With Schiller & Hamilton, you don’t have to go it alone. Our Beaufort car accident attorneys can investigate your South Carolina Lyft car accident case. We can gather evidence of negligence and accurately account for your losses. While we work on your accident claim, you can get the rest and recovery you and your family deserve.
Auto accident cases can easily become complicated very quickly, especially when they involve rideshare companies like Lyft. For example, insurance coverage may not be clearly obvious. You may not know which insurance policy may apply: the driver’s personal policy or Lyft’s. If you experienced a Lyft accident in Beaufort, South Carolina, our Beaufort rideshare accident lawyers can help by identifying the liable party and pursuing fair compensation from them.
You May Stand to Recover a Range of Damages After a Beaufort Lyft Accident
Car accident injuries can range in severity, and how your injuries affect your life will determine your potential compensation. In extreme cases, accident victims will suffer permanent impairment, which will warrant awards for home modifications, ongoing medical care, and assistive devices.
Our Beaufort personal injury attorneys can gather various pieces of evidence, such as your medical records and wage statements, to support your case for current and future accident-related losses.
You may qualify to demand the following damages:
- Immediate medical care, such as surgeries, hospital stays, and specialists
- Ongoing medical expenses, such as physical therapy
- In-home aid, such as domestic services
- Disability and occupational therapy
- Lost income if you had to take time off work while you recover
- Reduced earning capacity if you cannot return to work or earn your pre-injury wages
- Pain and suffering
With our legal representation, we will account for every loss in your South Carolina case and review any settlement offers you receive. The last thing you want is to be left footing the bill for someone else’s negligence because you accepted an unfair settlement offer. Remember, accepting a settlement usually bars you from seeking additional compensation later through legal action.
Wrongful Death Damages Following a Lyft Automobile Accident
If you lost a family member in a Lyft car accident, please accept our condolences. We know how difficult things are right now, but we can help you through this.
When car accidents result in fatal injuries, under South Carolina law, certain members of your family can legally hold the liable parties responsible. They can seek justice and compensation for:
- Funeral and burial or cremation services
- Your loved one’s income that they contributed to the household
- Your loved one’s pain and suffering
- Your loved one’s final medical bills
Our wrongful death lawyers serving Beaufort can determine who in your family represents the estate and file a lawsuit. Then, the estate representative and our legal team can handle the legal process while you grieve in peace.
Our Beaufort Lyft Accident Team Can Determine Which Insurance Policy Applies
Most car accident cases begin with an insurance claim, but this can get complicated when a rideshare company like Lyft is involved. You would either file a claim with the driver’s personal insurance provider or Lyft’s insurance. Even after we investigate the accident scene and gather evidence, insurers can go back and forth, denying liability.
If that happens, we will be in your corner, fighting to hold each liable party responsible. Consider the following circumstances that may affect which policy you file an insurance claim.
When the Lyft Driver Is Logged Off
While the Lyft driver is not logged onto the app, their own insurance policy would apply. Lyft drivers must carry their state’s mandatory minimum coverage, which may not even fairly account for your losses. If this is the case, we can pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
When the Lyft Driver Is Waiting for a Passenger
When a Lyft driver is logged onto the app and waiting for a fare, Lyft offers certain coverage but only when the driver’s personal insurance does not apply:
- $50,000 per person for bodily injury
- $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
When the Lyft Driver Has a Passenger or Is on the Way to Pick One Up
When a Lyft driver already has a passenger or is heading to pick up a passenger, Lyft coverage applies:
- Third-party auto liability of at least $1,000,000
- First-party coverage for possible uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage, PIP, MedPay, and/or Occupational Accident coverage
- For drivers with comprehensive and collision coverage, Lyft additionally provides contingent comprehensive and collision coverage up to the actual cash value of the car with a $2,500 deductible
Knowing that coverage is available, it can still get confusing when determining which policy to file a claim under. That’s where our Beaufort Lyft accident attorneys can help. We can sort out the policies, communicate with the insurance companies, and handle all the necessary paperwork required for your South Carolina insurance claim.
We Can File a Lawsuit After a Beaufort Lyft Accident
In some cases, a fair settlement cannot be reached with the insurance companies, and we may need to proceed with a lawsuit. Our Beaufort attorneys can help with this process, as well. It’s important to note that under S.C. Ann. §15-3-530, you generally have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit. That may seem like a lot of time, but our legal team will need it.
The sooner you start, the better we can protect your right to seek compensation through the court. If you miss the deadline, you risk seeing the court dismiss your case entirely. You could lose your last chance to hold a negligent party responsible.
Our legal team can make sure your case meets the statutory deadline, but it all starts with you. Once we take on your case, we will handle the legal process of your Beaufort car accident to relieve you of any stress while you heal.
Call Schiller & Hamilton for Help After a Beaufort Lyft Accident
You deserve to rest and focus on your physical health after a South Carolina Lyft accident. Leave the rest to use. At Schiller & Hamilton, our Beaufort Lyft accident lawyers are here to help you collect the compensation you deserve. Our goal is your recovery and putting your life back together.
Contact us today for a free consultation. We do not charge upfront fees. Instead, our fees are a preapproved amount of your settlement.