Lassen County Lyft Accident Lawyers
We’ll tell you if you have a case or not, call (888) 488-1391 — We’re here 24 hours a day.
Our Lassen County Lyft Accident Lawyers Are Advocates Who Stand By Your Side
No one suspects they’ll get involved in an accident while they’re in a Lyft vehicle. However, the rideshare service is not exempt from traffic collisions. If you suffered injuries in a Lyft accident, call us at (888) 488-1391 to schedule a free case review. Our Lassen County Lyft accident lawyers can help you understand your legal options, whether you’re a passenger, pedestrian, or another driver.
Lassen County is the ideal destination for every outdoor adventurer. Some tourists prefer to drive or take public transport to visit the region. Others may use rideshare services like Lyft, which have become increasingly popular due to their convenience and affordability. However, studies show that the widespread adoption of these services has also led to an increase in road collisions.
If you sustained serious injuries in a Lyft accident, contact our Lassen County attorneys. We’ll seek financial compensation for your losses. We will investigate your case and identify potentially liable parties for your claim.
Our client was driving with his wife and son on a two-lane highway when a drunk driver crossed the double yellow lines, causing a head-on collision that claimed the life of a loving wife and mother.– ARASH KHORSANDI
How Our Lassen County Lyft Accident Lawyers Can Help
Arash Law has represented numerous victims of traffic collisions throughout the state. Our Lassen County Lyft accident lawyers can help you with the following:
- Thoroughly investigate the accident, working with other professionals as needed.
- Gather evidence, including medical records, police reports, video footage, witness statements, and expert opinions, to support your case.
- Handle the timely filing of your claim and submission of pertinent documents.
- Identify all tangible and intangible damages.
- Negotiate with all liable parties and their insurers for fair compensation.
- File a lawsuit if it is an appropriate alternative in pursuing your claim.
Furthermore, we work on a contingency basis, so you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Take advantage of our free, no-obligation consultation when you call our Lassen County injury law firm at (888) 488-1391. We can explain our fee structure and other case-related costs you may still have to pay during this meeting.
Common Causes Of Lyft Accidents
Our lawyers have handled numerous rideshare and car accident cases over the years. Driver error is the most common cause of car accidents, including those involving Lyft vehicles.
The following are some contributors to Lyft accidents:
- Reckless Driving — Drivers may engage in unsafe behaviors like speeding or making abrupt lane changes, which can increase the risk of accidents.
- Distracted Driving — Drivers may get distracted as they use their phones or when they converse with passengers. They may miss hazards if they look away from the road for a moment.
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI) — Lyft has a zero-tolerance policy against drug and alcohol use. DUI may impair one’s ability to concentrate, respond to unexpected situations, and maintain proper control over their vehicle.
- Not Maintaining the Vehicle Regularly — Drivers should regularly maintain their vehicles. Otherwise, they might not recognize that certain parts of the vehicle are already malfunctioning and require repairs. A blown tire or brake failure may cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
- Driving Under Inclement Weather — Extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rain and snow, can be challenging even for experienced motorists. Drivers should be extra careful to prevent harm.
When assessing the value of your case, our Lassen County Lyft accident attorneys will also consider other factors during the investigation. Our car accident lawyers will gather evidence, such as traffic camera footage and police reports, to identify who may be liable.
Hurt In A Lyft Accident?
Common Injuries After A Lyft Crash
Some victims may only suffer minor injuries after an accident. However, certain injuries may appear minor but may worsen if left untreated. This is why seeking medical attention is crucial after getting involved in any traffic accident. If you’re worried about the medical costs, contact Lyft accident lawyers in Lassen County. We’ll help you seek compensation from the liable parties for your medical bills.
The typical injuries victims sustain in Lyft accidents are:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries — Also referred to as TBIs, these may range from mild concussions to permanent cognitive impairment. In severe cases, victims may require lifelong medical care.
- Whiplash — Commonly known as neck strain, it may cause chronic neck pain and paralysis of the vocal cords. This injury can impact your personal injury claim.
- Spinal Cord Injuries — An impact to the back during a collision may also damage the spinal cord. Severe cases can lead to permanent paralysis, compounding a claim with costs for possible lifelong care.
- Internal Injuries — Some internal injuries can have long-lasting health implications, such as chronic pain, organ damage, or even permanent disability. Serious injuries like this can significantly increase the value of an injury claim.
- Broken Bones — Victims who suffered broken bones or fractures may need months or years to heal completely. Their daily routine and ability to work may be affected, adding another layer of expenses.
