When someone books a trip from Uber, Lyft, or any other cab service, it might not occur to them that these vehicles are prone to accidents, just like standard vehicles. Each driver in a cab owes a responsibility of care to the passengers. If a driver causes an accident, they are likely to breach their duty of care.
You must hire a lawyer if you have been injured in an Uber in Jersey City. There are significant upsides to hiring a lawyer. Most people neglect to employ a lawyer or seek medical help after an accident. However, you must be aware of the need for a lawyer in a ridesharing accident and hire one if you have been a victim.
Benefits of hiring a lawyer in a ridesharing accident:
- Claim’s worth
A lawyer in Jersey City can help you determine your claim’s worth in an Uber or Lyft accident. Most accident victims assume they only need compensation for the medical bills. However, victims must know that they can claim compensation for the following:
- Loss of earning capacity
- Loss of irreplaceable items
- Mental anguish or trauma
- Pain and suffering
- Lowered quality of life after the accident
Without prior experience with car accidents and the legal formalities or procedures involved, the victim will not be able to receive fair compensation for the injuries or damages. When hiring a lawyer, the victim can increase the chances of winning fair compensation.
- Insurance procedure
A lawyer can help you throughout the insurance process and pursue a settlement from the liable parties, such as Uber’s driver or another defendant. Insurance companies will always try to diminish the settlement amount they have to pay their clients.
Similarly, the ridesharing company’s driver’s insurance company will try to minimize the compensation amount. The lawyer can help you seek compensation from the driver’s insurance company. If the settlement is not enough from the driver’s insurance, the lawyer will be able to seek damages from the company’s insurer.
- Accident lawsuit
A non-legal individual might be unable to file an Uber or Lyft accident lawsuit independently. If negotiations with the insurance company do not work out or the amount is too low, the lawyer can help the victim file a lawsuit.
If the case goes to trial, the victim must prove the ridesharing company’s driver’s negligence. Below are the primary elements a victim must prove to indicate neglect.
- The victim’s injuries were a direct result of the accident
- The driver owed a duty of care
- The breach of duty of care by the driver caused the accident.
As a result, an attorney might be able to prove the elements listed above and help the victim seek fair compensation.