Sierra 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 Sierra County Lyft Accident Lawyers Turn Injuries Into Life-Changing Settlements.
Ridesharing services have become increasingly popular, offering a convenient alternative to driving and public transportation. However, the rising demand for Lyft also leads to a higher risk of road accidents. Our Sierra County Lyft accident lawyers can help you recover compensation if you were injured in one. Call Arash Law at (888) 488-1391 today. We offer a free initial consultation where we discuss your rights and legal options.
While Lyft does not currently operate directly in Sierra County, CA, you can still use Lyft to travel to nearby areas with Lyft service, such as Yuba City or Truckee, and then find alternative transportation to Sierra County.
Riding with Lyft means trusting your driver to transport you to your destination safely. However, as Lyft continues to grow and hire thousands of drivers, you never know whether the driver you’re paired with has adequate training in transporting people. If you’re injured in an accident involving a Lyft vehicle, we can help. With over $500 Million recovered for clients, our Lyft accident lawyers will fight for maximum compensation and your financial future.
How Our Sierra County Lyft Accident Lawyers Can Help You
Lyft accidents leave victims not only with severe injuries but also uncertainties and confusion. In the aftermath of such an incident, seek expert legal representation to ensure your rights are protected. Our Lyft accident lawyers can help in the following ways:
- Building A Compelling Case — Our skilled Lyft accident attorneys will investigate the crash and determine who’s negligent. By gathering police reports, witness testimonies, and other pieces of evidence, we can create a strong case establishing your damages and losses.
- Determining & Calculating Damages — Your Lyft accident lawyers can assess what you are entitled to recover, including medical expenses, property damage, and pain and suffering. We will ensure the monetary settlement you get from the liable parties covers all these damages.
- Assigning & Proving Liability — Part of what makes Lyft accidents complicated is the possible involvement and liability of multiple parties. We can look at the specifics of your case to identify and hold the driver, Lyft, or a third party accountable.
- Negotiating — We negotiate with insurance companies to maximize your payout. Knowing you’re legally represented is enough to make them treat your claim fairly and increase the odds of higher settlements. No dirty insurance tactic will get past us.
- Representing You In Court — Insurance providers know we will not hesitate to take swift action and file a personal injury lawsuit if they refuse to provide a fair settlement.
Hire the Lyft accident lawyers Sierra County residents rely on. We will help you regain confidence and control over your life.
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
Why Hire Our Lyft Accident Attorneys
Getting legal representation after a Lyft accident is critical. However, choosing the best injury lawyer for your case shouldn’t be stressful, especially when you’re recovering. Here are the top reasons to hire an attorney from our Sierra County injury law firm:
- Expertise & Experience — The legal aspects of ridesharing accidents are still relatively new and specialized. You require an experienced lawyer who knows the ins and outs of ridesharing and can deal with ride-hailing giants and their insurance providers.
- Proven Track Record — We have successfully fought for countless clients, even against powerful corporations with resources to defend themselves aggressively. Our acclaimed track record, with over $500 Million recovered for accident victims, is a testament to our dedication and skills. In July 2021, the $1.55 million settlement we recovered for a client who sustained wrist and spinal injuries after a motorcycle vs. rideshare company accident became the largest motorcycle settlement in Tulare County that year.
- Client-Centered Representation — Arash Law’s philosophy in personal injury law is, first and foremost, client-centered. Our first-rate legal advocacy emphasizes empathy. We understand the profound impact these traumatic events can have on our clients’ lives. That’s why we are committed to providing personalized attention and a supportive environment where you can share your story. A former client, Lene B., said working with Arash Law was the best experience she ever had with an attorney. “They are really great! I worked with other attorneys in the past and never received this type of professional representation. This office really cares about their clients.”
- No Fee Unless We Win — Our Sierra County Lyft accident attorneys provide quality legal representation without any upfront costs. Taking cases on a contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case — if we don’t win, you don’t have to pay us anything.
Liability And Insurance Coverage For Lyft Accidents
Lyft drivers can get involved in a collision with another driver, motorcyclist, bicyclist, pedestrian, or even an immobile object. Regardless, they all tend to cause harm to everyone involved, not just the Lyft driver and their passengers. To establish liability for an accident, the injured party’s rideshare accident lawyer must prove the negligence of the responsible party. Proving a Lyft driver’s negligence, for instance, entails establishing four crucial elements:
- The Lyft driver must adhere to the highest standard of care to transport you safely.
- The Lyft driver breached that duty of care through their negligence.
- The breach of duty of care directly caused the accident that injured you.
- You suffered actual damages and losses due to the accident and your injuries.
