Morrin Law Office
Lyft Accident Attorney in Louisville, Kentucky
An experienced and professional Louisville rideshare attorney will be able to provide insight and guidance for any Lyft accident you’ve recently experienced. While apps like Lyft are in place to save costs on transportation, there is a harsh reality of being involved in a car crash with one of their drivers.
Whether you were a Lyft passenger during an accident caused by your driver, or another driver stuck by a Lyft driver, you should feel confident with the legal help you receive for your case. Accidents involving companies like Lyft are often more confusing when it comes to establishing fault and dealing with insurance policies.
By hiring a personal injury team with years of experience, your main concern will be to focus on your physical recovery while we do everything we can to win you fair compensation.
How Does a Lyft Driver Cause a Collision?
There are a multitude of ways in which a car crash can occur with a rideshare vehicle like Lyft. Some of the more common ways that a Louisville, Kentucky Lyft driver can cause a collision can include, but is not limited to:
- A Lyft driver experiencing distracted driving by looking at or using their smartphone while operating the vehicle;
- A Lyft driver who has worked extended hours or is working late into the night and feels overly fatigued;
- A Lyft driver who is speeding to either drop off a current passenger or pick up a requested passenger;
- A Lyft driver who is fails to yield the right of way when required of them;
- A Lyft driver who is unfamiliar with the area they’re driving in;
- A Lyft driver who lacks driving experience;
- A Lyft driver who is operating their vehicle commercially while under the influence of drugs or alcohol; or
- A Lyft driver who has not had their vehicle properly maintained and results in some form of mechanical failure.
If you were victim to a Lyft accident in Louisville that was not caused by a reason listed above, you may still have grounds to file a personal injury claim. Contact Morrin Law to discuss the details of the rideshare accident.
Vision Zero Louisville’s Definitions
The city of Louisville, Kentucky has created an app to track and highlight suspected serious injuries and traffic fatalities called Vision Zero Louisville. Their site provides the following definitions:
- Suspected Serious Injury – Any injury other than death that results in one or more of the following:
- Broken or distorted extremity;
- Crush injuries;
- Paralysis;
- Severe laceration resulting in exposure of underlying tissues/muscle/organs or a significant loss of blood;
- Significant burns (2nd or 3rd degree burns over 10% or more of the body);
- Suspected skull, chest, or abdominal injury; or
- Unconsciousness when taken from the crash scene.
- Fatal Injury – Any injury that results in death within 30 days after the motor vehicle crash in which the injury occurred. If the victim did not die at the scene but within 30 days of the collision in which the injury occurred, the injury classification should be reassigned as “fatal injury.”
Louisville’s Deadliest Year for Accidents
Based on data provided by Vision Zero Louisville, 2023 was the worst year for fatal roadway collisions in Louisville since 2016.
According to the Louisville Courier Journal, there had been 893 fatal crashes and 4,146 serious injuries in Louisville between 2016-2023. While the 450 suspected injuries from 2023 is low compared to previous years, the fatality rate within 2023 is still the highest it’s been at 136 deaths within one year.
So far into 2024, Vision Zero Louisville has tracked 47 collisions with suspected serious injury and 12 fatal collisions.
What to Do After an Accident Involving a Lyft Vehicle
Car wrecks are an inherently scary experience. In the aftermath of the wreck, the number one priority at that point is to make sure that you are okay. If the other driver or any witnesses have not yet called 911 for medical responders, you should do so if necessary.
Contact police with the Kentucky Police Department who can fill out a Collision Report. KRS 189.635(4) provides that any person involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in property damage exceeding $500 that does not have a responding officer must file a Civilian Collision Report within ten (10) days of the crash.
While still at the crash scene, take the necessary steps to compile all proof of fault. If the Lyft driver was responsible for the crash, you will need evidence to prove so to win a civil lawsuit. Reliable evidence can include images of the accident site, videos of the Lyft driver operating their vehicle negligently, and witness statements from anyone who saw what happened leading up to or after the crash.
