Minneapolis Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer
Were you recently injured while riding in the back of an Uber or Lyft rideshare vehicle in Minneapolis, Minnesota? Did you recently get into a car accident that involved an Uber or a Lyft? Either way, you may have the right to recover compensation. The experienced Minneapolis Uber & Lyft accident lawyers at Milavetz Law P.A. are here to help you maximize your financial recovery.
- Why You Should Trust Milavetz Law P.A. After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- What causes rideshare accidents in Minneapolis?
- Does Minnesota have laws regulating Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies?
- How do I recover compensation after a rideshare accident in Minneapolis?
- What compensation can be awarded to Uber and Lyft car accident victims in Minneapolis?
- Common Uber and Lyft Accident Injuries
- How long do I have to file a Lyft or Uber accident claim in Minnesota?
- Trusted Minneapolis Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers Fighting To Maximize Your Compensation
Since 1963, we have been paving the way for crash victims and grieving families to recover life-changing compensation in auto accident cases like yours. Through hard work and unwavering dedication to our clients, our award-winning Minnesota trial lawyers have won tens of millions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts.
Don’t give the insurance company an inch when fighting for compensation after your Uber or Lyft car accident. Put our revered and respected law firm in your corner to give you the edge to win. Call our law office in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to set up a free consultation today.
Why You Should Trust Milavetz Law P.A. After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are relatively new. Not only have they transformed the way we think about transportation but also complicated many car accident cases. When an Uber or Lyft is involved in a crash, it can be difficult to know why it happened, who is at fault, and who will be on the hook for the resulting costs.
It doesn’t help that Uber and Lyft have worked hard to ensure that rideshare drivers are classified as contractors, which limits your ability to sue a rideshare company after a collision. Other possibly liable parties—and their insurance companies—will work hard to stand between you and the money you deserve. That is where Minneapolis personal injury lawyers can make a difference.
We have spent decades navigating the ins and outs of complex car accident cases like yours. We have taken on powerful insurance companies, corporations, manufacturers, and other parties—and won big for crash victims across the city. Our well-known reputation as fearless, relentless advocates for our clients can put you in the best possible position to maximize your financial award.
Take time to rest and focus on your road to recovery. We will handle everything else:
- A thorough investigation of your Uber or Lyft rideshare accident
- Determination of fault and liability
- A careful analysis of evidence related to your claim—including rideshare driver communication logs, rideshare app data, witness statements, video recordings, police reports, and medical records
- Consultations with accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, rehabilitation specialists, forensic experts, and others throughout the claims process
- Paving the way to a meaningful settlement offer by being aggressive during negotiations
While we always fight to get our clients the best settlement terms promptly, sometimes insurance companies and negligent parties won’t play ball. As experienced and winning trial attorneys, we are more than ready to litigate your Lyft or Uber accident case at trial, if necessary.
Contact our Minneapolis law office to learn more about our legal team and the benefits of hiring us to handle your Uber or Lyft injury claim.
What causes rideshare accidents in Minneapolis?
While almost anything can cause a rideshare accident, many happen because of an Uber or Lyft driver’s negligence. Some of the leading causes include:
Speeding
Some Uber and Lyft drivers might speed or engage in other reckless driving behaviors to complete rides faster. The more rides they complete during a shift, the more money they can make.
Distracted Driving
Uber and Lyft drivers rely on their phones and GPS throughout their shifts and can be distracted easily while searching for a passenger or chatting with passengers in the vehicle.
Drunk Driving
Rideshare drivers might turn to drugs or alcohol to help them cope with the stresses of the job.
Fatigued Driving
For many Uber and Lyft drivers, the rideshare gig is a second source of income. So, a driver may work a full day at their primary job, then get behind the wheel to drive for Uber. At that point, they might be exhausted, especially if driving at night.
Negligent Vehicle Maintenance
Rideshare drivers don’t drive company vehicles. They transport passengers in their own cars and SUVs. If they don’t take care of their vehicles by performing regular inspections and maintenance, a malfunction could contribute to a wreck.
Illegal Stopping
Rules dictate where Uber and Lyft passengers can be dropped off or picked up. However, a driver might ignore those and block traffic while beginning or ending a ride.
Other factors—including vehicle defects, road defects, limited visibility, bad weather conditions, and road rage—can also contribute to Lyft and Uber accidents in Minneapolis.
Does Minnesota have laws regulating Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies?
Even though the concept of a “rideshare” was introduced a decade ago, the law is still racing to catch up with changes in transportation. Minnesota, like most other states, has limited regulations when it comes to Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies. These mostly regulate who can drive for Uber and Lyft and the type(s) of vehicles that can be used to transport passengers.
Uber and Lyft regulations in Minneapolis, Minnesota, include:
- Drivers must have a valid Minnesota or Wisconsin driver’s license and be at least 25 years old
- Drivers must pass a screening test, including a criminal background check and a driving history review
- Drivers must always have their vehicle registration, insurance, proof of vehicle inspection, and driver profile photo
- Vehicles must be model year 2008 and newer and have at least four doors
Rideshare vehicles must also display two company emblems when the driver is actively seeking passengers or has accepted a ride request. One emblem must be on the front windshield, and the other must be on the rear windshield.
