Uber/Lyft Accident
As experienced Uber Accident Lawyer, in addition to already having recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients, our benefits include:
The convenience of ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft have made them a go-to form of transportation. Unfortunately, accidents still happen. Whether you are the passenger or a driver in an Uber or Lyft-related accident, it is important to know your rights. Our experienced Uber accident attorneys in California can help you answer common questions such as, “Will my injuries as a passenger be covered in an accident?”, or “If I am an Uber or Lyft driver, what situations are covered by the company’s insurance and what am I responsible for?”, and many more.
It can be stressful and overwhelming for anyone involved in an Uber or Lyft accident, and there are several unique factors about these accidents that need to be taken into consideration. Many Uber and Lyft accident victims and/or drivers are unaware that there are personal injury lawyers that specialize in these types of cases and, as a result, try to handle their personal injury claims on their own. In doing so, you could be settling for far less compensation for medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering than you deserve. Our skilled, knowledgeable, and specialized Uber accident attorneys are here to alleviate your stress by providing a personalized experience that thoroughly explains all steps in the process, helping you through every aspect of your claim. We are not intimidated by these billion-dollar companies and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
As you can imagine, there are many scenarios that can occur in the case of an Uber or Lyft-related accident. The coverage the ridesharing company may or may not provide depends on the party involved, as well as when the accident took place. We break down these different scenarios in more detail below.
Both ridesharing companies offer up to $1 million in uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance coverage for passengers. This means that Uber and Lyft provide up to $1 million in coverage for your damages, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. If you are injured in an accident while traveling in an Uber or Lyft anywhere in Los Angeles or California, the most important first step is to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Our specialized accident lawyers will negotiate with insurance companies for Uber or Lyft and the other vehicle(s) involved to get you full compensation for your injuries.
If you are NOT an Uber or Lyft driver and are involved in a rideshare accident if with you are able, it is best to obtain both the Uber or Lyft driver’s personal insurance information as well as his or her rideshare information. The responsible party for accident-related damages depends on the period or phase of the ride the ridesharing driver is in. You can read more about the individual periods in the next scenario below. As Uber or Lyft may not cover all situations, we want to ensure full compensation for your damages, and may need to file a claim with the Uber or Lyft driver’s personal insurance. If you are unable to get the information, that’s OK! Our lawyers will gather the information and handle the claim on your behalf.
As a ridesharing driver, either your personal insurance company or your insurance with Uber or Lyft will cover the accident, depending on what phase or period of the ride you are in. To put it plainly, the more people who could potentially be injured in the accident, the greater the liability for the ridesharing company. Below is a detailed breakdown of the distinct periods and what is covered in each:
You are not logged in to the ridesharing application, or the application is off. During this phase, you are considered “off the job”, and any accident-related claims must be covered by your personal automobile insurance.
You are logged in/online and awaiting a request for a fare. Because this is an in-between period where you are waiting to accept a ride, the liability for Uber or Lyft is lower than in the next two periods. While there is no insurance coverage for the driver (uninsured, underinsured, or medical payments) or collision insurance for the driver’s vehicle, Uber and Lyft do both provide 50/100/25 liability coverage. This means they provide up to $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. If you are an Uber or Lyft driver, we encourage all drivers to purchase a rideshare policy or rider for their personal auto insurance.
You have accepted a fare and are on the way to the passenger’s location. During this period, both Uber and Lyft offer $1 million in liability, uninsured, and underinsured coverage. Collision coverage is contingent upon the driver’s coverage on his or her personal insurance policy.
You have picked up the passenger, and the trip has begun. Like period 2, Uber and Lyft again offer $1 million in liability, uninsured, and underinsured coverage, and collision coverage will be contingent upon the driver’s coverage on his or her personal insurance policy.
Regardless of what period you were in when the accident occurred, it is critical that you gather as much evidence as you can to support your claim. Be sure to take photos of the accident as well as screenshots from your phone of the period the ride was in, showing both the date and time of the ride.
Whether you are the driver or passenger in an Uber or Lyft-related accident, you have rights! We know the laws can be confusing. Companies such as Uber and Lyft have only been around since as early as 2009, creating gaps in the newly developed ridesharing laws that can leave innocent people to be vulnerable if an accident occurs. With so many grey areas, it is especially important that you are represented by a law firm with the skills and knowledge to get you the compensation you are entitled to. Our team of experienced trial lawyers are ready to fight for you – we will not back down from a challenge!