Hollywood Lyft Accident Lawyers
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Our Lyft Accident Lawyers In Hollywood Are Dedicated To Helping Victims Recover Their Damages
Lyft has been a great help for commuters across the U.S., especially in densely populated areas like Hollywood. While it offers convenience and is cost-effective, it also presents safety concerns for passengers and motorists. If you get injured in an accident involving this rideshare service, our Hollywood Lyft accident lawyers can help. Contact us today at (888) 488-1391 to discuss your next steps.
Hollywood receives millions of visitors each year. Most of these visitors would likely spend a day or two taking pictures of the Hollywood sign or visiting the Walk of Fame. Lyft is one of the main rideshare options these people choose when going around the city.
Residents and tourists alike prefer using Lyft because they can conveniently travel to places without worrying about finding a parking spot. Sadly, the increased usage of this rideshare service has contributed to a rise in Lyft accidents in Hollywood.
Arash Law, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., is the go-to personal injury law firm in California for any rideshare accident case. We have been assisting victims for decades, helping them get justice against negligent individuals, big insurance companies, and large corporations.
Settlement in a Under Insured Motorist Claim against ride share company; client suffered spinal injuries– JUDD ROSS ALLEN
How Our Hollywood Lyft Accident Attorneys Can Help With Your Claim
The trusted attorneys at Arash Law will help you get justice and secure compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses. We understand that completing the claims process can be difficult due to your injuries. If you navigate it alone, you could jeopardize your recovery and worsen your injury.
Claims and lawsuits are lengthy and demanding processes. They involve much more than filling out forms, submitting them, and receiving a settlement. You will have to investigate the accident, gather evidence, communicate with the other party, attend court hearings if necessary, and do other stressful tasks.
When you entrust your Lyft accident case to our lawyers in Hollywood, you won’t have to burden yourself with all this legwork. Here’s what we’ll do for you:
Maximize Your Compensation
Our Hollywood Lyft accident lawyers can help you maximize your compensation by thoroughly examining every angle of the accident, analyzing all evidence, and consulting with medical and financial experts.
Over the years, we’ve consistently observed that victims without legal representation receive much less than the fair value of their claims. Therefore, consulting a lawyer immediately after your accident is crucial. Insurance companies will try to reach out quickly to downplay the worth of your claim before you understand its full value.
Insurers are known for lowballing victims. They may offer a settlement value that seems high, but in reality, it’s well below the full amount of what you’re entitled to. Your injury is worth more than that.
Reach out to our personal injury law firm to ensure you receive compensation that fully reflects all your losses. Our Lyft accident lawyers in Hollywood are known in the industry for not easily being swayed by the other party’s attempts to minimize your claim.
Protect Your Rights
Insurance companies may use various tactics that can harm your case. They might ask you tricky questions to catch you off guard and use your responses to weaken your claim. In extreme cases, they may send out private investigators to stalk you and your family members.
You have an advantage if you hire accident lawyers in Hollywood because we can deal with Lyft and insurers on your behalf. If they contact you, direct them to our legal team. We’ll communicate with them to prevent them from manipulating you into saying something that might jeopardize your claim.
Gather Evidence
The entire claims process can be time-consuming and stressful. Even obtaining a single piece of evidence can be physically demanding. Take a police accident report, for example. Since Hollywood is divided into multiple precincts, you’ll waste a lot of time if you don’t know where to get it. Additionally, business establishments with CCTV rarely hand out camera recordings to anyone who asks. Even so, our Lyft accident attorneys in Hollywood can easily procure police reports and have legal methods to obtain copies of CCTV footage.
These are just a few examples of the many pieces of evidence you’ll need to collect to strengthen your claim. Other time-consuming tasks that might be difficult to follow through with as you’re recovering physically include speaking with eyewitnesses, itemizing all of your expenses related to the accident, and consulting with a financial specialist.
Work For You On A Contingency Fee Basis
Some accident victims choose not to pursue their Lyft accident claims because they think they can’t afford it. However, you don’t have to worry about legal fees, as we offer our services on a contingency fee basis. As a client-centric law firm, we won’t let victims surrender their rights due to a lack of finances.
Our contingency fee approach means that you won’t pay us anything if our Hollywood lawyers do not win your Lyft accident case. If we successfully recover compensation for you, we’ll only take a certain percentage of the final settlement or award. It’s a win-win solution for you, as it gives you more confidence to claim what is rightfully yours.
