Sacramento 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 Sacramento Lyft Accident Lawyers Will Help With Your Injury Claims
Ridesharing services like Lyft are known for being convenient, but accidents can still happen, especially when negligence is involved. If you’re injured in a Lyft crash, you might be eligible to pursue compensation. Our Sacramento Lyft accident lawyers will support you in this pursuit of justice. Call us at (888) 488-1391 so we can review your case for free.
Sacramento is one of the oldest cities in California. It showcases several fascinating landmarks, parks, and amenities that draw visitors from all over the world. Among the popular go-to destinations here are the California State Capitol, Tower Bridge, Sacramento Convention Center, Old Sacramento Waterfront, Sutter’s Fort, and City Historic Cemetery.
These attractions have contributed much to the booming tourism industry of the city, which welcomes 15.3 million tourists annually. Many of these guests use Lyft to travel from one location to another conveniently. However, although ridesharing services have become a central component of Sacramento’s transportation infrastructure, Lyft accidents still happen.
If you’re hurt in an accident involving Lyft, our personal injury attorneys can help. We have experience handling Lyft accident cases. Our Sacramento law firm is committed to assisting you through an injury claim or exploring your potential options for compensation.
2019: $27M confidential settlement in a case involving multiple plaintiffs.– JUDD ROSS ALLEN
How Our Lyft Accident Lawyers In Sacramento Help With Your Claim
Our Lyft accident attorneys in Sacramento use their knowledge from handling a wide range of injury cases to help you build a claim. We can guide you through the legal process and advocate for your rights. Our lawyers can help you:
- Conduct a thorough investigation and gather supporting evidence.
- Establish the at-fault party’s negligence.
- Work with other professionals, including doctors and accident reconstructionists, to support your claim.
- Help you initiate a wrongful death claim if a loved one perished in the accident.
Negotiating with Lyft and insurance companies is one of our strengths. Our lawyers can help you review settlement offers. We’ll protect your interests and advocate for the compensation that reflects your damages. If necessary, our legal representatives can initiate a lawsuit to pursue damages.
What Makes A Lyft Accident Case Complicated?
Accidents involving Lyft are often different from typical car crashes. They present distinct challenges for victims, whether they are passengers, drivers, or pedestrians. The complex nature of these cases entails the following:
- Insurance Coverage — Lyft provides insurance policies for its drivers, but the coverage depends on the latter’s status at the time of the accident. For instance, coverage may be different if the driver was waiting for a ride request or on the way to pick up a passenger when the incident happened.
- Multiple Liable Parties — Several individuals or companies could be liable for a single accident. These may be Lyft drivers, their passengers, auto part manufacturers, and other road users. Determining who’s responsible may be challenging and requires a deep examination of the incident. Our Lyft accident attorneys in Sacramento can help with that.
- Complex Legal Issues — Lyft accident cases might have complicated legal concerns that are not present in other car collisions. One of the most complex issues is the classification of drivers as independent contractors rather than Lyft employees. This aspect affects the legal options available to victims initiating claims, as different regulations may be applicable.
- Restricted Evidence — Lyft’s policies control the sharing of drivers’ data, driving logs, GPS, and other performance records. As such, some vital evidence that can support your claim may not be available unless someone initiates a legal process.
Our Sacramento Lyft accident lawyers can use their experience to help you navigate injury claims. After many years of handling similar cases, we are well-versed in the laws governing these incidents.
Common Lyft Accident Scenarios
Lyft plays a significant role in transportation in Sacramento. However, it also poses a risk for its passengers, drivers, and other motorists. It can get into an accident in many ways, including the following:
The Lyft Driver Caused A Single-Car Accident While Carrying A Passenger
Reckless Lyft drivers may cause accidents that lead to the injuries or deaths of their passengers. Although the rideshare company strictly promotes safe driving, some of its drivers still violate traffic rules. Others also display negligence as they overspeed and drive while distracted, intoxicated, or tired. These behaviors put passengers at risk of danger because Lyft cars may crash into external objects and obstacles, such as road signs, traffic lights, and trees.
