Rideshare services like Lyft have become part of daily life in Springfield, Missouri. Thousands of residents rely on these apps for safe transportation to work, medical appointments, and social events.
But when Lyft drivers cause accidents or other motorists crash into rideshare vehicles, passengers and drivers face serious injuries and complex insurance situations.
These motor vehicle accidents involve multiple insurance policies and corporate legal teams that start working immediately to limit their liability. Lyft maintains different coverage levels depending on whether the driver was waiting for a ride, heading to pick up a passenger, or actively transporting someone.
Understanding which policy applies and how to access the full compensation available requires specific knowledge of Missouri rideshare law.
Our experienced Springfield Lyft accident lawyers have handled rideshare injury cases since these services first arrived in Missouri, and we understand the tactics insurance companies use to minimize payouts.
Our experience with Lyft’s claims process means our Lyft accident attorneys in Springfield know what evidence to preserve, which deadlines matter, and how to maximize your recovery under Missouri law.
What To Do Right After a Lyft Crash in Springfield
The minutes after a rideshare accident are critical for your health and your legal claim. Taking the right steps protects both your physical recovery and your right to compensation.
Call 911 and Get Medical Care
Your safety comes first, always. Call emergency services immediately, even if you think your injuries are minor.
Many serious injuries don’t show symptoms right away. In addition, getting checked by paramedics creates a medical record that connects your injuries to the crash. This documentation becomes crucial evidence later.
Report the Crash in the Lyft App
Open the Lyft app and report the accident as soon as it’s safe to do so. This creates an official record with the company.
Take a screenshot of your ride details and the accident report confirmation. Save these images to your phone’s photo library for your records.
Preserve Evidence and Take Photos
If you can move safely, use your phone to document everything. Take pictures of all vehicle damage, license plates, the accident scene, and any visible injuries.
Try to get a screenshot of the Lyft app showing your driver was actively on a trip. This proves which insurance coverage applies to your case.
Avoid Recorded Statements to Insurers
Insurance adjusters will likely call you within hours or days of the accident. They may ask for a recorded statement about what happened.
You’re not required to give one, and you shouldn’t. These statements are often used to reduce your claim value. Let your attorney handle all insurance communications instead.
Call Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers
The sooner you contact us, the better we can protect your interests. We immediately start preserving evidence that disappears quickly, like traffic camera footage.
We also take over all communications with insurance companies. This removes the stress from your shoulders and prevents you from accidentally saying something that hurts your claim.
Who Pays After a Lyft Accident in Missouri?
Missouri follows an at-fault insurance system. This means whoever caused the accident is responsible for paying damages. In Lyft accidents, determining who pays can be complicated because multiple insurance policies might apply.
Your compensation could come from several sources:
- Lyft’s commercial insurance: Covers accidents during active rides
- The driver’s personal insurance: May apply when the driver is offline
- Third-party driver insurance: If another motorist caused the crash
- Your own coverage: Uninsured or underinsured motorist protection
We investigate all potential sources to maximize your recovery.
How Lyft Insurance Works in Missouri
Lyft provides different levels of insurance coverage depending on what the driver was doing when the accident happened. Understanding these coverage periods is key to determining which policy applies to your case and how much compensation may be available.
Driver Offline
When a Lyft driver isn’t logged into the app, they’re just a regular driver. Their personal auto insurance is the only coverage available.
Most personal policies exclude commercial driving activities. This means coverage might be denied entirely if the driver was between rides.
Driver Online and Waiting for a Ride Request
Once logged into the app and waiting for ride requests, limited Lyft coverage kicks in. This provides limited backup coverage for bodily injury and property damage.
This coverage only applies if the driver’s personal insurance denies the claim. It’s a secondary layer of coverage, helpful but not comprehensive. Â Â Â Â Â
En Route or With a Passenger
When the driver is en route to pick you up or transporting you, Lyft’s commercial insurance coverage applies. This provides substantial coverage for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
This is the coverage that applies to most passenger injury cases.
Can I Sue Lyft, the Driver, or a Third Party?
Lyft classifies its drivers as independent contractors, not employees. This makes suing Lyft directly more challenging, but not impossible.
In most cases, you’ll file a claim against the at-fault driver, and their insurance company handles the payout. If Lyft’s policy applies, the company’s insurer manages your claim.
When another driver causes the crash, you pursue compensation from their insurance company. We identify all responsible parties and pursue every available dollar.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Lyft Crash?
A successful rideshare accident claim can cover both your financial losses and personal suffering. We fight to recover full compensation for all damages you’ve suffered.
Economic damages include:
- Medical expenses: Hospital bills, surgery costs, physical therapy
- Lost income: Wages missed due to injury and recovery time
- Future earnings: Reduced earning capacity from permanent injuries
- Property damage: Personal items damaged in the crash
Non-economic damages cover:
- Pain and suffering: Physical discomfort and limitations
- Emotional distress: Anxiety, depression, and trauma from the accident
- Loss of enjoyment: Inability to participate in activities you once loved
Missouri doesn’t cap most personal injury damages, allowing you to seek full compensation (Damage caps in Missouri), though wrongful death cases may have specific considerations.