Common Causes Of Lyft Accidents
Since we have handled many Lyft accidents in Hollywood, our lawyers are able to identify some causes that repeatedly appear in these cases, such as:
- Driver’s errors – The drivers of Lyft or other cars could make some mistakes while driving, potentially causing a crash. Some common driver errors leading to car accidents include distracted driving, DUI, overcorrecting, and violating traffic laws.
- Adverse weather conditions – Snow and rain could make the roads slippery and reduce the driver’s visibility. If motorists don’t exercise caution, they could get into an accident.
- Road constructions – Work zones on highways and streets might cause a buildup of traffic, increasing the risk of motor vehicle collisions involving Lyft. They might also produce loose debris and sharp metal objects, which could burst a car tire and cause a rollover or collision.
- Other road users – Truckers, motorcyclists, and other individuals on the road could cause a Lyft accident if they don’t uphold their legal responsibilities to keep others safe.
How Do Lyft Drivers Cause Accidents?
Lyft drivers aren’t the only ones who might be at fault for a car accident, but certain behaviors could increase the risk of causing one. Here are a few ways they might cause a crash:
Distracted Driving
Lyft drivers are more vulnerable to distracted driving because they have numerous reasons to use their cell phones while driving, such as:
- Check for available passenger bookings
- Chat with their passengers
- Set their passengers’ destinations
- Set the GPS
- Look at the map
- Troubleshoot the Lyft app
Speeding
Lyft drivers are not regular employees but contractors. They base their income on the number of trips they make each day.
As a way to earn more, some drivers go beyond the speed limits to bring their passengers to their destinations as fast as possible and get another booking.
Drowsy Driving
Almost all Lyft drivers work part-time. Most of them take time off from their respective duties before driving, and some even work graveyard shifts.
Even when Lyft drivers know they are tired and need a rest, they still choose to drive at the expense of the safety of their passengers and other motorists. When they fall asleep at the wheel, they could cause traffic accidents like rear-end collisions and sideswipes.
When you notice your driver yawning or closing their eyes at stop lights, feel free to call them out. They must make sure you get to your destination safely. Don’t hesitate to step out of the vehicle before something happens, but if you’re already injured in a Lyft accident, call our Hollywood Lyft accident lawyers right away.
Driving Under Influence
According to the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), there were 1,370 fatalities in 2021 involving alcohol-impaired drivers. A separate report about Los Angeles County revealed that around 6,866 victims were killed and injured in traffic crashes involving alcohol.
DUI is an ever-present danger in Hollywood and Los Angeles. Ironically, it’s one of the main issues that Lyft aims to solve or reduce. Despite these efforts, DUI remains a major cause of accidents, leading to injuries and deaths.
Aside from alcohol, illegal drugs and certain medications also contribute to many DUI-related accidents. Although driving under the influence isn’t unique to Lyft drivers, some use amphetamines to combat drowsiness. Amphetamines, such as Adderall and Dexedrine, are stimulants that increase alertness.
However, regardless of the reason for taking these substances, they pose a greater danger than a benefit. They can heavily impair an individual’s motor skills, judgment, and reaction time, all of which are essential to safe driving.
If you suspect your Lyft driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, report it to Lyft immediately. Or, if you have been injured in a DUI accident involving Lyft, speak with our Hollywood lawyers for guidance.
Dangerous Road Conditions
Lyft drivers are not always familiar with the roads they travel to pick up or drop off a passenger. As such, they might be caught off-guard by hazards, especially if there are no warning signs. They might pass through potholes or other poor road conditions that could make them lose control of the vehicle, resulting in fatal car accidents.
Common Injuries Sustained In A Lyft Accident
Victims in a Lyft-related traffic accident commonly sustain injuries like whiplash, cuts, and bruises. Some suffer from more severe injuries, like:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Back injuries
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractured bones
- Amputations
- Wrongful deaths
Additionally, our Hollywood Lyft accident lawyers have also had clients who have developed mental health issues, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Regardless of the severity of your injury, we recommend you pursue your claim, as the cost of treatment and rehabilitation can quickly add up. Our Lyft accident lawyers in Hollywood will help you claim what is rightfully yours.
Types Of Compensation Lyft Accident Victims Are Entitled To
If you’re a victim of a Lyft accident, you might be eligible to recover economic as well as non-economic damages.
