Who is Liable if Your Lyft Driver Gets in A Car Accident in Santa Monica?
Lyft drivers are liable if they caused your accident.
We’re told by insurance industry experts that the average U.S. driver should expect to be involved in a car accident once every 17 years. In many cases, car accident victims rely on the expertise of their personal injury lawyer to recover compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance provider.
Who, though, is liable if your Lyft driver is involved in the accident?
The short answer is that “it depends.” If the Lyft driver caused the accident, you’ll probably be covered under the company’s commercial liability coverage. If another driver caused the accident, you should be able to seek legal action against that person.
Will Lyft automatically assume responsibility?
No. As we said in our previous article on Santa Monica Lyft accidents, Lyft considers its drivers to be independent contractors. There are certain times when the Lyft insurance coverage kicks in and others when the company keeps its distance.
For example, if the driver either has a passenger or is on the way to pick one up, they’ll likely be logged into the Lyft app. As long as the Lyft driver is logged into the app, Lyft’s liability and uninsured motorist coverage – each providing coverage for up to $1 million – will cover you.
As we said previously, Lyft will most likely do everything they can to deny your claim even though they have the insurance coverage to do what’s right. In fact, Lyft often tries to shift all liability onto their drivers, even when they’re logged into the app.
What if another driver causes the accident?
In that case, you first option would be to seek compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. Your personal injury lawyer will most likely seek a settlement initially. If no settlement is possible, then a personal injury claim can be filed.
If the at-fault driver does not have insurance or is under-insured, you should be able to seek legal action through Lyft’s uninsured and underinsured coverage.
What can I sue for if my Lyft driver is involved in an accident?
As with any other car accident, you should be able to recover costs for:
- Loss of wages
- Reduced ability to earn a living
- Medical bills – past and future – for injuries stemming directly from the accident
- Pain and suffering
- Transportation costs
- Emotional distress.
What steps can I take to protect myself legally?
Just because someone else is driving, you should still be proactive in making sure you’re safe.
For example, be sure to fasten your seatbelt as soon as you get into the Lyft driver’s car. If it’s not in use at the time of the accident, Lyft may use that as an excuse to withhold or at the very least greatly reduce your compensation.
If Your Lyft Driver Has Been Involved in an Accident, Call the Santa Monica Personal Injury Lawyers at Sina Rez Law.
In spite of the convenience offered by Lyft, you definitely do not want to take them on in a legal matter on your own. That rarely ends well.
Even though they provide you with a level of insurance beginning with the moment you step into a driver’s vehicle, to the moment you exit, they will look for any technicality – no matter how ridiculous – to deny your claim.
Fortunately, we have the experience and knowledge to secure the justice and compensation you deserve. We’re not the least bit intimidated by large companies like Lyft and insurance carriers.
If you’ve been injured because your Lyft driver got into an accident, we invite you to take part in our free case evaluation. Simply get in touch with Sina Rez Law by calling 818-784-010, sending an email or completing our online form.
