Burbank Uber/Lyft Accident Lawyer
Uber and Lyft have become the face of ridesharing services. In fact, their names are simply used to refer to any type of ridesharing service. With such responsibility, they should have a more comprehensive type of insurance against accidents. However, that is not the case. If you get into an accident with an Uber or Lyft, you should obtain legal representation to make sure your interests and rights are being considered.
Burbank Lawyer for Uber/Lyft
If you suffered an accident due to an Uber or Lyft driver, then you must seek legal counsel right away. Because Uber and Lyft have specific insurance coverages, then you may deal with the owner of the car’s insurance alone and it may not be enough for damages incurred on your part. Filing a personal injury lawsuit can be more beneficial to make sure you get coverage on all your medical expenses following the accident.
Our attorneys at Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC are dedicated to personal injury cases. We are a compassionate group of attorneys who understand car accidents cases can get complicated especially when the insurance companies are not being cooperative or understanding to your issues. If the other party’s insurance has dismissed your concerns, you may need to pursue a legal case.
At Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC, we work with clients in the cities of Burbank, Los Angeles, Riverside, Pasadena, Long Beach, and more. Call (818) 459-4999 to get started on a consultation or fill out a free case review form.
Overview of Uber/Lyft
- How Do Uber/Lyft Accidents Happen
- Uber & Lyft’s Liability in Rideshare Accidents
- Compensation for Personal Injury in an Uber/Lyft
- Additional Resources
How Do Uber/Lyft Accidents Happen?
Ridesharing is a service, in which you pay for a ride driven by a stranger, hired by Uber or Lyft, that can be either unshared or shared with other people. As opposed to any special driving service, such as a limo driver or bus driver, neither Uber of Lyft require any commercial driving experience or license for their drivers. Any brief driving experience they do require is unmeasurable and is likely to be dependent on just the number of years drivers have had their license. Drivers also do not receive any vigorous training on the job. Basic requirements to work for Uber of Lyft can include meeting the legal age for driving in your state, possessing a non-commercial state license, possessing a 4-door vehicle (optional), private vehicle insurance meeting state regulations, and willing to submit a driving and/or criminal record. There are no specific measures on how clean of a driving record companies require to hire the driver.
Two instances you can become involved in an accident with an Uber/Lyft is, either as the passenger of the Uber or Lyft driver, or as another driver on the road who gets into an accident with the Uber or Lyft driver. Regardless, if an Uber/Lyft acts negligent or reckless, he or she has to the potential to affect many lives other than his or her own. As of now, Uber and Lyft have never provided any record or report for accidents involving their vehicles.
Other Drivers/Pedestrians
Uber does offer insurance coverage on their driver, however there are loopholes. There are only particular instances in which Uber’s insurance policy can kick in. Those include:
- Driver is available/waiting for a ride request
- En route to pick up passengers
- During passenger rides
Lyft offers very similar insurance coverages to Uber. The amount of third-liability coverage they pay on behalf of their driver can depend on whether or not the driver’s own private insurance is enough to cover for the accident, and whether or not there was a passenger riding with the driver at the moment of the accident.
There are gray zones in each of these situations, because the company can always claim that the driver did not have his or her driver app online or did not meet any of the instances in which the company’s own insurance may kick in. Therefore, Uber or Lyft are likely to push the driver to the forefront and have his own private vehicle insurance handle the accident. Uber or Lyft do not have a particular say on the type of private insurance coverage their drivers should have, so while the driver may meet state regulations, the driver may also come being underinsured which could affect your chances of recovering anything from the accident, even if you have suffered severe injuries.
If you are a pedestrian, your position is most like that of another driver. Since, you may not have another car insurance represent you and not have your own medical coverage for injuries, it’s important to seek legal counsel as soon as possible if you get hit by an Uber or Lyft.
Passengers
As a passenger riding with Uber or Lyft, as long as you are a passenger of the Uber or Lyft vehicle identified by the app, Uber or Lyft are most likely to pay for damages if their driver was at fault, if the driver’s insurance is not enough. If the other driver is at fault, you will most likely have to seek personal injury compensation directly from the other driver.
Compensation For Personal Injury in Uber/Lyft Accident
Damages can include medical costs, funeral costs (wrongful death), pain and suffering, loss of income, and punitive damages (not guaranteed). Especially, when there is a passenger that was present as witness to the accident, it can be easier to determine whether the driver was being negligent or reckless while driving (i.e., texting and driving, eating, drunk).
Under California’s law of comparative negligence, recovery for damages are likely to be based on your contribution to the accident. Even if you were partly at fault for the accident, you are likely to still recover for any damages that were not your fault.
Additional Resources
DMV California | Reporting Accident— If you suffer a severe accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, you are likely to have to report your car accident to the DMV. California requires you to submit a SR1 form if anyone suffered injuries from the accident or a death occurred.
UCLA Health | Car Safety– Whether you are the passenger in the Uber or Lyft checking on your driver’s driving behavior or the other driver in attempt to avoid severe injuries in an accident, driver safety information is necessary. The UCLA Health Library provides
Attorney for Uber/Lyft in Burbank, CA
If you got into a car accident with or got hit by an Uber/Lyft driver, both the driver’s insurance and company’s insurance may be dismissing your injuries and damages. You are not alone in this situation. You have the right to pursue damages from Uber of Lyft if it causes you severe injuries, and if the driver’s insurance is not paying enough for your injuries.
At, Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC, we understand you may be suffering physically and financially, and want to help you recover for your injuries. Our experienced litigators know the rhetoric used to push companies into paying up for their negligence.
We work with clients in the cities of Burbank, Visalia, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Irvine, and the counties of Los Angeles and Tulare. Call for a confidential consultation at (818) 459-4999 or fill out an initial contact form in our page.
