3 Common Causes of Uber/Lyft Rideshare Accidents in New Orleans

Car Accident |August 22nd, 2021

When a rideshare driver causes a car accident that results in serious injuries for you, liability can become a confusing issue. Accident victims are sometimes unsure whether to pursue compensation from the driver, the rideshare company or both. If you suffered serious injuries in a New Orleans rideshare accident, a personal injury lawyer can help. Your lawyer will pursue compensation for your damages on your behalf.

A rideshare experience should never result in life-changing harm. The following common causes of Uber or Lyft rideshare accidents involve driver negligence:

1. Drunk Driving

While strict laws and rideshare policies warn of the consequences, drunk driving remains a serious issue. Many New Orleans residents and visitors rely on rideshare services to return home or to a hotel safely after a night of drinking. Most rideshare users never anticipate their driver is drunk and too impaired to drive.

2. Distracted Driving

A rideshare driver works from an app, such as Uber or Lyft. The information they need appears on their screen, creating distractions during your trip. Other screens that may cause distractions are navigational devices or stereo equipment.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are three main types of distraction:

• Visual: takes your eyes off the road

• Manual: takes your hands off the wheel

• Cognitive: takes your mind off driving

The CDC adds that texting involves all three types of distraction. If your Uber or Lyft driver concentrated more on their phone than on the wheel, contact a New Orleans lawyer as soon as possible.

3. Aggressive Driving

Time is money when it comes to rideshare services. The more passengers and trips a day, the more money for the drivers. Rideshare drivers work as independent contractors. As such, drivers work with little oversight from the company’s for whom they work.

The ability to take risks behind the wheel is sometimes too tempting for rideshare drivers. A driver may choose to speed or to otherwise drive aggressively in New Orleans traffic.

Aggressive driving can include other dangerous actions in addition to speeding, such as:

• Purposely tailgating

• Changing lanes without signaling

• Purposely cutting off another driver

This type of driving can escalate to road rage. Throwing objects at other drivers or purposely running them off the road can result in tragedy. If your rideshare experience turned tragic due to your driver’s reckless behavior, contact us. Alvendia Kelly & Demarest Law Firm can assist you with your rideshare personal injury claim and lawsuit.

Your Rideshare Damages and Possible Compensation

Each rideshare accident is different and there is no way to predict the outcome of your case. At Alvendia Kelly & Demarest, we typically fight for compensation regarding the following types of damages:

• Medical costs

• Ongoing medical expenses

• Lost wages

• Loss of future earning capacity if injuries result in permanent disability

• Pain and suffering

To pursue compensation on your behalf, we must prove the driver’s actions were negligent. Providing us with information and evidence relating to your accident can help us build a strong case for compensation.

A lawyer from our team will negotiate with the responsible driver’s insurance company for a fair settlement. It is best that you do not speak with them alone as they may pressure you to accept less than you deserve.

Insurance Company Tactics

The time following a serious crash can leave accident victims vulnerable to making bad decisions. Accepting a settlement without an attorney present is an example of one such bad decision.

What an insurance company may not tell you is that by accepting a settlement, you close your claim. There is no do-over or second chance if you accept a settlement.

While compensation is never promised nor is it guaranteed, it is worth pursuing. Let a lawyer from Alvendia, Kelly,  & Demarest Law Firm get to work on your rideshare case by contacting their New Orleans legal team without delay.

Why Rideshare Cases are Complex

The unique business model of rideshare companies can make personal injury lawsuits against them complicated. Determining whose insurance — the driver’s, the company’s, or both — pays for your damages is best left to a personal injury lawyer.

It is possible that a loved one may not survive their rideshare accident injuries. If you lost a loved one due to a dangerous Uber or Lyft driver, seek help from Alvendia, Kelly, & Demarest today.

Our team takes great pride in the quality customer service we provide our clients. We understand that an unexpected death is extremely upsetting and life-changing for families. This is why we treat everyone with care and compassion during this tragic time.

Your grief or personal injuries leave you no time to pursue a legal case alone. From countless phone calls to mountains of paperwork, your lawyer can handle the details of your case.

Negotiating with an insurance company alone places you at risk for receiving limited or no funds. At Alvendia, Kelly, & Demarest, we understand how financially challenging your injuries are as you struggle to heal, grieve, and miss work as a result.

Uber and Lyft, along with their drivers, want to protect their best interests. A lawyer from our team can help protect yours.

Contact Alvendia, Kelly, & Demarest Now

Time passes quickly when you suffer serious injuries or a tragic loss. A free case consultation does not take a lot of your time. Our easy online process can help you contact us quickly. You can also contact us by calling (504) 200-0000.

In addition to helping victims of car accidents, our experienced attorneys at AKD Lawyers are well-versed in dealing with various types of personal injury cases. If you have been involved in a train accident, or if you have been injured due to the negligence of ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft, we are here to help.

We understand the complexities that can arise in these types of cases, especially when it comes to dealing with insurance companies. Neck injuries are common in car crashes, and our team has the expertise to handle cases involving car crash neck injuries. In these challenging times, we are also committed to providing support to those affected by COVID-19 and are actively involved in community aid programs to help those in need.

A free case consultation provides you with the opportunity to learn more about your legal options. It is an important first step toward pursuing compensation from the driver responsible for your harm.

We aggressively fight for the compensation our clients deserve. Protect your right to pursue compensation with a civil case and seek the legal help you need by contacting Alvendia, Kelly, and Demarest today.