Whether you were a passenger, pedestrian, or driver, knowing how to approach a rideshare accident claim may be less easy than it seems. Our personal injury lawyer in Bellingham can help you with challenging tasks like identifying liable parties, filing a claim, and negotiating a settlement.
Our clients choose Siegfried & Jensen’s rideshare accident lawyer in Bellingham for multiple reasons, the first of which is our law firm’s reputation. Our experience is undeniable. The fact that we have recovered over $1.2 billion on behalf of injured clients indicates that, while we cannot guarantee positive outcomes, we always do our best for our clients.
Unique Features of Rideshare Accidents
One of the most unusual aspects of rideshare accidents is how insurance works in rideshare accidents. More than one insurance policy may be involved. Depending on the circumstances, you may seek compensation through the driver’s personal insurance policy, rideshare-related coverage at different levels, or other applicable policies.
There is also potential for multiple liable parties. This may mean that you are not only considering the role of the rideshare car and its driver, but also other parties that may have contributed to the accident.
Of course, there is also the question of your own circumstances at the time. You may have been a passenger, the driver of another vehicle, or you were struck by a rideshare car as a pedestrian or cyclist. In each instance, different factors may have contributed to your accident, and your lawyer must investigate based on your individual circumstances.
For a free legal consultation with a rideshare accident lawyer serving Bellingham, call (801) 266-0999
Possible Liable Parties Your Bellingham Rideshare Accident Lawyer May Identify
When a rideshare car is involved in an accident, there are several possibilities to consider. For example, they may have caused the accident, contributed to it, or they may not be at fault. You can only claim compensation from liable parties, and per Wash. Rev. Code § 4.22.005, you can claim even if you were mostly at fault. Possible liable parties may include:
- The rideshare driver
- The rideshare company
- Other motorists or pedestrians
- A repair shop
- A component supplier
- A party responsible for a hazardous condition
Investigations help us identify liable parties, and when the rideshare driver is among them, we must also consider whether they were off-duty, on-duty, waiting to be hailed, on their way to collect passengers, or transporting them.
Bellingham Rideshare Accident Lawyer Near Me (801) 266-0999
How Liability Determinations Affect Your Compensation in Washington State
While you can still claim compensation for accident-related damages, even if you are largely at fault, you won’t be able to recover as much in a settlement. The law only expects parties to pay the percentage of damages they caused.
So, if you are 20% to blame for your accident, you may recover 80% of your damages. You remain responsible for 20% of your damages. Washington, unlike many other states, doesn’t have a rule that bars you from recovering damages if you share a certain percentage of fault. Instead, your share of fault reduces any settlement you may receive.
If you have been seriously injured, a few percentage points can significantly reduce the compensation you can recover. Without representation, it may be difficult to defend your position, even if it is completely justifiable. Working for fair apportionment of fault by building the strongest case in your favor that the evidence allows is among the ways a lawyer may help you.
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When the Rideshare Driver is a Liable Party, Various Insurance Policies May Apply
The way insurance works in a rideshare accident can be confusing. Various insurance scenarios may apply. That’s why investigations into the driver’s status may be important to your case. For example:
- The driver is using their car for personal transport. Their own insurance policy applies.
- The driver is logged into the app and waiting to be hailed. The rideshare company’s insurance may apply, but it offers a lower level of coverage.
- The driver has accepted a ride request and is on the way to collect passengers or is transporting them. In these situations, the rideshare company’s policy may apply, and a higher level of coverage is available.
Of course, the rideshare company, as a possible defendant, may be the party that holds the evidence showing the driver’s status. A rideshare accident attorney in Bellingham may send a preservation letter to the rideshare company, requesting it to preserve evidence that may otherwise be destroyed.
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Damages You May Claim After a Rideshare Accident in Bellingham
After a rideshare accident in Bellingham, a claim for damages seeks to address the various forms of financial and personal harm you have suffered. A settlement is intended to compensate you for your losses. Damages you may be eligible to claim may include:
- Medical costs and the cost of future treatments
- Lost wages and earnings
- Reduced earning capacity
- Disability or disfigurement
- Trauma and emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
Apart from financial costs, some of your losses are things you wouldn’t ordinarily allocate a dollar value to, but that are important to you. Because these damages are subjective, they may be more hotly contested than financial damages. Siegfried & Jensen’s Bellingham rideshare accident attorney may be able to present a strong case to support your claim.
How a Rideshare Accident Lawyer May Help
You may not be sure you have a case, or you may believe you have one but don’t know whether it’s worth pursuing. Evaluating your case and identifying your options are the first ways a rideshare accident lawyer may help you. Other ways they may assist you include:
- Investigating your accident and developing a case for compensation
- Evaluating the value of the compensation you may claim
- Identifying liable parties and relevant insurance policies
- Preparing and presenting a claim
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Evaluating settlement offers
- Handling litigation if settlement offers are inadequate
As a person who may still face a lengthy recovery or a need to rebuild your life, all these tasks may seem daunting, especially if you lack legal acumen. An experienced attorney can lift this burden from your shoulders and may help you recover a fair settlement when you might otherwise be inclined to accept whatever is offered.
Reach Out as Soon After Your Rideshare Accident as Possible
At Siegfried & Jensen, we deal with clients in various stages of their journeys. Ideally, they contact us soon after their rideshare accident. Some may delay due to overwhelm or after receiving settlement offers that don’t even cover their financial costs. Others may claim against an accident they’re sure wasn’t really their fault, only to encounter disputes over liability.
As an injured party, we believe that you should not have to cope with unnecessary stress or challenges you don’t know how to counter. Most importantly of all, you should not receive less compensation than the law may allow, given the circumstances of your case. Discuss your situation with our rideshare accident lawyer in Bellingham.
Your first consultation is free. Get a professional opinion on your case. If we choose to work together, you may be assured of professional representation that puts you first.
Call or text (801) 266-0999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form