How We Prove Fault in a Rideshare Case
Proving fault in a Lyft accident takes more than just witness statements or police reports. These cases involve unique digital evidence that can make or break your claim.
We obtain the driver’s app activity logs, GPS data showing their route and speed, and internal company communications. This technology provides a detailed picture of what happened before, during, and after the crash.
 Once we have the data, we collaborate with accident reconstruction experts who specialize in rideshare cases. They analyze the digital evidence alongside physical evidence to build a compelling case for liability.
What If You Are Partly at Fault in Missouri?
Insurance companies often try to blame accident victims to reduce their payouts. However, Â Â Â Â Â even if you contributed to the accident, you can still recover compensation under Missouri’s comparative fault law.
For example, Â if you were 37% at fault, you’d receive 63% of your total damages. Even at 87% fault, you could still recover 13% of your losses.
How Long Do Lyft Accident Settlements Take?
Settlement timelines vary significantly based on your case’s complexity. Simple cases with clear liability might resolve in a few months.
On the other hand, Â complex cases involving severe injuries, disputed fault, or multiple parties often take longer to resolve.
We work efficiently to resolve your case without sacrificing the compensation you deserve.
Factors affecting the timeline include:
- Injury severity: Serious injuries require more medical documentation
- Liability disputes: Fault arguments slow down negotiations
- Insurance cooperation: Some companies settle faster than others
- Medical treatment: We can’t finalize settlement until you reach maximum recovery
Deadline To File a Lyft Accident Claim in Missouri
Missouri gives you a five-year filing deadline from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit.
While this seems like plenty of time, waiting can seriously hurt your case. Evidence disappears quickly after accidents. Traffic cameras delete footage, witnesses forget details, and physical evidence gets cleaned up or repaired.
Starting your claim immediately allows our Springfield car accident lawyers to preserve crucial evidence while it’s still available. We also begin building your case while the accident is fresh in everyone’s memory.
Cases We Handle Against Lyft and Uber in Springfield
Whether you were a passenger, pedestrian, or another driver, our firm represents anyone injured in rideshare accidents throughout Springfield and across Missouri. We’ve handled nearly every type of Lyft and Uber crash, including:
- Passengers injured by their rideshare driver: Due to speeding, distracted driving, or other negligence
- Passengers hurt by third-party drivers: When another vehicle hits your Lyft
- Pedestrians struck by rideshare vehicles: At crosswalks, sidewalks, or parking lots
- Other motorists hit by Lyft drivers: In rear-end, side-impact, or head-on collisions
- Cyclists injured by rideshare vehicles: In bike lanes or on shared roads
How Our Springfield Rideshare Lawyers Help You
When you hire Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, you get a dedicated team that handles every aspect of your claim. Brothers Paul and John Beck personally oversee each case, ensuring you receive the attention you deserve.
We take the legal burden off your shoulders so you can focus on healing. Here’s what we handle:
Investigation and Evidence:
- Obtain police reports and witness statements
- Secure traffic camera and surveillance footage
- Collect driver app data and GPS records
- Work with accident reconstruction experts
Insurance Communications:
- Handle all calls from insurance adjusters
- Negotiate settlement offers on your behalf
- Fight back against lowball settlement attempts
- Manage all paperwork and legal filings
Medical and Financial Support:
- Help you find appropriate medical treatment
- Calculate the full value of your claim
- Document all current and future damages
- Ensure you don’t accept less than you deserve
FAQ: Springfield Lyft Accident Lawyer
Can I File a Claim Against Both Lyft and Another Driver?
Yes, if multiple parties contributed to your accident, you can pursue compensation from all responsible parties and their insurance companies.
What If My Lyft Driver Was Using Their Personal Vehicle?
Lyft’s insurance still applies based on the driver’s app status, regardless of whether they were driving their own car or a rental vehicle.
How Much Money Can I Get From a Lyft Accident Settlement?
Settlement amounts depend on your specific injuries, medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering, with no predetermined limits in Missouri.
What If the Lyft Driver Doesn’t Have Personal Insurance?
Lyft’s insurance policies are designed to cover gaps in driver coverage, ensuring you have access to compensation even without personal insurance.
Do I Have To Use Lyft’s Preferred Medical Providers?
No, you can choose your own doctors and medical facilities for treatment, and we’ll help ensure all reasonable medical expenses are covered.
Can I Still Get Compensation If I Wasn’t Wearing a Seatbelt?
Yes, not wearing a seatbelt might reduce your compensation under comparative fault rules, but it won’t prevent you from recovering damages.
Call for a Free Springfield Case Review
Don’t try to handle a Lyft accident claim on your own. These cases involve complex insurance policies and corporate legal teams designed to minimize payouts.
As Missouri’s only auto accident-focused law firm, we have the specialized knowledge to protect your rights. We’re a family firm that treats every client like family, not just another case number.
Our hardworking, down-to-earth approach has helped us recover millions for injured Missourians. We’re available around the clock to discuss your case.
You won’t pay any attorney fees unless we win your case. Your consultation is completely free, with no obligation to hire us.
