What Happens if Your Lyft Gets in an Accident?

As a passenger in any car, you place your trust in the driver to drive carefully and responsibly, and do their best to avoid any potential hazards that may present themselves along the way. Due to the life changing nature of being involved in an automobile crash can present, you can feel mistreated when this responsibility of the driver is disregarded. Like any car on the road, there is potential for your Lyft or Uber to be involved in a collision. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, you may be in need of a Los Angeles car accident lawyer. Point Law Group, LLP, the best attorney for car accidents, is here to help to aid in your fight for appropriate compensation.

If your car is not readily available, you’ve had one too many drinks, or you just don’t feel like driving, using a rideshare service like Lyft or Uber could provide a good alternative for quick and easy transportation. Ridesharing is a popular service that has grown in popularity over the years, and offers an opportunity to unwind while your driver brings you to your destination – who doesn’t like to feel like a star pulling up to a function with a private driver? But what happens when things take a turn, and your Lyft is involved in an accident enroute to your destination? This might be when you pull out your phone and start searching, “Best car attorney near me.”

Utilizing the Best Attorney in Los Angeles for a car accident

There are a number of situations where you could be involved in a  Lyft-related accident but personal injury claims only cover a select few instances – know which ones are applicable to you.

• If, during a lyft journey, a passenger sustains injuries in an accident
• While traveling to a passenger on a trip, a Lyft driver suffers an injury in an accident
• If a collision involving a Lyft vehicle while on a journey results in the injury of a driver of another vehicle 
• If an accident involving a Lyft driver that was traveling to or from a trip results in the injury of a passenger of another vehicle
• If a working Lyft driver strikes or injures a pedestrian

There are many other factors that can contribute to an accident, such as speeding, poor weather conditions, poor road conditions, and drunk/inebriated driving. However, because Lyft drivers frequently use their smartphones to check the Lyft app and navigate, the most common cause of accidents involving Lyft drivers is distracted driving.

Provision of Protections

Lyft, like many rideshare providers, protects their passengers with supplementary insurance. Because rideshare drivers are regarded as independent contractors in the state of California, there are less protections offered by their company to protect them. However, due to the nature and possible hazards of the job, as well as litigation against ridesharing firms skyrocketing, Lyft’s insurance covers up to a set amount when their driver’s insurance does max out.

Similar to Uber, Lyft will pay up to $1 million for each accident if the collision happens as the driver is traveling to or from a passenger. Its coverage drops to $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 per accident for property damage if the driver is online but hasn’t yet accepted a ride. The driver will be forced to rely solely on their personal insurance policy, which in California must include the minimum required coverage, if they are completely offline. Nowadays, a lot of insurance providers provide rideshare-specific policies with larger coverage limits.

If Your Lyft Driver Is Responsible

Because Lyft drivers are not considered to be employees but rather independent contractors, the firm is frequently released from responsibility for the conduct of its drivers. All drivers are required to have the bare minimum of insurance coverage required by law, and Lyft will offer more protection if required or appropriate.

However, if you were to file a police report, Lyft regrettably bears very little liability and the driver would be held completely accountable. Knowing that the hiring practices of these firms have been the subject of numerous lawsuits, and that their background checks are less=than-thorough, one might expect this to raise some important precautions.

What Should a Passenger Do if involved in a Lyft Accident?

If you were harmed in a Lyft accident, whether as a passenger of the Lyft or a driver in another car, you can file a claim. It is crucial to approach this situation like you would any other traffic accident, since how you respond in the moments following a collision will impact how smoothly the claim or lawsuit will progress. 

To guarantee a report is filed and to alert the authorities if there are any injuries, call 911 first. Even if you were just a passenger during the incident, gather as much information as you can so that you have a record in case your claim is contested. This contains the names, phone numbers, addresses, and insurance details of all parties involved as well as the contact information for any witnesses who might be able to support your claim. Take images of the totality of the incident and any injuries you’ve incurred for your records as well.

The incident must then be reported to your insurance provider, who will launch an inquiry on your behalf. Ultimately, one of the most important steps in recovering what you are entitled to is arming yourself with legal counsel by getting in touch with our Los Angeles car accident lawyers. Although you might assume that if you were hurt while riding in a Lyft at the time of the accident, the ride-hailing firm would have records of it and you wouldn’t be held accountable as long as you adhered to their passenger guidelines. But, big businesses have a reputation for making the due process procedure difficult, and this can be true at the time of an accident as well.

Attorneys for Los Angeles car accidents

Have you been hurt in a Lyft mishap? Getting fair compensation can be a complex procedure, especially when you’re up against a huge rideshare company like Uber or Lyft. This is why you should contact the best car accident attorney near me, Point Law Group, LLP, and let them handle it. Every step of the journey, Point Law Group, LLP is there to support you. Get in contact with us today for a fully free consultation at (310)560-0606

Are Uber drivers considered employees or independent contractors?

Uber drivers are now considered independent contractors in California to avoid vicarious liability. Companies can decrease payroll tax obligations, benefit costs, and legal exposure by classifying personnel as independent contractors. This results in cost savings for the company. 

This can sometimes let businesses circumvent federal and state laws protecting employees and employers. If a driver causes injury to another person while on the job, labeling the driver as an independent contractor can assist the business in avoiding legal responsibility.

Can I get damages if I am partially responsible for the accident?

Suppose you’ve been injured in an automobile accident and were even partially at fault. In that case, you may still sue for compensation under California’s “comparative fault” or “comparative negligence” rules.

Liability can be allocated amongst the persons involved using the principle of “comparative carelessness.” If the plaintiff was somewhat at fault, their compensation would be decreased.

Uber’s insurance providers may insist on privacy about any settlement proposals. Due to this, it is unclear how often Uber vehicles are engaged in accidents and what kind of compensation is offered to victims.

Attorneys for Los Angeles car accidents

Have you been hurt in a Lyft mishap? Getting fair compensation can be a complex procedure, especially when you’re up against a huge rideshare company like Uber or Lyft. This is why you should contact the best car accident attorney near me, Point Law Group, LLP, and let us handle your case. Every step of the journey, Point Law Group, LLP is here to support you. Get in contact with us today for a free consultation at (310)560-0606