What makes Lyft accidents challenging is the company’s classification of its drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. This helps the rideshare giant escape accountability for its drivers’ recklessness. This also makes it complicated for accident victims to file a claim or lawsuit directly against the company. Nevertheless, the law mandates transportation network companies (TNCs) like Lyft to provide insurance policies for accidents involving its drivers.
Determining liability and the applicable insurance policy is why Lyft and rideshare accidents are different from typical car collisions. They can be difficult to understand, but our Sierra County personal injury lawyers for Lyft accidents are here to help you evaluate your options.
The specific insurance coverage that Lyft may provide will be based on the driver’s status on the app during the accident. There are four specific periods:
Period 0
This period refers to when the driver is not logged into the Lyft app or is using their vehicle for personal reasons. If an accident occurs, the driver’s auto insurance, not Lyft’s, will cover the resulting damage.
Period 1
This period is when the Lyft driver is already online but has not accepted a ride request yet. Lyft provides third-party liability insurance for any accident during this period if the driver’s insurance does not apply, which includes:
- $25,000 for property damage.
- $50,000 for bodily injury.
- $100,000 per accident.
Period 2
This period covers the moment the Lyft driver accepts a ride request and is en route to the passenger’s pick-up location. Lyft’s insurance for covered accidents reaches up to $1 million, including coverage for uninsured/underinsured motorists and contingent comprehensive and collision.
Period 3
The last period covers when the Lyft driver is actively transporting a passenger. The same insurance coverage in Period 2 applies.
Remember that Lyft’s insurance only applies during a ride and is dependent on the driver having auto insurance coverage. Lyft’s insurance coverage might not kick in if the driver’s auto insurance policy lapses. Call our Lyft accident lawyers in Sierra County to help you navigate such complex legalities in the claims process.
Liable Parties In A Lyft Accident
In a Lyft accident, multiple parties could share the blame, including those who were not directly involved in the accident. You need all the legal help you can get to identify and ultimately prove who was negligent and, therefore, liable to compensate you. Among the common potentially responsible parties that our Sierra County Lyft accident lawyers can hold accountable are:
- The Lyft Driver — If the accident was due to the Lyft driver speeding, driving while distracted, or making reckless maneuvers, the driver may be primarily responsible.
- Lyft, Inc. — The rideshare giant may be held accountable for failing to supervise the driver or run a comprehensive background check on potential hires.
- Third-Party Driver — A negligent third-party driver can also cause accidents. In filing a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance, you must have solid evidence, from accident pictures to witness accounts and police reports.
- Manufacturer Or Distributor — If the accident was due to a defective vehicle or its components, you can bring a product liability claim against the manufacturer, distributor, or the company that installed or maintained the product.
- Government Agencies — If the accident was brought on by dangerous road conditions like potholes or malfunctioning traffic lights, you may file a lawsuit against the government agency in charge of road maintenance.
We leave no stone unturned in finding who’s at fault. Our Lyft accident attorneys in Sierra County will hold every negligent party accountable. This way, we can maximize your financial recovery and ensure you have the resources you need to recover.
Hurt In A Lyft Accident?
Common Causes Of Lyft Accidents
Just like the average car accident, Lyft collisions are primarily caused by driver error. Here are some of the most common factors our Lyft accident lawyers in Sierra County have observed.
- Distracted Driving — Lyft drivers use the app on their phones to search for and accept ride requests, track their ride’s progress, and navigate through various locations. These and other distractions, such as talking to passengers, eating, and glancing away from the road to look for passengers or a spot to pull over, increase the risk of accidents.
- Speeding — Some Lyft drivers may be tempted to speed or weave in and out of traffic to transport more passengers in a shorter time and increase their earnings.
- Drowsy Driving — Lyft drivers might put in long shifts extending from late nights to early mornings. Others might have other full-time jobs on top of driving for Lyft for extra income, becoming too exhausted to drive properly.
- Unfamiliar Routes — Lyft drivers may have to travel on unfamiliar or unknown roads to pick up and drop off passengers. The risk of an accident increases as other motorists’ abrupt stops, detours, or lane changes can catch them unprepared and with little time to react.
- Other Factors — Other common reasons include driver inexperience, vehicle breakdowns due to auto defects, inclement weather and not adjusting one’s driving accordingly, and poor road conditions, including potholes and malfunctioning traffic lights.
Going up against big rideshare companies is daunting for injured victims, especially since they are known for fighting injury claims and disputing liability aggressively. Our Lyft and Uber accident attorneys can help you level the playing field. We will not back down, even against large corporations or their insurance providers.
