Colorado Springs Uber & Lyft Rideshare Accident Lawyers

Our Rideshare Accident Attorneys at Heuser & Heuser, LLP Help Uber & Lyft Rideshare Accident Victims in Colorado Springs and Throughout Southern Colorado

Popular ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft rides have brought Southern Colorado commuters the convenient ability to arrange quick pick up and drop off, helping them travel to wherever they need to go while also preventing individuals who are under the influence from making the dangerous and careless decision to drive. Unfortunately, there has also been a great rise in rideshare accidents and injuries in recent years due to the popularity of these services and the reckless driving behaviors of many rideshare drivers.

Rideshare vehicles have added an increased quantity of vehicles on the roads, leading to an increased chance of accidents. Since Uber and Lyft spend a lot of time close to curbsides for pickups and drop-offs, pedestrians in those areas are also at higher risk for being hit.

If you were hurt in a rideshare vehicle accident, our team of Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyers at Heuser & Heuser, LLP will manage your case with great care, compassion, and skill to pursue the compensation you need for medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses from the Uber or Lyft car accident.

Fill out our contact form or call us at (719) 520-9909(719) 520-9909 today to schedule your free consultation and find out how much your rideshare accident case is worth. We are committed to providing the people of Southern Colorado tailored legal guidance and peace of mind on the road to recovery.

Key Takeaways:

• Heuser & Heuser, LLP helps rideshare accident victims seek compensation for their injuries from an accident involving an Uber driver or a Lyft driver in Colorado Springs or throughout Southern Colorado
• The details surrounding your Southern Colorado rideshare accident can affect which insurance policies may apply to your case and your potential compensation, so it is wise to quickly seek the guidance of a knowledgeable rideshare accident lawyer
• The rideshare accident attorneys at Heuser & Heuser, LLP can work on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay for legal services if the firm wins compensation for you
• Heuser & Heuser, LLP offers free initial consultations for Uber and Lyft rideshare accidents in Southern Colorado — so it is in your interest to request a free case evaluation today to determine the right next steps for your rideshare accident case

Types of Rideshare Accidents in Colorado Springs

Rideshare accidents in Southern Colorado can happen in a variety of different ways, and the details and order of events can affect the strength of your claim. Common rideshare accident scenarios in Colorado Springs include the following:

• Vehicle Collisions: Rideshare vehicles often collide with other cars or trucks. These accidents can occur due to distracted driving, where the driver focuses on the app or GPS instead of the road.
• Pedestrian and Cyclist Accidents: Inattentive rideshare drivers may strike pedestrians or cyclists, especially in busy urban areas. These incidents often occur due to drivers not paying attention to their surroundings.
• Solo Vehicle Crashes: Rideshare drivers sometimes crash without involving other vehicles. Fatigue, inadequate training, or poor vehicle maintenance can lead to these accidents.
• Distracted Driving Incidents: Rideshare drivers frequently use mobile apps to manage fares, which can distract them from driving safely. This distraction increases the risk of accidents.
• Fatigue-Related Accidents: Many rideshare drivers work long hours or multiple jobs, leading to fatigue. Tired drivers have slower reaction times, increasing the likelihood of crashes.
• Reckless Driving and Speeding: To maximize their earnings, some rideshare drivers may speed or drive recklessly in an effort to complete more rides. This behavior can lead to dangerous situations and accidents.

Why Negligence Matters in an Uber or Lyft Accident

Identifying the negligent party in any accident is critical to the success of a personal injury claim, which is what accident victims file to pursue damages for their losses. In Colorado, victims have the right to hold negligent parties accountable for paying those losses, usually through their (each negligent party’s) insurance coverage.

Multiple Liable Parties May Be Involved in Colorado Springs Rideshare Accident Claims

However, the claim itself does not guarantee an Uber or Lyft car accident settlement. Victims only collect if they prove the at-fault party’s negligence caused the accident. To do that, they must first be certain to file against the right party or parties. If they do not, they will not be able to find and present the evidence required to prove the claim.

While a victim may think they know who caused the accident, they could very well be wrong. Sometimes, the party that appears negligent actually is not.

Making the correct identification is key and requires a thorough investigation of the accident. The Colorado rideshare accident attorneys at Heuser & Heuser, LLP have the experience and background you need to carry out that investigation and pursue the compensation you need from the negligent party or parties.

