It is impossible to determine the average Lyft accident settlement, as payouts vary considerably based on the unique circumstances of each specific accident. However, a Salt Lake City Lyft accident lawyer can discuss the details of your rideshare accident, provide an estimate, and help you negotiate a fair settlement.
The Severity of Your Injuries
The most important factor influencing the average Lyft accident settlement value is the type and severity of injuries you have. There is going to be a significant difference if you are in an accident in which you suffer whiplash from a rear-end accident or a T-bone accident impacting the side of the car where you are sitting.
Some of the injuries more likely to increase the value of a settlement include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord damage
- Paralysis
- Chronic pain development
- Internal organ injury
- Disfigurement
- Loss of vision or hearing
In these situations, medical care costs are likely higher, which means your claim’s value will rise. The actual value will depend on how bad your injuries are in each area and how that impacts your life now and into the future. However, your claim could still be worth $10,000 or more even in a minor accident.
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Whether You Will Fully Recover
Along the same lines, you can expect to recover a higher settlement if you have injuries that will not improve over time. Not everyone will suffer these types of injuries, and most people want to recover fully so they can return to their lives. Yet, for some, the damage does not heal, and the outcome is lasting losses for the rest of their lives.
If you have injuries that will not fully heal, this may mean you will need ongoing medical support and healthcare. You may need help from doctors, specialists, and at home if you can no longer complete the activities of daily living. Many victims of serious accidents face months in recovery and therapy, and even then may never recover from the physical pain and limitations.
Consider how this accident and your long-lasting injuries will impact your future. Because of those limitations, you may not be able to work or engage in activities that you like. Many people also face ongoing financial loss because they lose their insurance, ability to save for retirement, and ability to build a career as part of the average Lyft accident settlement.
The Extensiveness of Emotional Trauma
The average Lyft accident settlement could be higher for victims who have serious emotional trauma. The impact of a catastrophic injury or accident can do more than just harm your physical body, as it may also impact your overall well-being and emotional stability. If you have any of the following emotional losses, they could help you build a stronger claim:
- Diagnosed onset of post-traumatic stress disorder
- Onset of severe anxiety that is debilitating
- Onset or worsening of depression
- Worsening of existing mental health disorders
Everything changes when your injuries are severe, including relationships and behaviors. You may find it challenging to get through the day, and this could be due to the impact of physical injuries and limitations. Seek mental health support and document the effect on your daily life.
Your Salt Lake City rideshare accident lawyer will help you demonstrate just how devastating this accident is to you.
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The Cause of the Accident
There are some situations in which a victim may be awarded punitive damages. For example, in some accidents, the court will award punitive damages against the at-fault party for their intentional or highly reckless behavior. Punitive damages, for example, are allowable in some cases under Utah Code Section 78B-8-201.
Your attorney will help you determine when they will apply to your case. Some examples of situations where punitive damages may be applicable include:
- The Lyft driver was intoxicated while operating the vehicle.
- The Lyft driver caused the accident due to aggressive behavior.
- There was an extensive pattern of reckless driving, and Lyft did not remove the driver.
- The actions were intentional.
- There was violence or assault involved in the incident.
It is rare to receive punitive damages in a Lyft accident. Punitive damages are a type of punishment that the court determines it should pursue to dissuade others or the driver from engaging in the same behavior again.
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Your Ability to Document and Prove All of Your Losses
If Lyft, the driver, or a third party is to blame for your losses, they should pay you for them. However, the burden of proving what those losses are is on the shoulders of the victim. That means you, or your Lyft accident attorney, must demonstrate the losses you have clearly.
This is straightforward for most cases with economic damages, like medical bills and missed hours at work. However, it becomes much more complicated when you have non-economic damages like pain and suffering and emotional trauma. With the guidance of a detailed attorney, you can clearly demonstrate your losses and secure a full and fair settlement.
The more evidence you have, the better it can be for securing a settlement from Lyft or other at-fault parties. Do not assume that the insurance company will tell you what they owe you. Instead, work with a Salt Lake City car accident lawyer who will find the evidence to document and detail this incident’s impact on your life.
Siegfried & Jensen Can Help You Win More Than the Average Lyft Accident Settlement
Lyft is not always responsible for accidents caused by its drivers, and the company may not always pay out compensation. With the guidance of Siegfried & Jensen, you can be sure that we’ll use our decades of combined experience and extensive legal knowledge to hold Lyft accountable.
This, in turn, helps protect your claim to the fullest allowable level under the law. Contact a Salt Lake City Lyft accident lawyer today to schedule a free consultation to discuss the average Lyft accident settlement.
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