In some cases, rainy weather and poor road conditions might also contribute to a Lyft accident. You might need the help of a Sacramento Lyft accident lawyer to seek compensation for accidents caused by these factors.
Here are some of Lyft’s requirements that aim to reduce incidents:
- Drivers are required to undergo an annual background check.
- Vehicles must pass a climate emissions-level test.
- Lyft vehicles must undergo a full inspection every 12 months or once they reach 50,000 miles, whichever comes first.
- Drivers must take an 8-hour break after driving 10 consecutive hours within a 24-hour period.
The Lyft Vehicle Hit A Pedestrian
Pedestrians are also common victims of Lyft accidents. Despite the existence of the right-of-way rule, drivers might still hit pedestrians due to carelessness or insufficient attention to the road.
Lyft passengers at the time could also sustain injuries. As a result, the driver who caused the crash may be liable for compensating both victims, as well as any other individuals who were injured. Consulting experienced Sacramento Lyft accident lawyers may be beneficial in this scenario.
The Lyft Car Crashed Into Another Vehicle
Traffic crashes caused by reckless Lyft drivers are not uncommon on the roads of Sacramento. Their negligence results in various types of car accidents, such as:
- T-bone accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on accidents
- Sideswipe collisions
- Multiple vehicle pileups
- Hit-and-run accidents
Driver errors are the most common cause of these accidents, involving speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, poor navigation, and inexperienced driving.
Other Motorists Crashed Into The Lyft Car
Even if Lyft drivers are careful, accidents can still occur due to the recklessness of some motorists. In such cases, the victims would have to file a claim against the identified liable driver instead of the Lyft driver.
If any of these situations have happened to you, contact our Lyft accident lawyers in Sacramento. We will evaluate your case to see if you have a valid personal injury claim. We’ll also determine who is responsible for covering the costs of your damages.
Common Injuries In Lyft Accidents
Lyft accidents and car crashes commonly result in these injuries:
- Whiplash — These injuries occur when the head suddenly jerks in one direction, straining the neck muscles and ligaments. If left untreated, whiplash may lead to long-term complications and disabilities.
- Head & Brain Injuries — The victims of a crash may suffer concussions, contusions, and traumatic brain injuries when they hit their heads on hard surfaces, like the dashboard or the ground. Some symptoms of these injuries are headaches, confusion, and memory loss.
- Back Injuries — Lyft accidents may lead to injuries such as sprains, spinal cord injuries, and herniated discs. These happen when a strong force causes the spine to compress or bend unnaturally.
- Internal Injuries — High-impact collisions can cause internal organs to rupture, leading to organ failure or internal bleeding. These bodily injuries may not be immediately apparent but require urgent medical attention.
- Amputations — The impact of a Lyft collision can sometimes damage the limbs of its victims to the point of no repair. In these cases, amputation may be necessary. Victims would then have to undergo long-term care and adjustments to their everyday tasks.
- Lacerations — Broken glass or sharp metal from the car can cause cuts and lacerations.
- Broken Bones — The impact of collisions can also cause broken bones or fractures in the arms, legs, and ribs. Depending on the severity, fractured bones take a long time to heal. Sadly, there have been cases where broken bones never fully heal at all.
- Wrongful Death — Some Lyft accidents cause the deaths of victims. In such cases, the surviving family members can initiate a wrongful death claim to pursue damages.
If you’re injured in a Lyft accident, you may need the help of our Sacramento lawyers. We can refer you to qualified medical professionals to support your recovery and provide professional opinions relevant to your case.
What Damages Can You Seek After A Lyft Accident?
