Uber and Lyft Accident

Uber and Lyft Accidents (Rideshare Accidents)

Though relatively new, ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft have exploded in large cities like Los Angeles over the last few years. With the touch of a screen, users can hail a ride from almost anywhere at any time.

While the convenience of ridesharing is undoubtedly appealing, riding in an Uber or Lyft may be more dangerous than you think. Ridesharing companies do not follow the same safety precautions or regulations as traditional taxi companies, making filing an injury claim more difficult for those injured in a rideshare accident.  

If you have been hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident in Los Angeles, you may be entitled to financial compensation. However, you will want an experienced attorney by your side. Going up against large ridesharing companies on your own can be intimidating. The attorneys at Power Trial Lawyers (PTL) can walk you through each step to ensure you understand your rights and legal opportunities following an Uber or Lyft accident. 

Injuries Resulting From Rideshare Accidents

Like any car accident, an Uber or Lyft accident can result in life-changing injuries and trauma for those involved. If you have suffered from a significant injury or psychological damage due to a rideshare accident, it’s crucial to have an experienced attorney at your side to help you receive the compensation you need. 

Common injuries suffered in rideshare accidents include:

• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Whiplash and other neck injuries
• Chest injuries and rib fractures
• Emotional injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder
• Damage to the legs and knees
• Internal injuries
• Scrapes and cuts, severe lacerations
• Broken bones
• Severe bruising
• Severed limbs
• Skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries
• Soft-tissue injuries
• Wrongful death 

Severe injuries from an Uber or Lyft accident can be extremely costly for injured parties. You could end up owing thousands of dollars, or more, in medical care costs, including doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. Time missed from work can add to the financial toll quickly. Even minor injuries can be costly for those involved in Uber or Lyft accidents.

If you or a loved one has experienced physical or emotional damage after an Uber or Lyft accident in Los Angeles, contact a personal injury lawyer to learn about the next steps to take.

Who is Liable in a Rideshare Accident?

Luckily, Uber and Lyft have insurance policies covering crashes when the driver is in transit with a passenger in the vehicle. This policy should cover the injured party’s medical bills no matter who was responsible for the accident. However, if the insurance policy does not cover you, you may have to find an alternate way to obtain compensation for your damages.

Legally, Uber and Lyft are not responsible for the actions of their drivers. The companies class their drivers as independent contractors, meaning they are not technically employees. Because of this, holding the rideshare company to account for negligent, reckless, or dangerous drivers is challenging.

Both Uber and Lyft may be held responsible for any accidents resulting from the company’s negligence. If the company could have prevented a dangerous driver from accepting passengers, they may be held responsible for a rideshare accident. Examples include if they failed to obtain the driver’s driving history, knew the driver had been involved in previous Uber or Lyft accidents or had previous reports of the driver’s negligent or dangerous driving.

Determining liability can be difficult, but a well-versed personal injury attorney can help determine fault and liability in an Uber or Lyft accident.

Who is Liable in a Rideshare Accident?

Luckily, Uber and Lyft have insurance policies covering crashes when the driver is in transit with a passenger in the vehicle. This policy should cover the injured party’s medical bills no matter who was responsible for the accident. However, if the insurance policy does not cover you, you may have to find an alternate way to obtain compensation for your damages.

Legally, Uber and Lyft are not responsible for the actions of their drivers. The companies class their drivers as independent contractors, meaning they are not technically employees. Because of this, holding the rideshare company to account for negligent, reckless, or dangerous drivers is challenging.

Both Uber and Lyft may be held responsible for any accidents resulting from the company’s negligence. If the company could have prevented a dangerous driver from accepting passengers, they may be held responsible for a rideshare accident. Examples include if they failed to obtain the driver’s driving history, knew the driver had been involved in previous Uber or Lyft accidents or had previous reports of the driver’s negligent or dangerous driving.

Determining liability can be difficult, but a well-versed personal injury attorney can help determine fault and liability in an Uber or Lyft accident.

Insurance Requirements for Los Angeles Rideshare Drivers

Under California law, rideshare drivers are required to have personal auto insurance policies for their vehicles if they want to pick up and transport passengers. 

Personal insurance policies typically do not cover accidents while the car is serving commercial purposes such as ridesharing. Because of this, the driver’s personal insurance company can deny your injury claim. If your driver’s personal insurance denies the claim, you will need to file a claim against the ridesharing company itself. 

Companies like Uber and Lyft offer supplemental liability insurance coverage to their drivers. These policies help pay for injuries and property damaged in at-fault or uninsured motorist accidents. Insurance coverage varies based on the period when the accident took place.

One catch is that a rideshare driver usually needs to be logged in to the company’s app to qualify for insurance. If a driver is not logged in, they are presumed to be using the vehicle for personal purposes.

What Compensation Can I Receive for an Uber or Lyft Accident?

If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Los Angeles, you might be eligible for financial compensation under California law. You should be entitled to insurance benefits or a judgment award from the at-fault party. 

Injured parties should not have to pay for their recovery if they were not at fault for the accident and should seek maximum compensation after a rideshare accident.

Compensation available for an Uber or Lyft accident in Los Angeles may include:

• Past and future medical bills
• Disability-related needs
• Property damage
• Lost wages and lost employment opportunities
• Physical pain and emotional distress
• Lost quality or enjoyment of life
• Legal fees and travel costs
• Punitive damages, in some cases

Compensation amounts vary based on factors like injury level and recovery time. If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to help you make your claim. Insurance companies are known to intimidate claimants into settling for lower compensation than they deserve. At PTL, our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys can help you evaluate your claim to maximize the compensation you will receive. 

Steps to Take After an Uber or Lyft Accident

If you are involved in a rideshare accident, it’s helpful to ensure your rights are protected immediately. Directly following a rideshare accident, you should:

• Remain at the scene and try to keep calm
• Avoid admitting fault
• Contact local police
• Write down the information of any eyewitnesses
• Take photographs while at the scene of the crash
• Go to a hospital as soon as possible
• Report the crash to Uber or Lyft
• Begin your insurance claim
• Consult with a personal injury lawyer.

You can contact a rideshare accident attorney for professional legal assistance at any stage of your injury claim. An attorney can take over the legal process for you if you decide you want legal representation. 

How Can a Los Angeles Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer Help?

As mentioned, going up against a large company like Uber or Lyft on your own can have unfavorable outcomes. Going it alone can lead to lower compensation than you rightly deserve. 

Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft are known to dispute injury claims and liability after an accident. Even if you are entirely innocent in the situation, you may have difficulty convincing the rideshare company to offer you compensation. 

The personal injury attorneys at Power Trial Lawyers are well versed in laws concerning rideshare accidents and can ensure you won’t be duped out of your rightful financial compensation by a predatory insurance company. 

Insurance companies know an attorney can take them to court if they refuse to offer a settlement or take the case seriously. Most of the time, a ridesharing corporation will offer a higher settlement when a lawyer is involved in negotiations.

If you’ve been hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident, contact our offices today for a free consultation.