Rideshare vehicles and drivers have become popular alternatives for tourists, visitors, and residents of the Tampa area to get around quickly and conveniently. Unfortunately, rideshares are not immune to accidents. There are many situations in which a passenger or another victim may suffer injuries and damages in a rideshare collision.
If you find yourself a victim of a rideshare accident in Tampa, you could face painful injuries, costly damages, and other challenges that you may not know how to approach.
Rideshare accidents, in particular, are unlike other motor vehicle accidents because of the unique relationship between a driver and a passenger. Additionally, in some cases, rideshare accident insurance from the company contracting the driver for their services may apply to your claim.
The difficulties that follow a rideshare accident can cause obstacles or delays in getting the compensation you may be eligible for under the law. A Tampa rideshare accident attorney can help you determine what compensation is available and who may be responsible for your damages.
Why Choose Holliday Karatinos Law Firm After a Rideshare Accident in Tampa?
At Holliday Karatinos Law Firm, we work daily to protect and advocate for clients who suffer harm from negligent parties. We understand the challenges that a rideshare accident can present for you. We can fight for your rights, whether against a rideshare driver, the rideshare company, or another party at fault.
With office locations conveniently located in and near the Tampa area, we are just minutes from you, with our offices in Lutz, Inverness, Brooksville, and Spring Hill. A member of our team at Holliday Karatinos Law Firm is available to take your call. Contact us by phone or online to schedule your free case consultation about your rideshare accident and what, if any, compensation may be available to you under the law.
The Compensation Possible After a Rideshare Accident
The damages you suffer after a rideshare accident can be burdensome. Many victims of rideshare collisions do not have the resources or financial support to navigate the aftermath without considering who will ultimately pay for these losses.
The compensation you could recover depends on who you can hold responsible for the collision and the insurance coverage they purchased.
Rideshare accident damages can include both economic and non-economic losses. While financial losses may be the most obvious and straightforward to prove in a claim or case, non-economic losses can be equally important and, in some cases, can involve significant amounts of compensation available to a victim.
The damages you could seek as a victim of a rideshare accident include:
- Medical costs
- Loss of income
- Property losses or damage
- Pain and suffering
- Future losses that you may incur relating to injuries
Liability in a Tampa Rideshare Accident
The actions and events leading up to a rideshare collision can affect who is at fault for the crash and, in turn, liable. Additionally, insurance coverage from a rideshare company will only apply in certain scenarios.
A Tampa rideshare accident lawyer can help you sort out the potentially responsible parties, and what insurance coverage and limitations are applicable in your case to ensure you file a claim with the appropriate parties and seek the maximum compensation available to you under the law.
- If the app is off or the driver is offline at the time of the crash, the rideshare driver’s personal vehicle liability policy is likely to apply to the accident.
- If the app is on and the driver is available for ride requests, the rideshare company’s liability policy may apply as a third-party insurer.
- If the rideshare driver is on the way to drop off or pick up a passenger, the liability insurance under the rideshare company is likely to apply when an accident occurs.
Risk of a Rideshare Accident in Tampa and Surrounding Areas
As the third most populous area in Florida, Tampa, and the surrounding communities are home to nearly 400,000 residents. As a central Florida location with popular attractions, beautiful beaches, and near hotspots, Tampa welcomes many visitors and tourists daily. Rideshares are a popular mode of transportation that is increasing in use and availability. With more and more people choosing to rideshare for their transportation needs, the risk of an accident increases.
A rideshare accident can happen anywhere, but areas of high traffic, congestion, or confusing transitions on roads or interstates can increase the risk of a crash in Tampa. The I-4 corridor section in and out of Tampa and the I-275 or I-75 along the outskirts of the area can present dangerous situations and could lead to a rideshare crash. More local throughways, such as U.S. 41, State Road 597, U.S. 19, or U.S. 92, can also present a risk of a rideshare accident.
Whether you are in a collision while stopped at a traffic light, in a parking lot, on an interstate, or the local roads of the community, you may still have a claim for losses relating to your injuries and the accident.
Most Common Types of Rideshare Accidents
The cause of rideshare accidents can vary from one situation to another. While in some cases, it is the actions of the rideshare driver that leads to the accident and subsequently your injuries, in other cases, it may be another driver or another party that could be fully or partly to blame for your losses.
Additionally, there are circumstances where the crash victim could be a passenger of a rideshare company, an occupant of another vehicle, or a pedestrian or bystander harmed when a collision occurs. At the root of any rideshare accident is negligence. When negligence leads to the harm of an innocent victim, that victim has a right under the law to pursue money through a claim or case to compensate them for their injuries and any other damages that occur.