Economic damages are quantifiable losses, such as past and future medical expenses, laboratory costs, therapy bills, lost wages, car repairs, and other out-of-pocket expenses.
In contrast, non-economic damages are the victim’s intangible losses, such as:
- Chronic pain and suffering
- Loss of a partner
- Loss of enjoyment in life
- Emotional distress
- Bodily disfigurement or dismemberment
- Depression and anxiety
Even though these losses are harder to quantify, our lawyers can still assign a monetary value using some computational methods. Additionally, our Lyft accident lawyers will consult with financial experts in Hollywood to determine the exact amount of all your current and future losses.
Who Can Be Liable For A Lyft Accident?
Since California is an at-fault state, the person or entity responsible for causing the accident is also liable for compensating you. Therefore, to pursue a claim, you’ll need to identify all potentially negligent parties under the law. These could include:
- The Lyft Driver – The driver may be liable if their negligence, as outlined above, caused the accident. Their auto insurance or Lyft’s third-party liability coverage would then compensate the victim.
- Lyft – In some cases, the rideshare company might have to pay for damages if they exhibited direct negligence.
- Other Road Users –Other drivers, pedestrians, or cyclists could also share some responsibility if their actions or inactions contributed to the accident.
- Third Parties – In certain situations, other individuals or companies might also be held accountable for paying the victim. Here are some sample scenarios:
- A vehicle manufacturer could be liable for an auto defect that led to an accident.
- Maintenance providers might be negligent in keeping the car parts up to standard, causing brake failures or tire blowouts.
- Government agencies could also be responsible if they neglect to maintain the roads.
- Determining which parties are responsible and the extent of their liabilities requires a thorough investigation. Consult with our Lyft accident lawyers in Hollywood, and we will ensure you get fair compensation from all of them.
How Does Lyft’s Insurance Policy Work?
Lyft maintains a third-party liability insurance policy to cover damages in an accident involving its driver, regardless of fault. However, the coverage depends on the driver’s activity at the time of the incident.
The driver has not logged into the Lyft app. He or she is presumed to be using the vehicle for personal use and, therefore, is solely responsible for an accident.
Since Lyft is not involved, the driver can use his or her auto insurance to cover the damages and losses sustained by the victims.
- $50,000/person for bodily injury
- $100,000/accident for bodily injury
- $25,000/accident for property damage
The driver has accepted a booking and is on their way to pick up the passenger. In this phase, if the driver gets into an accident, Lyft’s insurance coverage for victims is as follows:
- Up to $1 million for the total liability
- Up to $1 million for accidents caused by underinsured and uninsured motorists
- Additional coverage if a driver secures comprehensive and collision coverage on their personal auto policy (contingent on the car’s actual value with a $2,500 deductible)
The driver has picked up the passenger and is on their way to the destination. The same policies would cover an accident in this period as in Period 2.
These periods are some of the only factors that could complicate any accident involving rideshare services, even Uber. If you have any questions about how these could affect your Lyft accident case, reach out to our attorneys in Hollywood.
How Can I Prove Negligence For My Lyft Car Accident?
Evidence gathering is a crucial step in proving the negligent act of the at-fault party. This is why we have included the “Document Everything” step in the list of things you should do following a Lyft accident.
Some documents and other pieces of evidence that could greatly help your claim are:
- Police incident report
- Lyft accident report
- Medical records
- Dashcam videos
- CCTV footage
- Eyewitnesses’ testimonies
- Physical evidence, like a bloodied shirt
- Photos and videos of the accident from your mobile phone
Partnering with our Hollywood Lyft accident lawyers allows for a deeper investigation. We’ll uncover additional proof that can help you win your case, such as:
- Car repair/replacement estimates from experts
- Background check results (of the at-fault party)
- The negligent party’s criminal records, if there are any
In our years of practice in the personal injury field, we have consistently sought the opinions of medical, financial, and other relevant professionals. We use their expertise to strengthen your claim, something that sets us apart from other law firms.
In this way, we were able to resolve thousands of cases and win over $500 Million in settlements and awards for our clients. You can review these client testimonials online to learn more about Arash Law’s proven track record.
How Long Do I Have To File A Lyft Accident Lawsuit?
According to the California statute of limitations, you only have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. However, there are some exemptions to these rules:
- If the parents of the minor victim opt not to push the case, the process will be placed on hold. The victim may pursue it once he or she reaches the legal age, with the two-year timeframe resuming on their 18th birthday.