Our lawyers in Sacramento can help you pursue the following damages following a Lyft accident:
Economic Damages — These refer to the quantifiable expenses that victims incur as a result of the accident. They typically include:
- Medical bills
- Follow-up treatments
- Rehabilitation and other therapies
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Property damage
Non-Economic Damages — These are more subjective, aiming to compensate victims for intangible losses like:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Mental and emotional traumas
- Disfigurements
- Permanent or temporary disabilities
- Wrongful deaths
In very rare cases, courts also award punitive damages, especially if the accident happened due to someone’s gross negligence or malicious intent. These grants aim to discipline at-fault parties to prevent them from committing the same mistake in the future.
If you want to pursue a claim for these damages, our Lyft accident attorneys in Sacramento can guide you through the legal process. We can help you build a case that demonstrates the extent of your losses resulting from the accident.
How Does Lyft’s Liability Insurance Work?
Lyft offers liability insurance for accidents involving its drivers, but coverage depends on what the driver was doing at the time of the incident. There are specific periods that determine which insurance applies.
Period 0
The driver is not logged on to the Lyft app.
When drivers cause an accident during Period 0, their personal auto insurance policies may cover the victim’s losses.
Period 1
The driver is logged into the app and waiting for a ride request.
If Lyft drivers get into accidents while waiting for ride requests, their auto insurance must pay for any damages first. If this isn’t enough, the rideshare company’s third-party liability insurance might cover the extra costs. At this stage, an accident can be covered by Lyft’s insurance policy in these amounts:
- $50,000 per person for bodily injury
- $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
Period 2
The driver has accepted a ride request and is en route to pick up the passenger. An accident during this period is covered by Lyft’s third-party liability insurance worth at least $1 million, plus the following:
- First-party coverage for uninsured or underinsured motorists, personal injury protection, medical payments, and occupational accidents
- If the Lyft driver has collision coverage, the company will extend a comprehensive policy to cover the actual value of damaged cars.
Period 3
The driver has picked up the passenger and is en route to their destination. The same policy as in Period 2 applies.
Should you have further questions about these policies, our Lyft accident attorneys in Sacramento can assist with your queries. Call us at (888) 488-1391.
What Types Of Insurance Policies Do Lyft Drivers Have?
Lyft drivers normally maintain an auto insurance policy. By default, California requires them to have personal insurance coverage for any accident involving their vehicles.
However, these policies don’t usually apply if the driver is using the car for business purposes, like driving for Lyft. As such, drivers might also carry commercial auto insurance, which would cover the damages for which they are liable.
As per California law, drivers must meet the following minimum liability insurance requirements:
- $30,000 for injuries or death per person
- $60,000 for injuries or death per accident
- $15,000 for damage to property
In case the Lyft driver’s auto insurance policy is not enough to cover the full amount of damages, the rideshare company’s third-party liability insurance might kick in. However, it would still depend on whether they were using the app when the incident occurred. When the responsible parties do not have enough insurance coverage, our Sacramento Lyft accident lawyers can find ways to advocate for appropriate compensation based on your damages.
Who Can Be Held Liable For A Lyft Accident?
Lyft accidents may involve one or more at-fault parties. These may include the following:
- Lyft Drivers — In many cases, Lyft drivers get blamed for crashes. Pursuant to California law, they must exercise reasonable care to prevent their passengers from getting harmed. If the drivers breach this obligation, they could become liable for the resulting accident.
- Lyft — The rideshare company might also share some liability depending on the circumstances of the accident. They could be directly negligent if they failed to screen or train drivers properly.
- Vehicle Manufacturers — When accidents occur due to auto defects, the manufacturer of the vehicle or its parts could be responsible for compensating the victims.
- Third-Party Drivers — Drivers of other vehicles may also be liable for Lyft accidents caused by their carelessness.
When multiple parties are found at fault for Lyft accidents, they may share liability according to the comparative negligence rules. Our Sacramento Lyft accident attorneys can help you investigate the case to identify all parties at fault and gather evidence to prove their negligence.
How Can You Prove Negligence In A Lyft Accident?
