What To Do If I Am Involved In An Accident As A Lyft Passenger?
The precautions you have to take are the same as that you take in any type of car accident.
- Check for injuries to yourself and other victims: If you or anyone else is injured, call 911 immediately. Seeking medical attention as a precaution is important even if you do not have any injuries. You might have internal injuries that you do not know.
- Inform the authorities: Call the police because an accident report is quintessential especially if you have injuries.
- Collect evidence: If you think it is safe, take photos that can serve as evidence. Also get your driver’s information: their name, insurance information, and license number. Photograph the accident scene, location of the accident and damage to the vehicles. If there are any victims, find out whether they are willing to cooperate.
- Contact an attorney: Because rideshare accidents are complicated, you will require legal assistance to get the deserving compensation. Contact out Lyft accident attorneys for a free consultation.
What To Do If A Lyft Car Hits Me?
You could incur serious injuries from being hit by a car. This indicates that the first and foremost thing to do is seek proper medical attention. Then you speak to the Lyft accident attorneys at Culver City Legal. You would have to raise money to pay your medical bills and might not be able to get back to work for some time due to the injuries and problems from the accident. Our expert and experienced accident lawyers will be negotiating with Lyft and their insurance company on your behalf. This allows you to concentrate on your recovery.
Is It Necessary To See A Doctor If I Don’t Feel Any Pain After My Lyft Accident?
Definitely, yes! It may take some hours and even days for the pain and its symptoms to appear. You might be having internal injuries that you may not know. Seeking medical attention has supreme importance even if you do not think you have any injuries.
Hesitating to seek medical attention can also weaken your claim. Lyft and their medical insurance company are definitely going to question why you delayed consulting a doctor in an attempt to weaken your claim.
What Are The Limits Of Lyft Insurance Policy?
Similar to Uber, Lyft insurance is divided into two categories when the driver has a passenger in the vehicle or has the app on but is not on the way to pick up a passenger. That corresponds to period 1. The insurance policy limits in Period 1 are:
- $50,000 of physical injury liability coverage per person injured per accident.
- $100,000 of physical injury liability coverage per accident.
- $30,000 of property damage liability coverage in an accident.
Periods 2 & 3
After the Lyft driver has accepted the trip, they are considered in Period 2. After they pick up the passenger, they will be in Period 3.
Lyft provides drivers in Period 2 and 3 with:
- $1 million in commercial auto insurance
- $1 million in underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage
Their personal auto insurance will be used to cover the accident if the driver was offline at the time of the accident.
Can I Sue Lyft In Case Of An Accident?
It depends on what caused the accident. If you were a passenger inside the Lyft car at the time of the accident, then you are covered by the commercial auto insurance policy of the company. The drivers often have insurance of $1 million and above but their insurance companies will make attempts to reduce the offers granted to the injured passengers. In that case, you will require a Lyft accident attorney who will fight for your rights and get you fair compensation.
If the accident occurred due to the negligence of the driver of the other vehicle while you were riding as a passenger in a Lyft car, you will need to file the claim against that driver. In situations where that driver does not have active insurance coverage, Lyft will be covering for damages ranging up to $1 million under the uninsured motorist coverage of the other driver.
What Compensation Do I Get After My Lyft Accident?
According to California law, accident victims can collect financial compensation for the injuries they suffered and the subsequent expenses they have to incur. If the defendant acted irresponsibly, the court may grant punitive damages but this is a rare scenario.
There are two types of damages:
- Economic: Economic damages can be calculated quite easily. All of the monetary expenses that are related to the accident are added up to find the amount that is to be awarded to the victim. Economic damages include:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Property damage
- Loss of earning capacity
- Non-economic: There is no predefined formula for calculating non-economic damages. Some of these damages are:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Losses related to permanent disfigurement
California law hasn’t set a maximum limit for the compensation amount to be awarded to a personal injury victim. Once a case comes for trial, it is the discretion of the jury to award an amount they believe is reasonable to the victim.
Is It Necessary To File A Claim With Lyft After A Lyft Car Accident?
Lyft is infamous for the poor quality of its customer service. It was in the news in the past for its poor response not only to car accident victims but also to victims of sexual harassment. In response to the happenings that affected their image, Lyft has introduced stringent driver background checks and improved the quality of their customer service.
If you are injured or harassed while in a Lyft car, contact our Lyft attorneys who can fight for your rights. To be frank, Lyft will only attempt to protect their business interests. You will need an accident lawyer on your side to fight with the big business. The lawyers at Culver City Legal can help you for sure.
How Much Time Do You Get To File A Lyft Accident Claim?
In California, you can file a claim against Lyft within two years from the date of the accident. The period is called the statute of limitations. If another vehicle belonging to a government entity was involved in the accident, you only have six months from the date of the accident to file a claim against them.
It does not matter what circumstance you are in, it is best to get the help of a Lyft accident attorney as soon as you can.
What Is The Criterion For Determining Liability In A Lyft Accident?
The procedure for determining the liability in a Lyft accident is the same as that of any car accident. California is a state of comparative fault. It indicates that you can file a claim if you are injured in a Lyft car accident even if you are also partially liable for the accident.
The primary reason Lyft accident claims become complex is that the Lyft driver is using their own car to transport the passengers. Multiple parties including insurance companies will be involved. On top of all that, Lyft has a poor reputation for their customer service after accidents even in cases people were injured. The ideal action you can take if you have been injured in a car accident is to contact Culver City Legal right away.
Why Should I Consider Hiring A Lyft Accident Attorney?
Lyft is a big business that has access to the best legal representation. If you are filing a claim against Lyft, you should be backed by a reputable legal firm. A Lyft accident lawyer will know all the laws and ways to negotiate with the parties involved. A period after an accident is a stressful time. We will take care of all legal actions while you can concentrate on recovery.
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