Were you hurt in an accident as a passenger, a driver, or as another motorist involving an Uber or Lyft? If so, you’ll want to hire an attorney with specific experience handling rideshare accident claims. Call the team at The Bruner Law Firm right away to speak with a knowledgeable member of our team.
At it’s best, ridesharing is a safe and cost-effective option for making your way around town. Whether you use Uber or Lyft, you could request a ride to any destination through an app on your phone. In our technologically driven world, people get exposed to convenient services every day. Whenever you get into a rideshare driver’s vehicle, you assume you’ll reach your destination safely. However, with thousands of drivers sharing Panama City roads each day, accidents are inevitable.
At The Bruner Law Firm, we understand the devastation an auto accident causes. Suffering an injury because of someone else’s careless actions completely upends your life. You shouldn’t go through this challenging time alone. Our Panama City rideshare accident lawyers dedicate their time and attention to every single client. We work diligently to ensure we seek the financial compensation you deserve. You can depend on us to be there for you every step of the legal process ahead. Call us for a free consultation at (850) 769-9292.
Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents in Panama City
With ridesharing’s increased popularity, the number of accidents also increased. In a place like Panama City, residents and tourists are abundant and travel the roadways throughout the year. Even if you take the necessary precautions, you could become the victim of a terrible accident through the fault of another individual. Whether there’s bad weather or hazardous road conditions, many reasons could lead to a rideshare accident, including:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Driving in poor weather conditions
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Tailgating
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Ignoring traffic signs and signals
It’s your rideshare driver’s responsibility to ensure your safety and take the appropriate measures to prevent any injuries from occurring. Their negligence should not go unpunished. Whether your injuries are minor or life-threatening, you deserve a fair chance at seeking monetary compensation to pay for your treatment.
What Should I Do If I Get Injured in A Rideshare Accident?
If you suffered injuries in a traffic crash caused by a rideshare driver, you should hire a lawyer immediately. The Panama City rideshare accident lawyers from The Bruner Law Firm know the steps to take so you receive a fair settlement. You should also seek medical treatment at an urgent care facility or hospital as soon as possible. Even if you don’t think your injury is that serious, undergoing a medical evaluation could prove useful in your case.
Once you retain us, we will begin to work on your case right away. We’ll launch a thorough investigation into the crash and gather evidence that’s vital to proving the rideshare driver caused your injuries. In any type of case, the evidence is crucial. If there’s no evidence to support your claim, the insurance company could deny you compensation for your treatment. That’s why hiring a lawyer to represent you in your case is so important. Some of the evidence we’ll obtain includes:
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- The driver’s insurance policy
- Your medical records and bills
- Video surveillance
- Photos of the accident scene
- Estimates and repair bills for the vehicle damage
While we’re locating evidence to build a strong case, you should continue regularly scheduled appointments with your doctor. If he or she refers you for imaging, diagnostic testing, or a specialty physician, you must follow their instructions. Medical records play an important role in insurance claims and lawsuits. They show your injury was a direct result of the accident as opposed to a pre-existing condition. You should continue to undergo treatment until your doctor releases you from their care or informs you that your injury improved as much as it could.
Your Panama City rideshare accident lawyer will file a claim on your behalf against the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. Florida law requires motor vehicle drivers to carry liability insurance with minimum bodily injury limits. Those limits could provide compensation for any expenses you incur during your treatment. We will review the insurance policy and determine the bodily injury limits available in your claim. If the assigned adjuster denies your request, we would then file a lawsuit against them and potentially against the negligent driver.
How Much Money Could I Get from A Settlement?
There are four different options for seeking compensation after a rideshare accident in Panama City. Each option allows you to cover any damages you incurred while treating your injuries. Damages are losses resulting from an accident. In personal injury cases in Florida, you could seek economic damages, noneconomic damages, and punitive damages. Economic damages are actual expenses, such as medical bills. Noneconomic damages are the physical and emotional pain suffered. Punitive damages punish the driver directly for their blatant disregard of your safety.
The four options for seeking compensation are as follows:
Rideshare Driver’s Liability Insurance
Since Florida drivers are required to carry liability insurance, there’s a good chance you’re eligible for compensation. The minimum bodily injury limit required is $10,000. Some people opt for higher coverage, while others stick to the minimum. Depending on the bodily injury limit in their policy, you could cover some or all of your damages.
Rideshare Company’s Liability Insurance
Rideshare services usually have their liability insurance in case any passengers sustain an injury in an accident. Companies, such as Uber and Lyft are legally required to carry $50,000 in liability coverage for accidents without a passenger in the vehicle and $1 million for collisions with a passenger in the car.
Your UM Insurance
UM, uninsured/underinsured insurance, is covered under your policy and becomes active when the at-fault driver does not have insurance or their bodily injury limit isn’t high enough to cover your expenses. UM insurance is an optional coverage that individuals are not required to purchase when they sign up for an auto policy. There’s also an option for PIP coverage, personal injury protection. That coverage pays your medical providers directly up to the limit on your policy.
Filing A Lawsuit
If all other options fail, you could file a lawsuit. Lawsuits in rideshare accidents get filed against the driver who caused your injuries. Punitive damages punish them for their negligent actions that led to the collision. If your claim gets denied or you receive a settlement lower than you wanted, you could also file suit against the insurance company. Lawsuits require meeting strict deadlines and submitting relevant documents. Having a Panama City rideshare accident lawyer by your side increases your chances of winning your case.
The various economic and noneconomic damages you could receive compensation for in the state of Florida include the following:
- Medical Expenses: Treatment necessary to cure your injuries, such as ER visits, home health care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, surgery, ambulance services, and prescription medicines.
- Emotional Distress: Psychological or emotional trauma directly caused by your accident, such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
- Pain and Suffering: Significant physical pain endured that affected your ability to perform routine tasks and diminished your enjoyment of life.
- Lost Wages: Pay you’re unable to earn due to your injury.
- Future Earning Capacity: You could receive compensation for any future wages you’re unable to make if your injury keeps you out of work for an extended amount of time.
- Loss of Consortium: An immediate family member could claim damages for the negative impact the victim’s accident had on their relationship.
- Wrongful Death: If a rideshare accident resulted in death, loved ones could seek compensation for expenses, such as funeral costs.
Whichever option you choose, your Panama City rideshare accident lawyer will handle it for you. We never pressure anyone into making decisions they’re not ready to make. We’ll offer our legal advice and assist you in choosing what’s best for you in your situation.
Call The Bruner Law Firm to Speak with A Panama City Rideshare Accident Lawyer
We’re committed to providing our clients with superior customer service. Our team of legal professionals is available 24/7, so you can reach us when you need us. When you hire us, we’ll explain the process of your insurance claim or lawsuit, so you know what to expect. You can count on us to provide you with the legal representation and emotional support you need.
The Bruner Law Firm has been helping those who’ve been hurt here in Florida since 1992. That’s over 25 decades of serving victims of rideshare accidents in Panama City. We believe in seeking justice for anyone injured because of another individual’s recklessness. We know the financial burden you’re facing. You’re in pain, unable to work and worried about the expensive medical bills you’re receiving. The last thing we want is to add any additional stress to your life. That’s why we provide free consultations to our prospective clients. There’s no risk or obligation to meet one of our Panama City accident lawyers, so we can review the details of your case with you and help you understand what you might be entitled to.
We’ve developed an excellent reputation over the years that we strive to maintain. Once you retain us, we’ll do whatever it takes to meet and exceed all your expectations. Call us at (850) 769-9292 today or fill out our contact form.