Lyft accident cases require proving the existence of negligence to hold responsible parties accountable. To demonstrate this, victims must establish four elements:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
If you’ve been injured in a Lyft accident in Sacramento, our lawyers can help establish key factors proving negligence.
When Do You Need Our Lyft Accident Lawyers In Sacramento?
Our Sacramento lawyers offer legal assistance to individuals injured in Lyft accidents. Any delay could jeopardize your claim, as evidence can be lost, and several parties might try to take advantage of your vulnerability. In a short span of time, you might encounter the following practices from liable parties:
- Discouraging you from getting legal representation.
- Looking for information they could use to minimize or deny your claim.
- Stalking and harassing you.
- Trying to blame you for your injuries.
- Disputing the extent of your losses.
You don’t have to subject yourself to these scenarios. Get the help of our Sacramento Lyft accident attorneys if you encounter these issues.
Gomez v. PG Transportation (settled on 8/11/2023) – settlement involving a man who was struck by a car resulting in a mild traumatic brain injury as well as other orthopedic injuries.– TINA ESHGHIEH
What To Bring During The Consultation
When consulting with our Sacramento lawyers, it’s advisable to share every detail you may know about your Lyft accident. If possible, you must also present any evidence you collected from the incident. Don’t worry if you can’t show sufficient documentation. Our law firm can collect it on your behalf.
Examples are:
- Name and contact information of the Lyft driver and other involved parties.
- Photos and videos taken at the accident scene.
- Contact details of witnesses.
- Accident report from law enforcement authorities.
- Medical accounts from your doctor.
- Treatment and medication bills.
- Proof of your lost earnings, like payroll records and paychecks.
Statute Of Limitations In Lyft Accident Cases
Based on California’s statute of limitations, Lyft accident victims have two years to file their lawsuits. Some other exceptions might be applicable, depending on the details of your case.
What if you miss your deadline for filing a personal injury claim? Then it will likely be dismissed, even if you have solid evidence of the other party’s negligence. This also means you won’t be able to pursue compensation.
What To Do After A Lyft Accident?
Traffic accidents can happen to anyone. Knowing the steps to take after a Lyft accident can help you protect your legal rights and navigate the situation more confidently. Our Sacramento Lyft accident lawyers encourage you to follow these steps:
- Stay calm and assess your injuries. If you or someone around you gets injured, call 911 for immediate medical aid.
- Move to a safe spot away from traffic. This step applies whether you’re a passenger, pedestrian, or occupant of another vehicle.
- Contact the authorities. They can act as mediators, especially if the involved parties get too agitated. They will also create a police report containing the official details of the accident.
- Collect and preserve evidence. Take photos and videos of the accident scene, including the Lyft car and other vehicles involved, injuries sustained, and property damage. Also, take note of the names and contact information of all involved parties. If there are witnesses, ask for their details as well.
- Report the incident to Lyft. If you’re a passenger, you can do so via the app. You can also make a report via their online form, whether you’re a driver, rider, or third party.
- Call our Lyft accident attorneys in Sacramento at (888) 488-1391. We can help you determine if you have a valid personal injury claim.
Lyft Accident Statistics
Lyft has indeed made a name throughout the U.S. The rideshare company generated $4.4 billion in revenue in 2023, a 7.5% year-on-year increase. In the same year, it logged 21.4 million active riders, reflecting a 5.4% growth from 2022.
As Lyft progresses in the U.S., reports of accidents involving the rideshare service are also increasing. However, according to the company’s most recent Community Safety Report, incidents involving it are rare. Over 99% of trips nationwide ended without any safety incident, and around 0.000006% of completed rides led to motor vehicle fatalities.
No matter how small this percentage might seem, it’s not something to be overlooked. It only emphasizes that safety incidents are possible and can happen at any time. That’s why our Lyft accident lawyers in Sacramento are committed to helping injury victims seek compensation for their losses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Lyft Accidents
Which Insurance Coverage Would Apply If A Lyft Driver Hit You?
