Macon Rideshare Accidents

Macon Rideshare Accidents

Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies have revolutionized personal transportation since they came on the scene more than a decade ago. The convenience of using an app on the phone to request a ride that shows up in minutes makes rideshare companies remain popular.

Unfortunately, this convenience has a dark side. Negligent rideshare drivers put other motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and riders at risk for accidents and injuries. Rideshare companies began with little to no regulations, but many states have implemented laws to make ridesharing safer. Yet, rideshare accidents still occur in Macon, Georgia, and the United States, causing severe injuries and sometimes fatalities.

If you have suffered injuries in a Macon rideshare accident, Georgia law permits you to seek compensation for damages related to the accident and your injuries. Traffic collisions are traumatic events that can have lifelong physical, emotional, and financial consequences. You should not face economic struggles from medical bills and lost wages when a negligent rideshare driver causes an accident. Reach out to a Macon rideshare accident lawyer.

Buckhead Law Saxton Injury & Accident Lawyers P.C. has experience in the negotiation, settlement, and litigation of personal injury cases, including those involving rideshare companies. Once we evaluate your case and confirm you have a viable Macon rideshare accident claim, we can begin on your case immediately while you focus on recovering from the injuries.

Table of Contents

• Why Choose Buckhead Law Saxton Injury & Accident Lawyers P.C.
• Compensation in Macon Rideshare Accident Claims
• Statute of Limitations for Macon Rideshare Accidents
• Affording a Lawyer After a Macon Rideshare Accident

Why Choose Buckhead Law Saxton Injury & Accident Lawyers P.C.

After a Macon drunk driving accident, healing from your injuries needs to be your number one priority instead of dealing with a rideshare company, their insurance provider, and their legal team. Recovering compensation can take a toll on the mental health of accident victims because insurance companies will do everything to avoid paying a claim. Buckhead Law Saxton Injury & Accident Lawyers P.C. knows how to deal with insurance carriers, especially those that want to devalue claims.

The skilled legal team at Buckhead Law cares about clients and treats them like part of the family. Our rideshare accident lawyers are dedicated to helping injured victims recover the maximum compensation commensurate with economic and noneconomic losses related to the accident and injuries.

Buckhead Law Saxton Accident & Injury Lawyers P.C. has the knowledge, compassion, and resources to help you seek compensation for your injuries. Our team is not intimidated by insurance carriers and their legal teams. Let our team build a case for you while you focus on recovering from your rideshare accident injuries.

Buckhead Law’s downtown office is a short trip for rideshare accident victims who live in the Macon area. We are at 461 Third Street, across from Dunlap Park, a couple of blocks from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. We like to meet new clients during a face-to-face free consultation, but we understand injuries and other obligations sometimes make this impossible. For those who cannot travel, we offer convenient virtual consultations. Contact us or submit details about your Macon drunk driving accident online for your a no-obligation consultation.

Compensation in Macon Rideshare Accident Claims

Each Macon rideshare accident claim has different circumstances that affect the type of damages an accident victim might recover in a settlement or from a jury award.

Depending on your case, you could receive compensation for:

• Medical expenses, including ambulance transport, emergency room treatment, hospitalization, surgery, x-rays, diagnostic tests, prescription medication, follow-up doctor visits, and transportation costs to and from the hospital and treating physician
• Estimated future medical treatment costs when a rideshare accident victim suffers a severe or permanent injury that requires additional care and treatment, sometimes for life and sometimes in a long-term nursing care facility
• Rehabilitation expenses for specialized treatment with physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, mental health professionals, and other treatments that help injured people cope with the physical and mental aftermath of their injuries
• Lost wages from time away from work because of a rideshare accident, injuries, and recovery
• Lost earning capacity for rideshare accident victims who suffer catastrophic injuries that prevents them from returning to work or seeking future employment
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering
• Reduced quality of life

The circumstances of your Macon rideshare accident also impact the compensation you could receive if you win your claim.

Some factors that directly affect your compensation include:

• The severity of your injuries
• The nature of your injuries
• Total time missed from work
• Total incurred economic loss, including medical expenses and lost wages
• Long-term prognosis

The Macon rideshare accident lawyers Buckhead Law Saxton Accident & Injury Lawyers P.C. can review the facts of your claim, gather relevant documents, advise you on which damages apply to your claim, and calculate the amount of compensation you should seek. We diligently pursue the maximum compensation available for our clients.

Statute of Limitations for Macon Rideshare Accidents

Georgia has a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including those involving rideshare accidents. Under Georgia law, you have two years from the date of your rideshare accident to bring a lawsuit against the rideshare driver responsible for your injuries. Surviving family members who want to sue a rideshare driver after a loved one died in a Macon rideshare accident also have two years to bring a wrongful death lawsuit.