Injuries Typically Sustained In Lyft Accidents
You would be extremely lucky to escape an accident unscathed. Some accidents result in injuries so severe that the effects stay with you for life. The injuries you could sustain in a Lyft accident deserve financial compensation, whether it’s moderate or catastrophic. Our Lyft accident lawyers serving Sierra County and the rest of California will recover damages for the following injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries which may cause cognitive impairments, including memory loss, trouble speaking, and loss of balance and coordination.
- Spinal cord injuries which can lead to temporary or permanent paralysis.
- Whiplash, neck, and shoulder injuries, including torn rotator cuffs and torn ligaments.
- Facial injuries, including burns, lacerations, scarring, chipped teeth, and fractured jaws.
- Broken bones, most frequently in the ribs, clavicle, arms, hands, legs, and feet.
- Soft tissue injuries, including sprains, strains, and contusions, lead to chronic pain and impaired movement.
Our Lyft accident lawyers are dedicated to helping you obtain the most money possible based on how much the injury has impacted your life. We will determine who owes you financial compensation and hold them liable for your damages.
Compensation To Recover In A Lyft Accident
Receiving just compensation is a critical part of your recovery, helping ensure you and your family’s financial future. However, recovering damages does not only mean repairing your car or taking care of your hospital bills. It entails taking care of all the losses and damages you’ve sustained.
The damages our Lyft accident lawyers in Sierra County can help you recover include the following:
Economic Damages
The financial losses you incurred after the accident that can be measured through receipts and other documentation constitute economic damages:
- Ongoing and future medical costs, including emergency visits, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and future medical care.
- Lost wages and reduced or lost capacity to earn in the future.
- Costs for repairing or replacing damaged properties.
- Other out-of-pocket expenses.
Non-Economic Damages
In contrast to tangible losses, non-economic damages are harder to calculate because they pertain to the emotional and physical impact of the accident on your life.
- Pain and suffering, from physical pain and discomfort to the emotional distress you experience every day.
- Loss of enjoyment of life, covering the accident’s effects on your ability to perform the activities you once engaged in.
- Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health issues that developed due to the accident or injuries sustained.
- Loss of consortium or the accident’s impact on your relationship with your partner, including the loss of support, companionship, and intimacy.
Punitive Damages
Apart from compensatory damages, you may also be entitled to recover punitive damages, but these are awarded very rarely. The court may award punitive damages if the defendant’s actions were found to be intentional, malicious, or grossly negligent. The award is intended to punish the at-fault party and discourage future instances of the same action instead of directly compensating the plaintiff.
Our Sierra County Lyft accident attorneys will leverage their decades of case and courtroom experience to pursue all the current and foreseeable damages you rightfully deserve. We will demand maximum financial damages for you and your family.
What To Do After A Lyft Accident In Sierra County, CA
Getting injured in a Lyft accident can leave you confused and overwhelmed. Our Sierra County Lyft accident lawyers encourage you to take the following steps to protect your well-being and right to compensation:
- Ensure safety by moving to a safe location and checking for possible injuries. Call 911 to report the accident to law enforcement and request an immediate medical response.
- Tell the police what happened based on the facts. Their official report detailing the accident can prove useful in your claim. If you need this documentation for your claim, our Lyft accident lawyers can expedite the process of acquiring a copy.
- Obtain information from the parties involved, particularly the Lyft driver. Get their name, contact number, license plate number, and insurance information. Also, politely ask for witnesses’ contact information, if any.
- Document details at the accident scene that you think could be relevant to your case. This includes the vehicles involved, skid marks, road and weather conditions, and injuries. If you were a passenger of the Lyft vehicle at the time, also take a screenshot of your ride details.
- Seek medical attention, even if you feel fine or think your injuries are not that severe. Some injuries, like whiplash, may not show symptoms for hours or days. Medical records are also crucial pieces of evidence for your claim.
- Call Arash Law at (888) 488-1391. Our injury lawyers specialize in Lyft accidents and can assist you throughout the claims process. Don’t navigate the legal landscape on your own; you have us to advocate for your interests and get the compensation you are due.
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
California’s Statute Of Limitations For Lyft Accident Cases
In California, you have two years from the accident or injury discovery date to file an injury lawsuit, including Lyft accidents. Missing this deadline means your case will likely be dismissed, and you can’t claim compensation.
There are exceptions to standard deadlines for filing claims, including cases with minor or mentally incapacitated plaintiffs and out-of-state defendants. Claims against government agencies must be filed within six months. Our Sierra County Lyft accident lawyers are here to help you meet deadlines and protect your rights. Don’t miss your chance for justice. Contact us today.
