Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have transformed how people travel in Hardinsburg and throughout Breckinridge County, Kentucky. While these convenient transportation options connect riders with drivers at the touch of a button, they’ve also introduced complex legal challenges when accidents occur.
If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident in Hardinsburg, you’re not alone, and you’ve found the right law firm to help you.
The Fleck Firm’s rideshare accident attorneys have been providing caring and compassionate legal advice and skilled representation to accident victims like you since 2012. As an Army Veteran, attorney Tyler Fleck founded the firm to serve people throughout Kentucky with dedication and integrity. We understand the unique challenges rideshare accident victims face, and we’re ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.
If you’re involved in an Uber or Lyft accident in Hardinsburg, whether you were a passenger, pedestrian, or another driver, you need to speak with a qualified personal injury attorney who understands the complexities of these cases. The Fleck Firm has been fighting for our clients in Kentucky for over a decade, and we’re confident we can assist you after a rideshare accident.
What Type of Injuries Can Happen in a Rideshare Accident in Hardinsburg?
Rideshare accidents are unfortunately becoming more common on Kentucky roads. While Uber and Lyft drivers must meet certain requirements, they still share the roads with other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists throughout Hardinsburg, Breckinridge County, and surrounding areas.
When rideshare accidents happen, injuries follow, and sometimes they can be serious. Though you always hope that any vehicle accident would spare you severe and life-altering injuries, the truth is that they can and do happen.
Rideshare accident injuries can be just as severe as any other motor vehicle collision. Common injuries from Uber and Lyft accidents include:
- Cuts, bruises, bumps, and scrapes
- Burns from airbag deployment or vehicle fires
- Soft tissue injuries, including whiplash, pulled or torn muscles, strains, and sprains
- Fractures (both simple and compound) to arms, legs, ribs, and other bones
- Head, shoulder, and neck injuries
- Back injuries and spinal cord damage that can lead to paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that can cause long-term cognitive problems
- Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
- Amputation of limbs in severe collisions
- Wrongful death in the most tragic cases
When you’ve been in a rideshare accident, it’s critical to seek medical attention immediately. While you may be able to recover fully from some of these injuries with proper treatment, others are life-altering and require ongoing medical care.
We know you’re in enough pain – not just from your injuries but also from financial hardships from medical bills, lost wages, and being unable to work or live your life to the fullest after your rideshare accident. We will work to hold those responsible for your injuries accountable for their actions. We will fight for the maximum compensation possible for our clients.
If we choose to take your case, you will not pay anything up front. The Fleck Firm works on contingency fees, which means you pay NOTHING unless we win your case and recover money for you.
What Should You Do After You’ve Been in a Rideshare Accident in Hardinsburg?
The steps you take immediately after a rideshare accident can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation. Here’s what you should do:
First and foremost, if you or anyone else involved requires immediate medical assistance, call 9-1-1 to get emergency first responders to the scene. Your first priority should always be to seek medical attention if you’ve been injured. Internal injuries and some serious conditions may not show symptoms right away, so getting examined by a qualified medical professional is essential.
If you’re seriously injured in a rideshare accident, you may need to be transported by ambulance to an emergency room. However, if you are capable after an accident and your injuries are not life-threatening, contact the police so they can come to the accident scene and make an official report. This police report will be crucial evidence for your rideshare accident claim.
While you are waiting for the police, look around for any potential witnesses to the accident and get their contact information. Witness statements can be invaluable in establishing what happened and who was at fault. Then, use your phone camera to take photos and videos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signals, skid marks, and visible injuries. This evidence is critical because once the scene is cleaned up and traffic resumes, much of this valuable information will be gone forever.
It’s a smart idea at this point to speak with an experienced rideshare accident attorney who can review your case, advise you on dealing with insurance companies, and recommend next steps for getting you the compensation you deserve as quickly as possible.
After you’ve dealt with the police and visited a medical professional for injury assessment and treatment, you’ll need to report the accident. Both Uber and Lyft have in-app accident reporting features. However, having a rideshare accident attorney to advise and assist you with the insurance process is highly recommended, so you have someone on your side who knows what tactics the insurers might try to use against you.
Keep in mind that while you may need to report the accident, be very careful what you say to any insurance representatives. Their goal is often to pay out as little as possible, so they may try to get statements from you with the intention of denying your claim or reducing the amount they pay. Or they may try to get you to admit certain things that could potentially make you look partially at fault later.
How Do You Establish Who is at Fault in a Rideshare Accident in Kentucky?
Determining fault in a rideshare accident is often more complex than in a traditional car accident because multiple parties and insurance policies may be involved. Understanding Kentucky’s fault-based system and how rideshare insurance works is essential to recovering fair compensation.
Under Kentucky law, the at-fault driver is responsible for covering the damages caused by an accident. However, rideshare accidents involve layers of insurance coverage that depend on the driver’s status at the time of the crash.
Uber and Lyft provide different levels of insurance coverage based on what the driver was doing when the accident occurred:
Driver Offline or App Off: If the rideshare driver wasn’t logged into the app at the time of the accident, only their personal auto insurance applies. This is the same as any other car accident.
Driver Online, Waiting for a Ride Request: When a driver has the app on and is waiting for a passenger request, Uber and Lyft provide limited liability coverage (typically around $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage). This is secondary coverage that only applies if the driver’s personal insurance doesn’t cover the damages.
Driver En Route to Pick Up a Passenger or During a Trip: When a driver has accepted a ride request and is either on the way to pick up a passenger or actively transporting a passenger, Uber and Lyft provide their maximum insurance coverage – typically $1 million in liability coverage. This coverage also includes uninsured/underinsured motorist protection and contingent comprehensive and collision coverage.