- When a victim’s injury manifests after the accident, even if it passes the two-year mark, they will still have another couple of years from the date his or her condition was discovered.
- If the victim is injured on government property, he or she will only have six months to file a claim against the respective government agency.
Two years may seem like a long time to file a lawsuit. But based on our experience, it is not, especially when the client is severely injured. The collection of evidence alone can take several months.
Some other deadlines and extensions might apply, depending on the specifics of the case. Make sure you don’t miss the chance to pursue compensation by calling our Lyft accident attorneys in Hollywood immediately.
What To Do After A Lyft Accident?
- First, check yourself for any injuries. Stay still if there is an unbearable pain. If you are bleeding, apply firm pressure to the wound and wait for the first responders to administer first aid.
- If you are on a freeway, stay in the car. Getting out could put you in more danger because of the passing vehicles. If possible, try to move the car to a safer area on the shoulder to avoid being hit by other vehicles.
- Call 911 for police and medical assistance.
- When police arrive, they will ask for your statement. Be careful with your words, and don’t apologize, as saying sorry may indicate you’re taking the blame for the incident.
- Let an EMT check on your injuries, even if you don’t think you’ve suffered any injuries.
- Start taking photos or videos of your injuries and the accident scene. You or your lawyers can use them as evidence.
- Ask for the Lyft driver’s complete name, address, phone number, and even their insurance details.
- Approach any witnesses you can find and get their contact information. Ask them if they would be willing to testify to the authorities.
- Report the accident to Lyft using the app (for passengers) or by filling out its online form.
- Visit the ER even if you feel fine to undergo a more thorough medical evaluation. Further medical attention will also reveal any other injuries.
- Let your insurance provider know about your accident.
- Give our Hollywood lawyers a call after your Lyft accident. They are on standby and can assist you at any time of the day. They will provide you with detailed instructions on what to do.
Lyft Accident Statistics
According to Lyft’s community safety report released in 2021, 99% of its trips from 2017 to 2019 ended safely. That leaves a small percentage of rides with safety incidents, specifically 0.0002%. Motor vehicle fatalities accounted for 0.000006% of all trips nationwide, leading to 49 deaths. Based on this number, there were 0.79 incidents per 100 million vehicle miles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is My Lyft Accident Case Worth?
Every case is different, and every compensation amount will be different as well. The outcome of each case depends on several factors, such as the kind of injury, its gravity, and its impact on your daily life and finances. The final amount you’ll receive will also depend on your percentage of fault, if any, and the insurance policy limits.
Is Lyft Safe For Female Passengers?
Generally, it is safe to ride Lyft and other ridesharing cars, even for women. However, there have been reports of Lyft drivers sexually abusing their passengers. In its community safety report, the company stated that there were over 4,000 instances of sexual abuse among passengers between 2017 and 2019.
Can I Sue Lyft For Sexual Abuse?
Yes, but it depends on the specific case. Are you a passenger who was harassed by a Lyft driver? The company itself might not be directly involved, but it could be sued if its negligence contributed to the driver’s actions. After all, it still has a legal responsibility to keep its customers safe. In this scenario, Lyft could be held liable if:
- It did not conduct proper background checks.
- It did not take action on previous complaints about the driver.
- It did not take appropriate actions to prevent such incidents.
Each case is unique, but the bottom line is that Lyft could only be sued under certain circumstances. Let our Lyft accident attorneys in Hollywood take a look at your case in a free initial consultation so that we can discuss your legal options.
How Much Does A Lyft Accident Lawyer Charge?
A Lyft accident lawyer in Hollywood and California typically charges around 33% to 40% of the final compensation. This payment structure will be discussed during your onboarding process, but in a nutshell, they won’t get paid unless you win. Unlike other types of lawyers, they don’t usually charge clients on an hourly basis.
Consult The Lyft Accident Lawyers Hollywood Relies On!
If you have been injured by a Lyft car or while using the rideshare service, you might have a case. Contact our award-winning Hollywood Lyft accident attorneys at (888) 488-1391 for a free initial consultation.
We have already helped thousands of personal injury victims, and we’re committed to achieving the best outcome for you as well.
Our lawyers can also assist Lyft accident victims in nearby locations, such as West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Glendale, Los Angeles, Burbank, Culver City, Inglewood, Huntington Park, South Pasadena, East Los Angeles, Walnut Park, Westmont, Santa Monica, Lennox, and La Canada Flintridge.