Rideshare & Lyft Accident Statistics
Lyft has nearly two million active drivers who transported 20.3 million riders in the U.S. and Canada in 2022. The rideshare service’s report for 2020–2022 shows that safety incidents accounted for only 0.0002% of completed trips. The 111 motor vehicle fatalities reported indicated a 31% increase in incident frequency and a 14% increase in vehicle miles traveled. While these may seem like insignificant figures, they represent real victims.
A 2019 University of Chicago study revealed that ridesharing is associated with a 3% annual increase in traffic fatalities nationwide (987 deaths each year). The reality is that as Lyft and other ridesharing services develop rapidly, more fatal and injury accidents will be and are being reported.
Our Sierra County Lyft accident attorneys are dedicated to helping victims obtain justice and fair compensation. If you or a family member is injured in one of these collisions, call us at (888) 488-1391 to get legal advice free of charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Evidence Should I Gather For My Lyft Accident Claim?
A strong personal injury case depends on solid evidence. Our knowledgeable Lyft accident lawyers in Sierra County can help you gather the following crucial pieces of evidence:
- Pictures and videos from the accident scene.
- Footage from security cameras and dashcams, if available.
- Firsthand accounts of witnesses.
- Police reports, medical records, and any relevant documentation.
- Information about your Lyft ride or booking.
Testimonies from expert witnesses, like accident reconstructionists, shed light on the circumstances of the accident.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Partly At Fault For A Lyft Accident?
California’s pure comparative negligence rule allows injured accident victims to recover monetary damages even if they’re found to have partially contributed to the accident. The amount they will receive will only be reduced by the percentage of fault they share. If your total settlement amount is $100,000 but you are found to be 20% liable, you will ultimately receive $80,000.
Don’t assume that you’re not eligible for damages just because you share some responsibility. Our Sierra County lawyers are skilled at analyzing complex Lyft accident cases. We will advocate for your rights and interests every step of the way.
How Much Is My Lyft Accident Claim Worth?
Various factors determine the settlement amount you can claim for your Lyft accident case. This includes the type and severity of your injuries, with more serious injuries generally getting substantial compensation due to extensive medical care and other damage.
Many personal injury cases involving Lyft receive settlements ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. With Lyft’s $1 million liability insurance, an accident claim could reach a million or more. For instance, our team was able to recover $1.125 million for a client who sustained a back injury after a rideshare incident. Despite some litigation challenges, we ultimately secured a healthy recovery against the rideshare company.
However, not all claims result in a million-dollar settlement. Contact our Sierra County Lyft accident attorneys to get a close estimate of the value of your claim.
Should I Settle A Lyft Accident Claim Or Take My Case To Court?
An out-of-court settlement removes the risk of losing your case in court and guarantees a faster case resolution. However, if the insurance company continues to provide lowball offers, deny your claim, or dispute their liability, it might be better for you to file a formal lawsuit. Being represented by Lyft accident lawyers in Sierra County will ensure you have the expert legal assistance needed to navigate the process.
Why Do I Need A Personal Injury Lawyer For My Lyft Accident Claim?
While not all accident claims require an injury lawyer, working with one can help maximize your payout. The party you are trying to hold accountable for and the lawyer representing them will take you more seriously. Insurance companies are more likely to treat you fairly and offer just compensation when you are represented by Sierra County Lyft accident lawyers.
At Arash Law, we can help you with your case, regardless of your first language, citizenship or immigration status, and personal circumstances. As one of the biggest personal injury law firms in California, we strive to create a comfortable and supportive environment for our clients.
How Much Does A Lyft Accident Lawyer Charge?
Our Sierra County Lyft accident attorneys understand that hiring legal representation should not be an unnecessary financial burden for victims. That’s why we offer our services on a contingency fee basis. Under this arrangement, we only take a predetermined percentage of the settlement or award we win for you. If we lose, you owe us nothing.
Call The Lyft Accident Lawyers Sierra County Trusts
Fight for the financial recovery you deserve by hiring experienced Lyft accident lawyers in Sierra County. Arash Khorsandi, Esq., and his industry-recognized team at Arash Law have won over half a billion dollars for injured accident victims. You can trust us to win your claim for you. Call (888) 488-1391 or complete our “Do I Have A Case?” form for expert legal representation at $0 upfront fees.
Our Sierra County lawyers also handle truck accidents and other personal injury cases. We serve Sierra County’s neighboring cities and communities, including Chilcoot-Vinton, Beckwourth, Portola, Iron Horse, Whitehawk, Clio, Graeagle, Blairsden, Plumas Eureka, Johnsville, Little Grass Valley, La Porte, Strawberry Valley, Clipper Mills, Woodleaf, Forbestown, Camptonville, Washington, Graniteville, Carpenter Valley, Hobart Mills, Truckee, Polaris, Union Mills, Boca, Hinton, and Floriston.