Liable Parties In Lyft Accidents
Our Lassen County Lyft accident lawyers can help you identify who may be liable for your damages. We will face their insurers or lawyers and advocate for your rights to pursue a claim.
Depending on the circumstances of the collision, the potentially liable parties in Lyft accidents may include the following:
- Lyft Drivers — Lyft drivers may be held liable if they demonstrate negligent or reckless behavior that caused the accident. Distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence, and disobeying traffic laws are common factors that could establish the Lyft driver’s liability.
- Other Motorists — If another driver caused your Lyft accident, then they will pay for your damages. Say a car rear-ended the Lyft you’re riding at an intersection, causing injuries. You can hold the car driver liable.
- Pedestrians and Cyclists — While they are more likely to sustain serious injuries because of their vulnerability, pedestrians and cyclists may also be partly liable if their negligence or willful misconduct contributed to your accident.
- Government Entities — In some instances, an accident is caused by poor road conditions. In this case, the government agency in charge of road maintenance in that location can be held liable.
How Our Lyft Accident Attorneys Prove Negligence
When pursuing a personal injury claim, you need to prove the at-fault party’s negligence. Our Lyft accident attorneys in Lassen County will help you establish these four elements:
- Duty of Care — First, we’ll establish that the defendant owes you a duty of care. If you’re a rider, your Lyft driver must exercise the highest degree of care to keep you safe.
- Breach of Duty — Next, we’ll prove that the driver breached their duty. For instance, the driver was intoxicated while driving.
- Causation — We will also demonstrate that the driver’s breach of duty directly caused the accident. In the above example, the drunk Lyft driver swerved into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with another vehicle.
- Damages — Lastly, we’ll show that you sustained damages or losses due to the accident. As a result of the accident, you got injured, so we will use medical bills and other paperwork to prove you incurred losses.
Compensation You May Pursue After A Lyft Collision
Accident victims may be able to seek compensation for their injuries under California law. Such compensation should cover your actual and subjective damages. In very rare cases, punitive damages may also be awarded when someone intentionally harms another or exhibits gross negligence.
Depending on the details of their claims, the damages that victims can pursue are:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Physical impairment
- Permanent scarring
The amount of compensation in your Lyft accident claim will depend on various factors, including the severity of injuries and damages. However, since California is a pure comparative fault state, your award may be reduced if you are partly responsible for your accident. The amount that will be subtracted will depend on your percentage of fault.
Lyft’s Insurance Coverage
Several insurance policies may cover a Lyft accident in Lassen County, depending on the following “periods”:
Period 0
The driver is still offline, meaning they have not logged into the app yet. The driver’s auto insurance covers accidents during this period.
Period 1
The driver is already online and waiting for a ride request. During this period, the policy limits are as follows:
- $50,000 for bodily injury per person.
- $100,000 for bodily injury per accident.
- $30,000 for property damage per accident.
Period 2
The driver received a ride request and was on the way to the passenger’s location. The policy limits at this period are:
- $1,000,000 third-party liability coverage.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.
- Contingent comprehensive and collision (up to the vehicle’s actual cash value with a $2,500 deductible).
Period 3
The driver has picked up the passenger and is traveling to the destination. Lyft provides liability coverage with the following amounts:
- $1,000,000 third-party liability.
- Uninsured/Underinsured (UM/UIM) motorist coverage.
- Contingent comprehensive and collision.
It is essential to recognize that, although there are policy limits, coverage applies only to the actual damages that victims have incurred. Our Lassen County Lyft accident lawyers can help you understand these coverages and determine which one applies to your case. Fill out our “Do I Have A Case?” form to learn if you have a valid claim.
What You Should Do After A Lyft Accident
When you get into a Lyft accident, you need to think and act fast to ensure your safety and protect your rights. Here are the steps to consider:
- Ask your driver to move the vehicle away from traffic for safety. If it is not possible, leave the vehicle and proceed to a safe spot.
- Once safe, check yourself for injuries. Look for wounds, bruises, and other signs of injury.
- Call 911 if anyone is injured.
- Submit an accident report to Lyft.
- Screenshot your ride details on the Lyft app and ask the driver for their insurance information.
- Ask for the witnesses’ names and their contact details.
- Take pictures of the accident scene, your injuries, and damage to property, if you can. Other details of the accident, such as the weather, road conditions, and traffic signs, should also be noted or photographed.
- Paramedics should transport you to emergency care, but if you were not injured or your injuries seem very minor, they may not take you. Nonetheless, go to the nearest hospital for a complete workup. Inform the doctor that you’ve just been in a car accident so they can conduct all the necessary tests.
