When you are involved in a Lyft accident, one of the first questions you may have is who is responsible for your injuries and losses. The answer is not always as simple as identifying the driver who caused the crash.
A Lyft accident can involve several potentially responsible parties, and the applicable insurance coverage can depend on what the Lyft driver was doing at the time of the collision. Whether the driver was waiting for a ride request, traveling to pick up a passenger, or actively transporting a rider can affect which insurance coverage applies.
Passengers, other motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists can all potentially be injured in Lyft-related crashes. Determining liability requires looking closely at the circumstances of the accident, the driver’s status on the Lyft platform, the available insurance coverage, and the evidence supporting the claim.
Lionsgate Law Group APC represents passengers, Lyft drivers, and other motorists injured in Lyft-related accidents in Sherman Oaks and throughout the San Fernando Valley.
Liability for Lyft Accidents
Liability in a Lyft accident depends on how the collision occurred and which parties may have contributed to it.
A Lyft driver may be responsible when negligent driving causes a crash. Examples can include distracted driving, failing to yield, unsafe lane changes, speeding, or other conduct that violates a driver’s duty to operate the vehicle safely.
However, the driver is not necessarily the only party whose insurance or legal responsibility needs to be examined.
The driver’s status on the Lyft platform can be particularly important because Lyft’s insurance coverage can change depending on whether the driver is waiting for a ride request, traveling to pick up a passenger, or actively transporting a passenger.
Lionsgate Law Group APC investigates which coverage period applies and identifies the potentially responsible parties involved in the claim.
When a Lyft Driver Causes an Accident
If a Lyft driver causes a collision involving another vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist, or passenger, the driver and the applicable Lyft insurance policy may need to be considered.
Evidence can help establish whether the Lyft driver was negligent and how the accident occurred.
Depending on the circumstances, useful evidence may include:
- Police or collision reports
- Photographs of the accident scene
- Vehicle damage photographs
- Witness statements
- Traffic or surveillance video
- Medical records
- Lyft trip information
- Driver and passenger information
- Insurance documents
- Records of lost income
A Lyft driver’s status within the rideshare application can also be relevant when determining which insurance coverage applies.
What If You Were a Passenger in a Lyft?
Lyft passengers can potentially pursue a claim when they are injured in a crash.
You may be injured because of a collision caused by the Lyft driver, another motorist, or another circumstance connected to the accident. The fact that you were simply a passenger does not automatically determine which insurance policy will provide compensation.
Lionsgate Law Group APC represents passengers injured while riding in Lyft vehicles and investigates the applicable commercial coverage for the claim.
The firm works with Lyft accident clients from the initial consultation through resolution of the claim.
Lyft Insurance Coverage Depends on the Driver’s Status
One of the most important issues in a Lyft accident case is determining what the driver was doing when the accident occurred.
According to Lionsgate Law Group APC’s current Lyft accident practice, coverage can differ depending on whether the driver was:
Waiting for a Ride Request
A Lyft driver may have different insurance coverage while logged into the platform but waiting for a ride request.
The applicable coverage needs to be determined based on the circumstances of the accident and the driver’s status at that exact time.
Traveling to Pick Up a Passenger
Once a driver is traveling to pick up a passenger, the applicable insurance coverage may change.
This is why obtaining accurate information about the driver’s Lyft status can be important when investigating a claim.
Transporting a Passenger
When a passenger is already in the Lyft vehicle and the driver is actively transporting that passenger, another coverage period applies.
Lionsgate Law Group APC investigates these different insurance periods to determine which coverage may apply to an injured client’s claim.
Can You File a Claim Against Lyft?
A Lyft accident does not automatically mean that Lyft itself is legally responsible for every crash involving one of its drivers.
The potential claims against the driver, Lyft’s insurance coverage, and the company itself depend on the facts of the accident.
For example, Lionsgate Law Group APC investigates Lyft driver vetting and negligent hiring claims. If evidence indicates that Lyft failed to properly screen a driver before allowing the driver onto its platform, a claim against the company may need to be evaluated separately from a claim involving the driver’s insurance.
A history of unsafe driving or issues involving a required background check may become relevant when investigating whether Lyft itself could have legal responsibility.
What Compensation May Be Available?
The value of a Lyft accident claim depends on the individual circumstances of the accident and the losses suffered by the injured person.
There is no appropriate universal settlement amount for every Lyft accident.
Depending on the facts, compensation may potentially include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Lost income
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Other accident-related losses
The severity and duration of an injury, the available evidence, the parties responsible, and the applicable insurance coverage can all affect a claim.
For this reason, settlement figures should not be promised in advance. An attorney can review the circumstances and help determine what damages may be available.
What to Do After a Lyft Accident
Knowing what to do immediately after a rideshare accident can help protect both your health and your potential claim.
Seek Medical Attention
Your health should come first.
Some injuries may not be immediately apparent after a crash. Medical documentation can also help establish the nature and extent of injuries related to the accident.
Lionsgate Law Group APC recommends seeking medical care first after a Lyft accident.
Document the Accident Scene
If you are physically able and it is safe to do so, take photographs of the accident scene and vehicle damage.
Also gather information about the people involved and any witnesses who saw the collision.
Try to preserve relevant Lyft information, including trip details and information identifying the driver and vehicle.
Report the Accident
Make sure the appropriate authorities and rideshare company are notified about the collision.
Keep copies of any reports, claim numbers, emails, messages, or other communications connected to the accident.
Be Careful With Insurance Statements
Insurance companies may ask questions about the accident, your injuries, or your losses.
Lionsgate Law Group APC advises potential clients to contact the firm before speaking with an insurance adjuster about their Lyft accident claim.
Do not sign documents or accept a settlement without understanding what you are agreeing to and how it could affect your ability to pursue additional compensation.
Speak With a Lyft Accident Lawyer
Lyft accident claims can involve multiple insurance periods and potentially multiple responsible parties.
An experienced attorney can investigate the accident, determine which coverage period applies, identify potentially responsible parties, and handle communications with insurers.
How Long Do You Have to File a Lyft Accident Claim in California?
California’s statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of the injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.
However, exceptions and different deadlines can apply depending on the facts of a particular case and the parties involved.
Waiting too long can put a claim at risk, so it is important to understand the applicable deadline as soon as possible after an accident.
Why Choose Lionsgate Law Group for a Lyft Accident?
Lionsgate Law Group APC is a California personal injury law firm based in Sherman Oaks. The firm represents Lyft passengers, drivers, and other people injured in Lyft-related accidents throughout Sherman Oaks and the San Fernando Valley.
The firm’s Lyft accident practice includes:
- Accidents involving Lyft passengers
- Collisions caused by Lyft drivers
- Lyft insurance-period coverage disputes
- Lyft driver screening and negligent hiring claims
The firm investigates potentially responsible parties and works directly with clients from the initial consultation through resolution of the claim.
Lionsgate Law Group APC’s Sherman Oaks office is located at 15303 Ventura Blvd, Suite 1050, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403.
Contact a Lyft Accident Lawyer in Sherman Oaks
A Lyft accident can create complicated questions about liability, insurance coverage, medical expenses, lost income, and your legal rights.
You do not have to determine which insurance policy applies or whether Lyft, the driver, another motorist, or another party may be responsible on your own.
If you were injured as a Lyft passenger, involved in a collision with a Lyft driver, or otherwise hurt in a Lyft-related accident, Lionsgate Law Group APC can review your situation and explain your legal options.
Call 818-574-5494 for a free consultation.