How To Prove Negligence in Uber and Lyft Accidents in Southern Colorado

As with any Colorado personal injury case, rideshare accident victims must prove each of the four elements of negligence to hold the at-fault party accountable. These elements include:

• Duty of Care: The liable party owed victims a duty of care — a legal obligation to preserve their safety. For example, drivers owe others on the road a duty to practice safe driving behaviors and avoid unsafe behaviors.
• Duty Breach: When a party fails to uphold their duty of care, they have breached this duty. Victims must show how the at-fault party committed this breach. Drivers who speed, text and drive, or drive while intoxicated have all breached their duty of care.
• Causation: For the at-fault party to be found liable, the breach of duty must have caused the accident. For example, drunk drivers can be found civilly liable for an accident if victims prove that the driver’s intoxication — and not something else, like a broken traffic signal — caused the accident.
• Damages: As the victim, you must prove that the accident caused you measurable damages, whether physically, financially, emotionally, or “all of the above.”

Our attorneys at Heuser & Heuser, LLP are deeply experienced in proving these elements are present for accident victims throughout Southern Colorado. We can assess the details of your case during a free case evaluation.

How Identifying Negligence in a Rideshare Accident Can Be Tricky

Determining and then proving fault in any motor vehicle accident can be complicated, but there are additional complexities for an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare accident. For one thing, there are a variety of potentially liable parties. For another, there are many different insurance considerations.

Possible Negligent Parties in a Rideshare Accident

You can trust our Uber or Lyft accident lawyers at Heuser & Heuser, LLP in Colorado Springs to dig deep into the details of your accident and ultimately discover the at-fault party or parties. For a rideshare accident, possible negligent parties include (among other possibilities):

• The Rideshare Driver: Like any other vehicle operators, an Uber or Lyft driver can make mistakes, break traffic laws, break safe-driving laws, or otherwise compromise others’ safety.
• Another Driver: Drivers of other vehicles may make similar errors or break laws that put the rideshare driver and passengers in danger.
• An Unruly Passenger: Though not especially common, a rideshare passenger (or passenger in another vehicle) can become aggressive or violent, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
• The Rideshare Company: Companies have to take unsafe drivers off the road and do background checks before taking drivers on as independent contractors.
• Government Entities: Street lighting, traffic signals, and roadway conditions must all be maintained by designated government offices. When poor maintenance leads to an accident, the assigned government office may be liable.
• Vehicle or Part Manufacturers: Drivers, passengers, and pedestrians rely on vehicle and part manufacturers to produce safe, operational vehicles, vehicle parts, and systems. Defective parts — and, more specifically, their manufacturers — are culpable in some accident scenarios.
• Vehicle inspectors or mechanics: When cars are brought in for inspection or maintenance, the individuals or organizations performing those tasks are responsible for making repairs and only returning safe vehicles on the roads.

It is probably no surprise that no party wants to be identified as the one responsible for an accident and paying the victim’s compensation. Rideshare companies have gone to great lengths to protect themselves from liability by hiring drivers as independent contractors rather than as “employees.”

No matter the case, there will be finger-pointing among potential parties trying to protect themselves from liability. As a victim, you need a highly-skilled team of rideshare accident attorneys handling your case and preventing those at fault from avoiding accountability.

How Rideshare Insurance Structures Factor into Accident Cases Involving Uber and Lyft Drivers

Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft operate under similar insurance structures, and these structures matter to your case. If the rideshare service is at fault for your accident, the timing of your accident affects which insurance is responsible for paying your compensation.

When the Rideshare Driver’s Personal Insurance Applies

All rideshare drivers must have personal car insurance policies. When not active on the app, drivers are covered by their personal policies.

When Third-Party Liability Insurance Coverage May Apply to Supplement the Rideshare Driver’s Personal Insurance

For accidents occurring when the app is activated and drivers are awaiting a ride request, the rideshare company typically offers third-party liability coverage if the driver’s personal policy does not apply in these amounts:

• $50,000 for bodily injury per person
• $100,000 for bodily injury per accident
• $25,000 for property damage per accident

When Rideshare Company Insurance Coverage Applies

For accidents occurring when the app is activated and drivers are en route to pick up a fare or when they have passengers in the vehicle and are en route to a destination, the rideshare company typically provides coverage in these amounts:

• $1 million for third-party liability
• Uninsured motorist insurance for bodily injury
• “Contingent” collision coverage: When drivers carry collision coverage through their personal policies, rideshare companies typically provide coverage for the cash value of the car minus a $2,500 deductible

Our firm has Lyft accident attorneys and Uber accident attorneys well-versed in these and other rideshare companies’ insurance practices. You can count on our team to identify what combination of the driver’s insurance policy, third-party liability coverage, or rideshare insurance coverage may apply in your case. We will guide you through the process and hold the appropriate companies responsible for making you whole following an Uber or Lyft accident.