- Inform your insurer about the accident. You might need coverage if the other party doesn’t have insurance.
- Consult with our Lassen County Lyft accident lawyers. We can help you deal with the legal legwork so you can focus on your recovery.
What initially seemed like a routine rear-end collision, commonly known as a “fender bender,” turned into a significant settlement with high maximum limits for a client who suffered lower back disc injuries. The case was resolved just two weeks before the scheduled trial commencement.– BRIAN BEECHER
Time Limit For Filing Personal Injury Claims
The statute of limitations in California, or the period during which you may file a personal injury claim, is two years after the accident date. Claims against a government agency are subject to a six-month limitation for filing. Our Lyft accident attorneys in Lassen County can assist with the timely submission of your claim while you focus on your healing. Contact us to schedule a free case evaluation.
Lyft Accident Statistics
Researchers from the University of Chicago and Rice University conducted a study on accident rates in the U.S. before and after the introduction of rideshare services like Lyft. The study revealed a 3% increase in traffic fatalities per year. This is equivalent to almost a thousand more people dying due to road collisions.
Furthermore, the accident rate in major U.S. cities before rideshare services were launched was steady at 2 per 100,000 people annually. However, when Uber and Lyft came out, this average jumped to 3.5 accidents for every 100,000 people each year.
Lyft’s Safety Transparency Report for 2020-2022 stated that there were 111 motor vehicle fatalities during the said period. This is equivalent to a 14% increase in rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled and a 31% increase in incident frequency rate from the previous report.
These are not just mere statistics for Arash Law. They represent actual people and grieving families who had to deal with the consequences of these tragic accidents. If someone you care about is injured or killed in one of these collisions, speak with our Lassen County Lyft accident attorneys.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need A Personal Injury Lawyer To File A Lyft Accident Claim?
Technically, you don’t need to have a personal injury lawyer file a claim. However, hiring one can be beneficial for cases that involve severe injuries and complicated liability issues. Lassen County Lyft accident attorneys can handle all settlement negotiations and other legal communications on your behalf.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Lyft Accident Attorney?
It depends on the billing policy and conditions of the lawyer or law firm. However, like most personal injury lawyers, many Lyft accident attorneys in Lassen County work on a contingency basis. With this payment scheme, you don’t need to pay upfront lawyer fees, although certain case-related costs may still apply. The legal costs are contingent upon your attorney obtaining compensation on your behalf. If there is a recovery, the exact amount will depend on factors such as the complexity of the case, the resources dedicated by the lawyers, and other relevant considerations.
How Much Is My Lyft Accident Case Worth?
Each Lyft accident claim is unique, so we cannot tell exactly how much your case is worth without the details. The value will likely be affected by the following factors:
- Your injuries and how severe or painful they are.
- Your level of activity before your injuries.
- Medical treatment costs and whether you will need ongoing treatment.
- Loss of income.
- Permanent impairments, disfigurements, or disabilities.
- Physical and emotional suffering you’ve experienced due to your injuries.
- Lost or diminished earning capacity and other lost career opportunities.
In addition to these, other factors may play a role in determining the value of your claim as well. Our Lyft accident attorneys in Lassen County can meticulously review the facts to assess the potential worth of your claim.
How Long Will It Take To Receive My Settlement?
It can take a few months to a few years to resolve an accident claim with Lyft. Many factors can affect the timeline. Lyft may dispute liability, or there may be issues about which insurance policy will apply. These may take a while to resolve.
Nonetheless, parties to civil claims often settle privately to save time and money. The parties should agree on mutually acceptable terms for this to happen. If parties can’t agree on a mutual resolution, Lassen County Lyft accident lawyers can help the victims explore other possible legal options, like filing a lawsuit. However, this process may take longer than resolving cases through settlements.
Consult Our Lyft Accident Attorneys In Lassen County!
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Lyft accident, seek legal help from our Lassen County Lyft accident lawyers. With dedication to clients, our injury law firm aims to provide the legal support they need throughout their case.
Arash Law is a personal injury law firm in California with experience handling Lyft accident cases, among others. Our lawyers will work to pursue a fair settlement that addresses your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call us at (888) 488-1391 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Our attorneys help Lyft accident victims throughout Lassen County, including Susanville, Janesville, and Westwood. We offer legal representation to injured victims in nearby areas, such as Modoc County, Shasta County, Plumas County, Carson, Greenville, Red Bluff, and Sun Valley.