Establishing fault in a rideshare accident is vital in determining the potential of your claim and how much compensation you may be eligible to recover. Sometimes, fault can fall on more than one party.
For instance, if you’re a passenger in an Uber that was hit by another driver who ran a red light, the fault likely falls entirely on the other driver. However, if both the Uber driver and the other driver were speeding and that contributed to the accident, then the fault might be shared by both parties.
Under Kentucky’s comparative negligence system (KRS 411.182), you can still recover damages even if you’re partially at fault for the accident. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re found to be 20% responsible for the accident, you can only recover 80% of your damages. Importantly, Kentucky follows a pure comparative negligence rule, meaning you can still recover compensation even if you are mostly at fault, though your recovery will be reduced accordingly.
That’s why it’s so important to have elements like a police report, eyewitness statements, and as many photographs and videos as you can take. They will help establish the truth about what happened and demonstrate to the insurance companies and the courts what each party’s level of responsibility is.
Additionally, rideshare accident cases may involve multiple liable parties, including:
- The rideshare driver
- Another driver who caused or contributed to the accident
- The rideshare company (Uber or Lyft) in certain circumstances
- A vehicle manufacturer if a defective auto part contributed to the crash
- A government entity, if poor road conditions or inadequate signage played a role
Is a Lawyer Really Necessary for Your Rideshare Accident Case?
In the United States, no one is required to have an attorney to handle their rideshare accident case, but here’s the crucial truth: Insurance companies DON’T want you to have an attorney. It’s better for them if you don’t.
Rideshare accident cases are significantly more complex than typical car accident claims. You’re not just dealing with one insurance company – you may be navigating between the rideshare driver’s personal insurance, Uber or Lyft’s corporate insurance policy, and potentially other drivers’ insurance companies as well. Each insurer will try to minimize its liability and pay you as little as possible.
Insurance companies don’t want to pay you, and they know that the average person doesn’t understand the intricate layers of rideshare insurance coverage or Kentucky personal injury law well enough to get everything they deserve. Insurers will use every tactic possible to keep from giving you the full compensation you’ve earned.
In addition, studies consistently show that you’re not only more likely to get compensation with a personal injury attorney than trying to negotiate with insurance companies on your own, but you’ll also secure a substantially higher settlement amount with an attorney. Rideshare accident attorneys are experienced negotiators who always push for the maximum compensation possible.
That’s why retaining a rideshare accident attorney like The Fleck Firm is a smart choice. Attorney Tyler Fleck has spent over a decade negotiating with insurance companies on behalf of Kentucky accident victims, so we know what tactics they are likely to try to use against you. Car accident lawyers can use the power of the law to bring forth and compel evidence, make demands, and request documents. What’s more, using an attorney will keep your claim transparent, so the insurance company can’t hide anything.
Rideshare accident cases often involve questions like:
- Was the driver logged into the app at the time of the accident?
- Had the driver accepted a ride request?
- Which insurance policy applies?
- Was the rideshare driver properly vetted and qualified?
- Were there violations of Uber or Lyft’s terms of service?
An experienced rideshare accident lawyer knows how to investigate these issues, obtain the necessary evidence from the rideshare companies, and build a strong case for maximum compensation.
The Fleck Firm Can Help with Your Hardinsburg Rideshare Accident Case
Don’t spend your time after a rideshare accident struggling alone to put your life back together and get the compensation you need. You deserve someone in your corner who will fight to get you everything you require to get back to living the life you had before the accident.
At The Fleck Firm, we fight for our clients’ rights and to recover what they deserve after suffering injuries from another’s negligence. Our team is professional, experienced, and ready to take on the insurance company or take your case to court should we need to. We’ll build your case so you can focus on your recovery and rebuilding your life.
Army Veteran Tyler Fleck founded The Fleck Firm with a commitment to serving the people of Kentucky with the same dedication he showed during his military service. With over 14 years of legal experience and hundreds of clients represented, Tyler brings a unique combination of legal skill and compassionate understanding to every rideshare accident case.
Tyler is admitted to practice in all Kentucky courts, the Western Federal District of Kentucky, the United States Supreme Court, and multiple military appellate courts. This extensive experience means we can handle your rideshare accident case at any level necessary to get you the justice you deserve.
Just been in a Hardinsburg rideshare accident? Don’t wait, our rideshare accident attorneys can start fighting for your compensation TODAY. We offer immediate consultations by phone, video, or in-person at our office in Elizabethtown, conveniently located to serve Hardinsburg and all of Breckinridge County.
If you can’t come to us, our lawyers and investigators can come to you – even if you’re in the hospital or confined to your home due to your injuries. What’s more, you can handle all the paperwork electronically by email or text, so you can quickly get on with your day and focus on your recovery. Our legal team will advise you, answer all your questions, and be there by your side throughout the process.
The Fleck Firm operates on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no upfront costs to you. We only get paid if we win your case and recover compensation for you. Our contingency fee is only 30% on cases settled prior to filing suit, which is lower than many other law firms. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by calling us today.
We’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to take your call. When you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident in Hardinsburg, time is of the essence. Evidence can disappear, witnesses’ memories can fade, and Kentucky’s statute of limitations means you have a limited time to file your claim.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident in Hardinsburg, Breckinridge County, or anywhere in Kentucky, don’t waste another minute. You can also fill out the contact form on this page, and we’ll get back to you right away.
At The Fleck Firm, we’re committed to fighting for Kentucky accident victims with the same dedication and service that Army Veteran Tyler Fleck brought to his military career. Let us put our experience to work for you.