If you did not get checked out by a medical professional at the accident scene, you must obtain medical records to indicate any injuries you sustained from the crash. This documentation is invaluable to a personal injury case and can make a difference in being awarded compensation.
Once you’ve taken these initial steps immediately following the Louisville Lyft accident, contact the personal injury attorneys with Morrin Law to represent your case. We can provide you with legal help and guidance throughout the entire process.
Insurance Policies for Lyft Accidents
Unlike a standard car collision, crashes involving rideshare vehicles such as Lyft are often more complex due to the different rules and regulations of the rideshare company. Lyft’s page on insurance coverage provides the following scenarios for the potential coverage of an accident:
- An accident occurred while the driver was logged out of the Lyft app: The driver’s personal auto insurance coverage will apply.
- An accident occurred while the driver was waiting for a Lyft request: Lyft may claim that the driver’s personal auto insurance should cover damages for a collision occurring with no pickup requests. However, their personal auto insurance may claim that due to the app being opened, the driver was conducting “commercial business” and therefore liability would fall back to Lyft’s insurance policy. Lyft provides third-party liability insurance if a driver’s personal auto insurance does not at least apply to:
- $50,000/person for bodily injury;
- $100,000/accident for bodily injury; and
- $25,000/accident for property damage.
- An accident occurred after the driver accepted and is in route for a Lyft request: Lyft explains that their third-party policy should be in effect as the primary coverage from the time the driver accepts the ride request up until the ride has ended. Lyft offers at least $1,000,000 of coverage per accident.
Lyft requires all drivers to maintain personal auto insurance to meet the minimum requirements for the state they are operating in. Keep in mind that Kentucky works on a “choice no-fault” state, which can further complicate the process of establishing liability for the wreck. Contact the personal injury attorneys with Morrin Law about your questions regarding liability and insurance. Our attorneys can represent you and take on the bulk of the work by speaking to the insurance companies on your behalf.
What Compensation is Offered for a Successful Claim?
What you can be awarded for a successful personal injury claim will vary based on the amount of damages you’ve experienced due to the Lyft accident. An attorney with Morrin Law can review your medical records and accident evidence to calculate your damages, which can include any of the following:
- Emergency room care;
- Ongoing medical care;
- Medical expenses stemming from future complications;
- Loss of wages from missed work;
- Projected loss of future earnings;
- Disability or permanent disfigurement; and/or
- Pain and suffering.
Morrin Law understands the difficulty of navigating the legal realm while also focusing on medical recovery. By entrusting our personal injury lawyers to represent your case, we will fight to win you the compensation you deserve so you can fully recover and get back to your life.
Making Informed Decisions Within a Timely Manner
It may seem like you have all the time in the world to file a personal injury claim that was caused by someone else’s negligence. However, the clock starts ticking from the date of the accident or the discovered injury. Under Kentucky Revised Statute § 304.39-230(6), a person will have two years from the last PIP payment to file a legal complaint or settle their claim.
The attorneys with Morrin Law Office will advise you to get started as soon as possible to avoid losing imperative evidence that supports your claim. Once you’ve obtained initial medical treatment, let our skilled team take charge of your case and ensure everything is completed and filed in a timely manner. Our goal is to get you back to your optimal mental and physical shape while we manage the complex legal stuff for you.
Contact Morrin Law Office to Represent Your Lyft Accident Case
Don’t let the impact of an unforeseen car accident continue to affect your life. If a Lyft driver was the cause of a collision that resulted in your serious injuries or the death of a loved one, you should consider hiring a personal injury attorney. You can be awarded compensation for the sustained injuries by filing a personal injury claim. However, the process can be time consuming and confusing for a person not familiar with Kentucky’s rideshare accident laws. A skilled personal injury attorney who is experienced with cases involving Lyft drivers is what you need for your case.
Consider hiring the attorneys with Morrin Law Office. We provide new clients with a risk-free case evaluation to determine if we can provide exponential value to your case. From there, we can walk you through the process and fight for the most favorable outcome in your case. Contact our office today at (859) 358-0300.