When Government Entities Hold Fault in a Colorado Rideshare Accident

If a government entity is responsible for your rideshare accident, the procedure for filing your claim involves steps specific to filing against the government. And those steps must be taken swiftly. You must submit a written notice to the appropriate governmental entity within 182 days of your injury. You must notify the correct government entity of your claim within the required timeframe; otherwise, you cannot pursue a personal injury lawsuit.

Rideshare Accident Claims against Government Entities Must Meet CGIA Requirements

For a claim to be successful, it must meet requirements established in the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (CGIA). Collecting a settlement from the government is not easy, especially when you act on your own behalf. Even a minor error in filling out forms or providing information can cost you your settlement. If you do not know how to frame your situation properly, your case may be disqualified.

Whether your case is against the Uber or Lyft driver, another driver, a government office, or someone else, put yourself in the right position to pursue the compensation you need by partnering with Heuser & Heuser, LLP.

We Make It Easy to Pursue Compensation After a Southern Colorado Rideshare Accident

You don’t even have to leave the couch. Help is available with just a simple phone call to us at (719) 520-9909(719) 520-9909. You can get started today!

You Need Compensation

It’s not fair for you to have to pay for your accident-related expenses. If someone else caused your accident, you need compensation!

Request a Free Case Review

We will review your case in a free initial consultation, giving you our professional guidance on how to move forward.

How A Colorado Rideshare Accident Lawyer Will Investigate and Build Your Case

A wise plan of action is to partner with Heuser & Heuser, LLP as soon as possible after your accident. With fast access, our team can investigate the accident and build your case while evidence is still available. Victims, unlike our team of Uber accident lawyers, rarely have the time, resources, or experience needed to carry out an investigation. And since accidents often produce serious injuries, victims need to put all their energy into recovery.

While you focus on healing and adjusting to the consequences of your accident, your attorney will peel back the layers of your accident to identify the negligent party and find the evidence to prove their negligence.

Your Uber accident lawyer will:

• Consult with accident reconstructionists whose knowledge in physics, engineering, accident forensics, and other relevant areas will help to demonstrate the events leading to your accident.
• Speak with accident witnesses. These interviews are more productive when witnesses’ memories are still fresh, which is one reason promptly seeking legal representation is in your best interests.
• Collect traffic, security, or dashboard camera footage before it is erased or lost.
• Gather physical evidence from the accident scene, including photos of the scene documenting any details with potential relevance to your accident
• Seek input from medical professionals regarding the causes and extent of your injuries, and your prognosis.
• Review the rideshare driver’s driving record and the rideshare vehicle’s inspection history. These can be important factors involving the multiple parties in a rideshare case.
• Determine whether the rideshare company performed proper driver background checks and worked to uphold safety standards.

Trust the Lyft accident attorneys — or Uber accident attorneys — from our team at Heuser & Heuser, LLP to identify and explore any additional sources of evidence towards proving negligence and supporting your injury claim.

Powerful Negotiation and Representation for Colorado Springs Rideshare Accident Claims

Even after identifying and building a strong case against the at-fault party, it takes more to collect a fair settlement. You need a powerful, highly skilled negotiator who can take on the strategic insurance companies on your behalf.

Although insurance companies play an important and valid role in compensating victims, the insurance companies are looking to minimize payouts to support their profits, and they know how to use intimidation and other tactics to strong-arm or even trick victims into accepting far less compensation than they need.

For example, if you speak to the at-fault party’s insurance company:

• They may find ways to use your words against you, spinning them as admissions of fault.
• They may frighten you into believing you will end up with nothing if you do not accept their offer.
• They may turn on the charm, convincing you of their sympathy while claiming their lowball offer is an act of generosity.

Colorado’s fault laws provide further incentive for insurance companies to put the blame on you.

Modified Comparative Fault Rules in Colorado Can Threaten Your Potential Compensation for a Rideshare Accident Injury

Colorado’s modified comparative fault laws allow victims to pursue a claim against negligent parties if the victims hold less than 50% of the blame for the accident causing their injuries. If victims do not meet this standard, they cannot file a claim. This can harm your rideshare injury case in two types of scenarios:

• If you are less than 50% at fault but still carry some fault, the amount you may be able to collect is reduced by your share of fault.
• If you were 50% or more at fault, then you would not be eligible for compensation.

This means that a victim found to be 20% responsible for an accident could be eligible for only 80% of the determined value of their settlement (reduced by 20%).

