to figure out which of these injuries will require long-term ongoing medical care down the road. This is why it is recommended to undergo a medical examination after a rideshare accident if you have been injured.
Medical expenses after a rideshare accident include:
- Physical and cognitive therapy
- Accessories such as heat pads or crutches
- Consultation with healthcare experts
- Disfigurement that may cause pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- In-home services
Your attorney will need a doctor to sign off on these claims and provide an estimate for medical expenses that may be required further down the road.
Mental Suffering
Mental suffering includes feelings of sadness, anxiety, depression, PTSD or mental trauma that occurs because of the accident. Damages can be rewarded for mental suffering if the rideshare incident is proven as the cause.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Loss of enjoyment refers to how the injury has impacted the quality of your life. If your injuries make it impossible to enjoy life as you once did, then you can seek compensation for this loss. To be compensated for this type of damage, you must prove that the rideshare accident changed how you do certain things in life. You must also prove you can no longer do these things because of the injuries.
Pro tip: To prove these claims, rideshare attorneys often use ‘day in the life’ videos that demonstrate the client’s limited abilities and difficulties they face in everyday activities. These videos depend on various factors, including the judge’s discretion.
Lost Wages
It isn’t uncommon for rideshare injuries to cause you to use your earning potential. This may include the inability to continue working because of hospitalization, time spent in therapy sessions, lack of mobility, and temporary disability that prevents you from making your usual wages. You will be required to prove that the injuries diminished your net worth, both in the present and future.
Juries will usually consider various factors such as age, skill, experience, life expectancy, and occupation.
Other Miscellaneous Damages You Can Claim in a Rideshare Accident
Not many victims of rideshare accidents are aware of the types of damages they can claim in a rideshare accident. Take a look at other expenses you can claim:
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of irreplaceable items
- Emotional suffering
- Transportation damages
- Medical equipment
- Domestic services
- Nursing home care
- Ambulance expenses
- Increase living expenses
Wrapping Up
Don’t expect ridesharing companies and their insurance providers to back down without a fight. They don’t want the case to go to court not give you the compensation you deserve. They will often try to give you a lowball offer just to see if you’ll settle. Some injury victims are so traumatized after the accident that they make the mistake of accepting the settlement offer before finding out how much their claims are worth.
We recommend hiring an Uber or Lyft accident attorney in Los Angeles specializing in such cases. At Justice Firm, our attorneys have seen it all, and your case isn’t going to surprise us. Our rideshare accident lawyers litigate multiple cases on behalf of passengers, drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Call Justice Firm today for a No Obligation Free Consultation with our friendly attorneys. We’re waiting for your call!