What Compensation Is Available After an Uber or Lyft Accident?

If you get injured in a car accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver, whether you were a passenger or someone in a different vehicle, you may be eligible for a financial settlement to pay for your losses. Understanding what compensation is available can help you negotiate for a fair amount from an insurance provider. Case values can change drastically based on the circumstances.

What Is the Average Uber or Lyft Accident Settlement? 

There is no such thing as an average Uber or Lyft settlement, as every case is unique. The amount that a victim recovers will depend on the facts of the case, such as the severity of the victim’s injuries. Some rideshare accident settlements are around $10,000 or less, while other victims receive seven figures for catastrophic injuries or deaths. 

You should always consult with a rideshare accident attorney in Los Angeles about the value of your individual case before accepting a settlement rather than basing your case value on the assumption of an “average” amount. An attorney will carefully analyze all of your losses to assign accurate amounts in available damages or compensation.

Compensatory Damages

The two main categories of compensation in a Los Angeles car accident lawsuit are compensatory and punitive. Compensatory damages cover the economic and non-economic losses suffered by the victim. These damages are awarded to make the victim whole again, or restore the victim to his or her pre-accident state as much as possible.

Economic damages are the financial or monetary losses caused by the Uber or Lyft accident, such as:

• Past and future medical treatments
• Property damage repairs
• Lost wages and income
• Lost capacity to earn in the future
• Disability accommodations
• Out-of-pocket costs

Non-economic damages are intangible losses, such as physical pain, emotional suffering, distress, lost quality of life, post-traumatic stress disorder, permanent disability or disfigurement, and loss of consortium.

Punitive Damages

In California, punitive damages are sometimes awarded in cases where a judge deems it appropriate to punish a defendant for egregious acts of wrongdoing, such as gross negligence, recklessness or criminal acts. If your Uber or Lyft accident involved a drunk driver, for example, you may be eligible for punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages.

How to Calculate Your Uber or Lyft Accident Payout

Economic damages are calculated by adding up the bills and receipts associated with the Uber or Lyft accident. Non-economic damages are subjective, and are therefore more difficult to calculate. A judge or jury may award as much as they seem fit in pain and suffering damages. Oftentimes, the victim’s economic damages are multiplied by a certain number that is representative of the extent of the injuries to calculate non-economic damages.

Case values are influenced by many factors, including the extent of your injuries, your medical costs, how long your injury will take you out of work, your age and health, the number of defendants, and the insurance coverage available. Uber and Lyft both have up to $1 million available in insurance, but the full amount will only be accessible in certain ride periods (when a driver is logged into the app, en route to pick up a passenger or has passengers in the car). The most accurate way to determine the potential value of your rideshare accident case in Los Angeles is by getting legal help from a personal injury attorney. An attorney can add up your economic damages and hire experts to estimate your future losses. Finally, your attorney can present strong evidence with compelling storytelling to maximize the amount awarded to you by an insurance provider, judge or jury.