Suppose you do not meet the statute of limitations deadline for your Macon rideshare accident claim. In that case, it’s doubtful a Georgia court will hear your case, and you lose any negotiating power you had with the insurance carrier involved with the accident. Unfortunately, this puts you in a situation where you cannot recover damages related to the accident and your injuries.

Also, taking swift action allows your lawyer to begin working on your case as soon as possible, which can preserve the quality of evidence against the other side. As time passes, witnesses move out of state, some die, and their recollection of the accident becomes foggy. It is always best to consult with an attorney as soon as possible. Buckhead Law can review your rideshare accident claim to help ensure you do not miss important deadlines.

Filing a Claim With a Rideshare Company

Typically, the first step a rideshare accident victim must take after suffering injuries is filing an accident claim with the rideshare company. The extent to which the rideshare company will be involved in the claim depends on the situation.

Rideshare companies provide insurance for their drivers, but it only applies if they are signed into the app, and coverage amounts vary based on whether they are waiting for a rider, on the way to pick up a rider, or transporting riders in their vehicle.

Reporting the accident to the rideshare company does a couple of things. First, it ensures the company knows about the accident. Drivers are supposed to report accidents to the rideshare company they drive for, but some might try to circumvent the process.

Second, reporting the accident to the rideshare company typically initiates a claim with their insurance company. They will begin an investigation from their side and determine if their coverage applies or if the rideshare driver is solely responsible for damages.

In this situation, the driver’s personal auto insurance kicks in. It is in your best interest to have an experienced rideshare accident lawyer in your corner to guide you through the claims process and help protect your rights and the value of your claim.

Accepting an Early Settlement Offer From the Insurance Company

Even if the insurance company is certain their policyholder is financially liable for an accident and injuries, they will use every tactic to devalue a claim and avoid a large payout.

One such tactic is offering injured accident victims an early settlement. Insurance companies dangle just enough money to convince accident victims to accept the settlement and move on. Still, the amount is typically far lower than the full value of the claim and often does not constitute fair compensation.

If you accept an offer from the insurance provider, you must also waive your right to seek future compensation for the same rideshare accident and injuries. These early offers can look attractive, but they can also result in you not having the funds to pay for day-to-day living costs or medical expenses. Early offers often come in before an accident victim knows the full extent of their injuries and don’t account for additional treatment, surgeries, or catastrophic injuries that prevent someone from working.

You should always consult an experienced lawyer when you receive a settlement offer from an insurance company. Let a lawyer review the offer and use it as a starting point for settlement negotiations with the insurance company. In most cases, an experienced lawyer can get more compensation for a client and ensure they have the funds they need. A rideshare accident, or any kind of accident, should not leave a victim in financial ruin.

Affording a Lawyer After a Macon Rideshare Accident

Sometimes accident victims do not hire an attorney because they assume they cannot afford one. This tragic mistake results in some accident victims not receiving any compensation for damages.

Your initial consultation with Buckhead Law Saxton Accident & Injury Lawyers P.C. is free. This is an opportunity for us to learn about your case and for you to ask questions about the legal process of recovering damages. During this meeting, we evaluate your case and determine the viability of your claim.

If we accept your case and you hire us to represent you, do not worry about paying out-of-pocket for attorney’s fees. You do not have to pay a retainer, like you would for a real estate attorney or divorce lawyer. We accept new clients on a contingent fee basis, deducting attorney fees and other legal costs from any compensation you receive on behalf of our work for you. This allows anyone with a viable claim to seek damages when they have suffered injuries, not only those with the financial means.

Injured in a Macon Rideshare Accident? Let Us Help.

If you suffered injuries in a Macon rideshare accident, you have the legal right to seek compensation for losses related to the accident and your injuries. However, beyond seeking medical treatment, you need to take a few other steps to protect the value of your claim.

After suffering injuries, make sure to keep all medical appointments and follow doctor’s orders to protect the value of your claim. Keep copies of medical bills, receipts, pay stubs, and other documents to prove your economic loss. You should also record your thoughts, struggles, and feelings in a journal to show your lawyer how your injuries have impacted your life.

When you schedule a consultation, bring all this information and any other relevant information to share with the lawyer. It is better to have too much than not enough. The lawyer can review your documents and decide whether they will help your case.

Let the skilled legal team at Buckhead Law Saxton Accident & Injury Lawyers P.C. navigate the complex processes surrounding rideshare accident claims so you have the time to focus on healing from your injuries. Contact us today online or at (478) 226-4148 for your free consultation and learn more about how we can help you.

Buckhead Law Saxton Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. – Macon Office

461 3rd St ste 6,
Macon, GA 31201
+14782264148