Are you the victim of a collision involving a rideshare driver? You might have the right to take legal action and pursue compensation with the help of a Massachusetts rideshare accident lawyer.
The sooner you contact Sweet James, the more time we’ll have to look at the details of your case and serve as your rideshare accident lawyer. Home to attorneys with experience helping injury victims for over 25 years, our firm offers Personalized Service Focused on You.
What Insurance Covers a Rideshare Accident in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has specific insurance requirements for rideshare drivers. Under state law, a rideshare driver must have certain automobile liability coverage when these details are true:
- They are logged into the rideshare company’s digital network
- They are available to receive transportation requests
- They are not engaged in a pre-arranged ride
When the driver is engaged in a pre-arranged ride, the required liability coverage increases. The law requires at least $1 million per occurrence for death, bodily injury, and property damage. The law also addresses situations where insurance fails to provide the required coverage.
In those circumstances, the transportation network company maintains the required coverage, beginning with the first dollar of a claim. For an injured passenger, this is important.
What the driver was doing when the accident happened determines which policy applies. A Massachusetts personal injury lawyer can investigate the driver’s rideshare status and work to identify the insurance coverage available to you.
Compensation You Can Pursue After a Rideshare Accident
An injury claim is about more than the cost of repairing a vehicle. If you were injured, the financial impact can extend into many parts of your life. Depending on the facts of the case, this is what your compensation might include:
- Medical expenses and treatment costs
- Lost wages from time away from work
- Reduced earning capacity when an injury affects future work
- Physical pain and limitations
- Pain and suffering
- Rehabilitation and ongoing care
- Property damage when applicable
The value of an injury claim depends on the circumstances. The severity of the injuries, medical treatment, effect on work, long-term consequences, available insurance, and evidence supporting the claim can all matter.
An insurer’s first settlement offer does not necessarily account for everything you have lost. Our rideshare accident attorneys in Massachusetts can review your offer and determine whether it reflects the losses supported by the evidence.
What To Do If the Insurance Company Blames You
Insurance companies sometimes argue that victims contributed to accidents, but that doesn’t automatically end a Massachusetts personal injury claim.
Massachusetts law permits recovery when the injured person’s negligence isn’t greater than the combined negligence of the defendants, with damages reduced in proportion to the injured person’s share of negligence.
The circumstances should be examined rather than accepting an allegation of fault at face value. A rideshare accident lawyer in Massachusetts can respond to these arguments with evidence and legal reasoning while protecting you from having to handle negotiations alone.
How Long You Have to File a Rideshare Accident Lawsuit in Massachusetts
Per General Laws Chapter 260, Section 2A, Massachusetts generally requires personal injury tort actions to be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues, subject to exceptions in the law.
However, that does not mean you should wait three years before speaking with our rideshare accident lawyers in Massachusetts. If you were seriously injured, getting legal advice early gives your attorney time to identify the parties involved, preserve evidence, and determine which deadlines apply.
How Can Our Massachusetts Rideshare Accident Lawyers Help?
After an accident, you already have enough to deal with. You should not have to spend your recovery arguing with insurers, tracking down records, and trying to understand legal documents.
These are examples of responsibilities our Massachusetts rideshare accident attorneys can handle on your behalf:
- Investigating how the accident happened
- Identifying potentially responsible parties
- Determining the driver’s rideshare status
- Identifying applicable insurance coverage
- Gathering accident and medical records
- Communicating with insurance companies
- Reviewing settlement offers
- Calculating documented financial losses
- Addressing allegations that you contributed to the accident
- Preparing the case for litigation when appropriate
Legal representation also gives you someone who can explain what is happening as your claim moves forward. You can ask questions, understand your options, and make decisions based on the facts of your case rather than pressure from an insurance company.
Contact Sweet James Today for Advice From Our Rideshare Accident Law Firm Serving Massachusetts
If you’re looking for a “rideshare accident lawyer near me in Massachusetts,” we can help. At Sweet James, our founding lawyer, James, used to represent insurance carriers in personal injury and workers’ compensation cases prior to founding our firm. His experience provides us with a deeper understanding of how insurers assess claims and defend against them.
This insight is helpful when representing victims of rideshare accidents, especially when insurers ask questions about your injuries, dispute responsibility, or offer less compensation than you deserve. We are an Experienced Trial Team Ready To Fight For You.
Since we offer free consultations and work on a contingency basis, you will Pay No Fees or Costs Until We Win. Contact our Massachusetts rideshare accident law firm ASAP for help. Real Lawyers. Real Results.