It depends on the circumstances of the crash and what the Lyft driver was doing at the time. Different insurance policies apply depending on whether the driver was off duty, waiting for a ride request, en route to a passenger, or actively transporting one.
In some cases, you may also seek compensation through your own auto insurance or the driver’s personal insurance if Lyft’s coverage doesn’t fully apply. Our Sacramento Lyft accident lawyers can evaluate your case, determine which policies cover your losses, and explain your options.
Whose Insurance Will Cover Your Lyft Accident Damages?
Lyft accident victims may seek compensation for their damages from the insurance policies of liable parties. Since California is an at-fault state, the law requires anyone who causes the accident to pay for the injuries inflicted on the victims.
That means if the Lyft driver is to blame, then you may seek compensation from their auto insurance policies and/or Lyft’s insurance policy, depending on the case. On the other hand, if other motorists were fully or partially responsible, then you can also pursue damages against their insurers.
Determining who is responsible for covering your damages can be a complex process. Leave this task to our Sacramento lawyers, who have experience handling Lyft accidents.
Do I Need A Lawyer For A Lyft Accident In Sacramento, CA?
Lawyers can be invaluable allies following an accident involving Lyft. For one, the laws and regulations governing these incidents are difficult to understand. The legal processes, such as filing a claim and negotiating, also pose a challenge.
Our Sacramento Lyft accident lawyers can take charge of all these tasks. Although we’ll engage you in the process, we won’t take up much of your time so that you can focus more on your recovery.
Can I Sue Lyft For My Accident?
In some cases, you can sue the rideshare company itself for an accident involving its drivers. In a typical scenario, the at-fault driver would be liable to compensate you. Lyft isn’t involved directly since it’s not responsible for the actions of its independent contractors.
If you want to sue Lyft directly, you must establish negligence on their part. For instance, the company might be liable if it hires high-risk drivers without conducting criminal background checks. Overlooking this step means there’s a high chance of employing those who have records of previous violations.
A case involving Lyft or other rideshare companies could become complicated. Contact our Sacramento Lyft accident attorneys so we can review your legal grounds and see if you have a claim against the company.
How Much Is My Lyft Accident Claim Worth?
The amounts may vary wildly depending on the details of the Lyft accident, the severity of the injuries, the extent of property damage, and insurance policy limits. If you want to know how much you’re entitled to, reach out to our Sacramento lawyers, who handle Lyft accident cases. We’ll assess every loss you’ve incurred or will incur, and we’ll collaborate with medical and financial experts to come up with a fair amount.
How Long Will It Take To Receive My Settlement?
No law firm can guarantee an exact timeline for any case they handle, including when a client may receive their settlement. Processing claims could be a painstakingly long process, as it considers every detail of the accident. Because of this, it may take months or years to settle a case involving Lyft.
How Can I Afford To Hire A Lawyer For My Lyft Accident?
Most Lyft accident lawyers in Sacramento operate on a contingency fee basis. They will only get paid once they successfully recover compensation for you. You won’t have to pay upfront attorney fees; however, certain court costs or other associated expenses may be the client’s responsibility. We’ll discuss it further during your onboarding process.
Additionally, our Sacramento Lyft accident lawyers offer a complimentary initial consultation, during which we will review the circumstances of your case and determine if you have a valid legal basis for a personal injury claim.
Call Our Lyft Accident Lawyers In Sacramento
Are you thinking about pursuing a claim for your Lyft accident damages? Our Sacramento Lyft accident lawyers, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., have your back. We can guide you from the first to the last step in the legal process. Tell us about your Lyft accident by calling (888) 488-1391 or filling out our “Do I Have A Case?” form.
Individuals outside of Sacramento can also benefit from our legal representation, as our law firm represents injured parties in neighboring cities and throughout the region. These include West Sacramento, Rosemont, Florin, La Riviera, Rio Linda, Carmichael, the North Highlands, Rancho Cordova, Foothill Farms, Fair Oaks, Davis, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Orangevale, and Roseville.
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