Examples of negligence that could lead to a rideshare crash include:
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Reckless driving
- Going beyond the speed limit
- Driving while distracted
- Violating traffic laws
What Injuries Can Occur to a Victim of a Rideshare Accident?
As a rideshare victim, you could be susceptible to many injuries, from minor scrapes and bruises to life-altering disabilities that you may not heal from. Whatever the extent or severity of your injury, it will impact your life and can be the basis of an insurance claim or case for damages against the parties responsible.
Motor vehicle accidents, such as in a rideshare crash, can cause unexpected injuries you may not even realize you have in the moments following the collision. To get a better picture of your health and physical condition after a crash, you should seek immediate medical attention and pay close attention to any pain or discomfort you could develop in the days and weeks after the crash.
Injuries from a rideshare accident do not just affect your immediate health but can also create challenges for you as you try to heal and move forward after the crash. Your injuries, the healthcare your injuries require, and the effect the injuries have on your ability to work and live your life can influence the damages in a rideshare case.
Common rideshare accident injuries may include:
- Neck or head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns
- Lacerations
- Torn ligaments, muscles, or tendons
- Internal injuries
- Impairment to vision or hearing
- Disfigurement or permanent scarring
How Can Holliday Karatinos Law Firm Help You With a Rideshare Accident Claim?
You may at first want to try to handle a rideshare accident claim on your own, but you should not. Rideshare accidents give rise to many possible legal issues and questions which can affect your eligibility for compensation and who is liable for paying that compensation. Additionally, the aftermath of a rideshare accident is full of stress and competing interests vying to speak with you and try to lessen their responsibility to you in any way they can.
Hiring an attorney at the outset of a rideshare accident claim can help you avoid potential drawbacks and complications to your case. Your lawyer and their team will work to investigate and prepare your claim to seek a suitable possible outcome for you.
Furthermore, a lawyer handling your claim will take all of the everyday aspects of the case, from manning phone calls and emails from insurance companies to working with medical collectors and other interested parties awaiting payment for services. Your attorney’s office will alleviate much of the burden and stress of an insurance claim and potential lawsuit.
What Should You Do Following a Tampa Rideshare Crash?
It can be hard to know the necessary steps following a crash with a rideshare driver or if you are a passenger in a rideshare vehicle.
You can protect yourself if you:
- Get treatment for your injuries and keep up with the treatment plan by your doctors.
- Safely gather and set aside all evidence in your possession for review by a lawyer.
- Avoid talking to others about the accident and your injuries until speaking with an attorney.
- Contact a Tampa rideshare accident lawyer for a free case evaluation.
Should You Talk to the Insurance Company After a Rideshare Crash if You Are a Victim?
Insurance companies can move fast after a rideshare accident. You may find a voicemail or message from an insurance representative soon after a rideshare crash. Refrain from speaking with the rideshare driver’s insurance or the rideshare company’s insurance. The insurance representatives will not be trying to help you, only to find ways to reduce compensation to you or find a way for them to avoid liability.
When you hire a rideshare accident lawyer, they will step in as your legal representation and take over communicating with these parties and other interested individuals regarding your case. They can handle the communications with parties related to the case in a manner that does not interfere or is not detrimental to you, seeking compensation for your damages.
How Much Time Do You Have to File a Claim for Your Losses Following a Rideshare Accident?
Regarding rideshare or motor vehicle accidents, you should take action immediately after the crash. This is because the evidence, witness testimony, and memories are fresh early in the process and can help you more efficiently and successfully file a claim for your losses and damages.
It takes time to prepare for a ride-sharing collision claim, and the sooner you hire an attorney to help you with your case, the sooner they can get to work to protect and fight for your right to compensation. In each jurisdiction, victims must abide by the statute of limitations that applies to the type of case they seek damages.
In Florida, the statute of limitations for motor vehicle accident injuries and damages is four years from the date of the crash. If a victim does not file a lawsuit for damages in this window, the court may bar them from seeking compensation in the future.
If You Are a Victim of a Rideshare Crash, Call Holliday Karatinos Law Firm for a Free Consultation
At Holliday Karatinos Law Firm, our team of legal professionals throughout Tampa awaits your call. We are available to discuss your case and help you determine your rights to compensation following an unexpected Tampa rideshare accident.
We will provide your initial free case consultation. If you are the victim of a rideshare accident, you may face many hurdles and financial pressures following the crash. Our Tampa personal injury attorneys can determine who you can hold liable for the accident and recover your losses.
Call Holliday Karatinos Law Firm at (813) 868-1887 for a free case evaluation.
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