How Long Does It Take to Settle a Lyft Accident Case? 

You may have a claim against the rideshare company Lyft if you have been injured or suffered property damage in an accident caused by a Lyft driver, or while you were riding as a passenger in a Lyft. However, if you have a Lyft accident claim, you may want to know how long it may take you to settle your case. 

Lyft’s Insurance Coverage

During the early days of the rideshare industry, companies such as Lyft had no insurance coverage in the event their drivers caused or got into an auto accident. However, states have since enacted laws requiring Lyft and other rideshare companies to have insurance coverage. In New Jersey, state law requires rideshare companies to provide certain minimum insurance coverage for their drivers and vehicles. Coverage limits can vary depending on the driver’s status at the time of the accident. Minimum coverage limits required by New Jersey law include:

• If the driver is logged into the Lyft mobile app and is waiting for a ride request: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage and $25,000 per accident of property damage liability coverage.
• The driver has accepted a ride request, is driving to pick up a passenger, or has a passenger in the vehicle: $1.5 million of combined liability coverage, plus $1.5 million in uninsured/underinsured coverage for the Lyft driver and their passengers.

If a Lyft driver is not logged into the mobile app, their personal auto insurance policy applies instead of Lyft’s insurance coverage.

How Long Does a Lyft Accident Case Take?

Unfortunately, no attorney can predict how long it may take to resolve a Lyft accident case. Some cases are resolved in as little as a few months, while some cases can take years to be resolved at trial. While Lyft’s insurance provider must respond to your claim within 40 days, the process of settling your claim will often take months. The insurance company may fight hard to deny or minimize your claim, hoping that any financial stress you may be under will force you to accept whatever money is on the table. 

Factors that can affect the timeline of a Lyft accident case include:

• The severity of the injuries you suffered in the accident
• Whether you are still treating your injuries, as any settlement or trial judgment will need to include compensation for future anticipated expenses and losses
• The amount of compensation you are seeking since insurance companies will fight harder against cases involving substantial compensation
• The number of accident victims
• The number of at-fault parties, including whether motorists other than the Lyft driver were responsible for the accident
• Whether you share any fault for the accident or your injuries
• The strength of your evidence and your legal claim
• The schedule and availability of the court, if your Lyft accident claim ends up being filed as a lawsuit in court

If you and your attorney can reach a settlement with Lyft’s insurance provider, you and your lawyer can expect to receive the settlement check from the insurer within 30 days of finalizing the settlement. 

Contact a Perth Amboy Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Lyft Accident Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a Lyft accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at CourtLaw represent clients injured because of Lyft accidents in Hoboken, New Brunswick, Perth Amboy, East Orange, and throughout New Jersey. Call (732) 442-5900 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 163 Market St., Perth Amboy, NJ 08861, as well as offices in New Brunswick, Roselle, East Orange, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Linden, Newark, Paterson, South Amboy, Trenton.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.