Minnesota also requires all transportation network companies—including rideshare services like Uber and Lyft—to maintain liability insurance in certain situations.
How do I recover compensation after a rideshare accident in Minneapolis?
Getting compensation after a Minneapolis Uber or Lyft accident can be complicated. Here is what you need to know to get the money you deserve.
Insurance Will Be Your Primary Source of Compensation After an Uber Accident
After a car accident involving an Uber or Lyft rideshare vehicle in Minneapolis, you will likely deal with an insurance company. But whose?
Ultimately, that will depend on:
- Whether you were a passenger in the Uber or Lyft or an occupant of another vehicle
- What the rideshare driver’s status was at the time of the accident
- The extent and severity of your injuries
Minnesota law requires Uber and Lyft to maintain liability insurance to cover the costs of accidents when a driver is actively awaiting a ride request in the rideshare app or has accepted a ride request.
When a driver is waiting for a ride request, the rideshare company’s policy must cover $50,000/$100,000 in bodily injury and $30,000 in property damage.
When a driver has accepted a ride request, the rideshare company’s policy must cover at least $1,500,000 “for death, injury, or destruction of property of others.”
When an Uber or Lyft driver isn’t actively working or waiting for a ride request in the app, their individual insurance will be primarily responsible for crash-related damages.
How does Minnesota’s no-fault law apply in Uber accident cases?
Minnesota is a no-fault state when it comes to car insurance. How does that impact Uber and Lyft accident cases in the Twin Cities?
If you are in another vehicle and get into a car accident with an Uber or Lyft, you must first submit a claim to your insurance company for benefits. If you exhaust your benefits, you can then file a claim with the rideshare driver’s insurance company or the rideshare company’s insurance carrier—depending on the driver’s status at the time of the wreck.
If you were a passenger in the Uber or Lyft at the time of the accident, you are covered by the rideshare driver’s personal auto insurance policy and the rideshare company’s insurance benefits.
Of course, at times, someone other than the rideshare driver can be at fault for an accident. This might include a negligent third-party motorist, a bicyclist, a pedestrian, a vehicle manufacturer, or a government agency. In these situations, you could reserve the right to seek compensation from liable parties and/or their insurance providers.
Can I sue Uber or Lyft after a rideshare accident?
Generally speaking, no. Uber and Lyft drivers are independent contractors. As a result, Uber and Lyft are not liable for accidents their drivers cause. However, you can file a lawsuit against another negligent or otherwise liable third party.
What compensation can be awarded to Uber and Lyft car accident victims in Minneapolis?
Uber and Lyft accident victims can recover two primary types of compensation in Minnesota: economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages help offset the costs and expenses related to a rideshare accident, while noneconomic damages make up for the difficult-to-value suffering you might experience. Our top-rated Minneapolis Lyft and Uber accident attorneys will fight to recover money for your:
- Medical bills
- Therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Nursing assistance
- Property damage
- Lost wages and income
- Funeral and burial expenses if an Uber accident is fatal
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
Punitive damages can potentially be awarded if your Uber accident lawsuit goes to trial. A Minneapolis jury would have to receive convincing evidence demonstrating that the defendant acted intentionally or displayed a conscious disregard for your health and safety.
Our rideshare accident attorneys in Minneapolis will work hard to ensure that you are awarded the compensation entitled to you under Minnesota state law.
Common Uber and Lyft Accident Injuries
Whether you are in the Uber, in another vehicle, or a bystander on the side of the road, rideshare accidents in the Twin Cities can leave victims struggling with severe, debilitating injuries. At Milavetz Law P.A., we will help you fight to get compensation for all your Lyft and Uber accident injuries, including:
- Cuts and lacerations
- Soft tissue damage
- Whiplash
- Back injury
- Neck injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury
- Eye injury
- Facial injury
- Nerve damage
- Burns
- Amputation
- Catastrophic injury
- Wrongful death of a family member
Promptly get to the closest hospital near you after your rideshare accident. Immediate medical attention can help limit the likelihood of complications and provide considerable support for a future claim for damages. Once you have sought care, contact our Minneapolis car accident lawyers to discuss the specifics of your case.
How long do I have to file a Lyft or Uber accident claim in Minnesota?
You typically have six years to file a lawsuit after you are injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For cases involving the wrongful death of a family member because of a fatal rideshare accident, you have two years to seek compensation.
The statute of limitations is a hard-and-fast rule with very few exceptions. Once time runs out, you lose the opportunity to recover compensation for the injuries and suffering you have endured.
Trusted Minneapolis Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers Fighting To Maximize Your Compensation
You don’t have to determine what caused your Uber accident, who is at fault, or how to recover compensation on your own. You can focus on your recovery and figuring out a path forward. Let our Minneapolis Uber and Lyft accident lawyers take on the insurance companies and fight to get you every cent you deserve.
Benefit from a legal team with decades of experience that has won tens of millions of dollars on behalf of crash victims and families in the Twin Cities and across the state of Minnesota. Contact Milavetz Law P.A., and set up your free, confidential case evaluation today. A member of our team is standing by to help—24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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