Los Angeles Lyft Accident Lawyer
Injured in a rideshare vehicle? Lyft, Uber or one of the many other rideshare companies that have popped up? Then you have to ABSOLUTELY read this. We’ll give you the info right away but will expand on these points below (we recommend you read this thoroughly as it can get tricky).
Liability: Lyft or the driver?
In short, liability when injured in a Lyft car accident is not always clear. If the Lyft driver was working and logged into the app, then Lyft’s $1 million dollar policy would cover you. However, if the driver wasn’t working or logged in, then their personal insurance would be primary and may not cover you at all depending on the circumstances.
This is important because there have been many cases of people being injured in an accident with a Lyft car and then not being able to get any compensation because the driver wasn’t working or logged in. For example, if you’re injured in a hit and run by a Lyft driver, there’s a chance you won’t be able to get anything from Lyft because the driver wasn’t working at the time. At that point, you’d have to rely on the driver having good personal insurance, which is not always the case.
If you have been injured in a Lyft car accident, the best thing to do is to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you understand your rights and options. Do not try to handle this on your own as it can be very complicated. Contact an experienced Lyft Car Accident attorney to help you out with the process. It’s free. You don’t pay if we don’t win.
What To Do If You’ve Been in a Lyft Car Accident?
It’s essentially the same thing as a normal car accident with a few exceptions to keep in mind. First, if you are able, get the driver’s information including their name, insurance company and policy number. If there are any witnesses, get their names and contact information as well. Take pictures of the damage as best as possible.
Speaking of pictures, take pictures of EVERYTHING. The road, the signs, the marks on the floor, the debris, parked cars, EVERYTHING. Often we reconstruct the scene of the accident to make a case for our clients. We’ve even reversed cases where a client was blamed for the accident and a year later they received proper compensation for it.
Some things to consider when dealing with a car accident through a rideshare app like Lyft:
- Was the driver working? If they were, then their insurance should cover you up to $1 million. If they weren’t, then you might have a problem getting anything from Lyft.
- Was the driver logged in to the app? This is important because if they weren’t, then again, you might have trouble getting anything from Lyft.
- What insurance does the driver have? Often, drivers will have very low limits or no insurance at all. If this is the case and you’re injured, you might not be able to get anything from anyone.
Also, drivers often have cameras of their own. Ask for it politely and if possible. And finally, if you go to the hospital or have injuries, document everything.
Should I work with Lyft if they offer to help me after a car accident with one of their drivers?
Not without talking to an attorney! Oftentimes, people will work with Lyft’s insurance company thinking that they’ll help them out. However, what actually happens is that you give a recorded statement about the accident and then the insurance company uses it against you to try and minimize their payout or deny your claim altogether. So while you might think you’re getting help from Lyft, in reality, you’re just making it easier for them to deny your claim or lowball you on the settlement.
It’s always best to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney before doing anything after a car accident. They can help you understand your rights and options and make sure that you don’t do anything that could jeopardize your case.
“Did you say talk to an experienced Lyft car accident attorney?”
Yes, we did. About 5 times in this blog alone. Talk to an attorney. We’re experienced and trained to understand the legal working regarding car accident cases. Consider the following:
- You are in an accident while using Lyft
- You feel fine
- You walk away
- The next day you feel sore
- Next week you feel better
- 10 months later you find out you have a herniated disc
It’s so much harder to work your case when we have to backtrack 10 months prior. It’s not impossible. We’ve done it multiple times. However, it not only makes it harder to present your case – it also makes it harder, possibly, to get you the compensation you deserve.
Talk to an attorney. Leave nothing to doubt. At Kirakosian Law we’ve worked with many Lyft car accident cases and we’d love to help you with yours as well.