It also means insurance companies pay out less when they successfully blame victims more. Regrettably, they are good at achieving this goal. Our attorneys at Heuser & Heuser, LLP are good at anticipating and countering their efforts.

If Your Rideshare Accident Case Goes to Trial

Usually, personal injury cases are settled out of court. This process involves several steps:

• After evaluating your case, your attorney will send the at-fault party’s insurance company a settlement demand for an amount compensating you for your losses and covering your accident-incurred needs.
• The insurance party will probably refuse the demand and come back with a lower counteroffer.
• Your Lyft or Uber accident attorney will continue with the back-and-forth offers until both sides agree to a fair settlement.
• If the at-fault party refuses to engage in reasonable negotiations or make a just offer, you may need to take your case to a judge and jury. Your lawyer will present you with all options and possible resolutions, helping you make the right decision.

Should you decide to go to trial, Heuser & Heuser, LLP will provide you with tireless, high-quality representation at each proceeding.

Determining a Rideshare Accident Settlement Amount

Calculating a fair settlement amount requires experience, attention to detail, research, and consideration of specific accident-related factors. Victims can easily underestimate the value of their case, overlooking elements or failing to recognize future needs. Trust an experienced Uber and Lyft accident lawyer to assess your case with precision.

How Our Uber and Lyft Accident Drivers Calculate an Appropriate Value for a Southern Colorado Rideshare Case

To determine a settlement demand, your attorney will tabulate economic losses and costs and put a dollar amount on non-economic losses, including the following:

Economic Losses from Colorado Rideshare Accidents

• Medical bills: We refer to your previous medical treatment expenses and other medical documentation, also speaking with your doctors about your future care needs and costs to properly account for future expenses
• Personal property damaged or destroyed in the accident, like luggage or electronic devices
• Lost income and future loss of earnings and benefits if you cannot return to work
• Other accident-related costs: You may need to pay to have others take care of responsibilities you can no longer fulfill, such as household duties or childcare

Non-economic Losses from Colorado Ridesharing Accidents

• The extent of your physical pain
• Effects of scarring and disfigurement
• Your emotional and psychological suffering
• Losses to your quality of life

There is no cap on what you can collect for economic damages like medical expenses, but there are caps on the amount allowed for non-economic damages. Those amounts may vary depending on who the claim is against. Your ridesharing accident lawyer at Heuser & Heuser, LLP can guide you to seek maximum compensation under the circumstances applicable to your unique case.

When to Contact With a Colorado Springs Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Connect with a Lyft accident attorney or an Uber accident attorney as soon as possible following your accident. Not only can this give your lawyer fast access to your case and evidence, but it also works on your behalf to file your claim ahead of Colorado’s statute of limitations — the legal deadline.

For Colorado car accident victims, this deadline is three years from the date of the accident. If your loved one was a pedestrian killed in a rideshare accident, you have two years from the date of their death to file a wrongful death claim. This two-year wrongful death statute of limitations applies to vehicular homicide and fatal hit-and-run accident claims.

We Make Tough Times Easier for You Following a Colorado Springs Rideshare Accident

Recovering from an Uber or Lyft accident takes time:

• Time to heal physically and emotionally
• Time away from work and earning income

If the injuries you sustained are especially severe, that recovery may never be complete, and you could face a lifetime of medical care costs and permanent income loss, along with the emotional distress that follows these losses.

Getting through each day is tough enough. Finding your way through an injury claim and a possible lawsuit is even tougher.

It is important for you to put your time and energy into your recovery. Let the Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyers from Heuser & Heuser, LLP handle your case. Our years of experience, extensive resources, and comprehensive knowledge of Colorado’s laws will work to make this tough time a little easier for you.

We fight to seek recovery of your health and your losses, helping you look toward a secure financial future. We are here for you now — reach out today.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Heuser & Heuser, LLP to Discuss Your Rideshare Accident

If you have suffered a rideshare accident in Colorado Springs or the surrounding area, a Southern Colorado rideshare accident lawyer at Heuser & Heuser, LLP can guide you to pursue compensation. Our law firm will evaluate your case for free, and we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay us if we win money for you in your case.

Our ridesharing accident attorneys can provide you legal representation while you focus on your life and your physical recovery. We know how to avoid the serious pitfalls that can harm your Uber or Lyft accident case. We pursue justice for injury victims and give you peace of mind while we seek the money you need for your losses and your recovery.

Call us at (719) 520-9909(719) 520-9909 or fill out our contact form to schedule your free consultation so we can assess your case and begin your path to recovery and justice. It’s just that easy.

Southern Colorado Locals Committed to Providing You Peace of Mind on Your Road to Recovery