San Diego Lyft Accident Lawyer
The popularity of Lyft has flustered in the past decade across San Diego. At a time when people had to rely on personal vehicles, the dawn of ride-sharing apps has added another level of ease to California transportation facilities. According to data by Statista, it is the second-largest ride-sharing facility in the country after Uber, with more than 18 million active riders in California alone.
At the same time, the growth of rideshare companies has amplified traffic density and increased overall road accidents. According to the Fatality Reporting System (FARS) by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), it was found that the rise of Lyft has increased the overall fatality rate from car accidents by 2 to 4%. It is evident that Lyft accidents are common occurrences in San Diego, accounting for hundreds of lives lost yearly.
If you or your loved one have been injured in a Lyft accident, the state grants you a certain amount of compensation. You have the legal right to claim it with the right strategies and expert legal representation by a San Diego Lyft accident lawyer.
Why Choose Shamon Law As Your Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers?
An injury can leave you with mounting medical expenses, lost income, and an inability to participate in your life fully. No accident victim should be left to fend for themselves.
Shamon law understands how important these cases are for our clients. Our experience includes going up against the big insurance companies and winning. We use our expertise to develop powerful cases, negotiate the best possible settlements, and win cases at trial.
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With no fees until you win, you won’t owe us a dime unless we win your case.
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Multi millions in recoveries for our clients. Recognized as Top 40 Law Firm by The National Trial Lawyers
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Our company has worked with thousand of happy clients over the years and we are proud to have helped them achieve their goals.
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Why Do You Need Our Help For Your Lyft Accident Claim In San Diego?
At Shamon law, we give our 100% to settling personal injury cases with insurance companies, with the best efforts to not end up in court. Looking at accident victims under extreme financial pressure breaks our hearts. We have witnessed how insurance companies are more concerned with offering the bare minimum. They are far from fairly compensating them for what they have lost.
When it comes to rideshare companies like Lyft, there is the added hassle of communicating with their commercial insurance and the defendant/s insurance company/s to recover the accident compensation. It can be extremely difficult, prolonged, and draining when you work on investigating the accident and negotiating for settlement all on your own while still recovering from injuries. That is where we come in. A professional Lyft accident attorney in San Diego, we will represent you throughout the case and help you gain fair compensation with intensive experience, strategy, and approach.
Common Causes Of San Diego Lyft Accidents
Based on past accident reports in San Diego, the distraction from the use of technology is one of the major causes of Lyft accidents. Here are 4 other common causes below:
Distracted driving
A Lyft driver is more likely to use their phone while driving to search, accept, and track rides. When one is distracted, it diverts their attention from the road, increasing the chances of an accident. Often, rear-end collisions on heavy traffic roads and t-boned accidents during intersections are common accidents caused by drivers on their phones. The Highway Safety report by the Insurance Information Institute (III) shows that 2,968 people lost their lives to fatal car crashes in California from distracted driving in 2020.
Speeding
Speeding is another major cause of rideshare accidents in San Diego, especially on the freeway or interstate. Many Lyft drivers try to complete one ride as soon as possible to hop onto another. When the traffic is heavy, or there are unwanted objects on the road, a car can easily experience a tire blowout and collide with the vehicles around it.
Tiredness and Fatigue
Lyft drivers should take a six-hour break after every 12-hour ride to ensure they get a healthy amount of rest in between. But many try to squeeze in as many rides as possible to earn more. Lack of sleep makes it harder to concentrate when driving for long hours. Hence, tiredness and feeling fatigue can easily cause road accidents.
Driving under the influence
Around 30% of the overall car accidents in the US involve drunk drivers, according to the NHTSA. It is also one of the leading causes of Lyft accidents in San Diego. A drunk driver cannot visually identify the road or traffic conditions properly, and their mind and hand movement are not coordinated. Often, they are not fully conscious and can’t comprehend the happenings around them, causing accidents. Drinking before driving is a serious traffic offense in California.
Common Injuries Suffered In San Diego Lyft Accidents
In a Lyft car accident, the driver, passenger, and the occupants of the other vehicle/s are at risk of severe injuries. Some of the common injuries involved are:
- Brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Whiplash injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal injuries
- Fractures
- Amputation
- Muscle injuries
- Lacerations
What Should I Do Immediately Following A Lyft Accident?
Every citizen’s first and primary civil duty in an accident is to help and care for all injured parties. You must call the authorities and ask for paramedics immediately. Help everyone out of the scene as there may be more threats of explosion or a fire may start. Once emergency care is here and the situation is under control, you may exchange contact information with the other able parties and the witnesses.
The steps to take after an accident vary depending on the different sides of the involved parties.
As the Lyft driver
Every Lyft driver must report the accident to Lyft as soon as possible.
If you, as the Lyft driver, are at complete or partial fault in the accident, you must pay compensation to the injured passenger or the occupant of another vehicle/s. The company covers a certain portion of the insurance mentioned above. As the defendant, you must reach out to Lyft as well as your personal auto insurance to sort through the compensation.
If you were injured and the accident was the other driver’s fault, you must still report the accident to Lyft and claim compensation with their insurance company.
As the Lyft passenger/ rider
You were taking a Lyft ride, and the car was involved in the accident. The first step to take is to take screenshot documentation of the ride. This will prove that you were taking a ride from this particular Lyft driver at the time. Then, you must report it to the rideshare company as well.
If the Lyft driver were at fault, their personal auto insurance and Lyft’s insurance would be responsible for compensating you. Your lawyer will work with them accordingly. On the other hand, if the other vehicle in the accident carried the fault, you must consult with their auto insurance company with the help of your lawyer to file the personal injury claim.
As the occupant of the other vehicle
In another scenario, suppose you were the occupant vehicle owner, and there was an accident with a Lyft driver. In that case, if the Lyft driver was at fault, you must consult with their auto insurance and Lyft to claim compensation.
If you carry the fault, you must reach out to your auto insurance to compensate the victims.
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Understanding Lyft’s Insurance Criteria
Lyft offers a certain amount of insurance for its drivers and passengers based on the circumstances of the company’s commercial insurance.
When the Lyft app is off
When a Lyft driver meets an accident, but their status in the Lyft app is off, the company doesn’t hold liability for the accident. Lyft’s insurance doesn’t apply, and you must work with personal or defendant’s insurance, depending on the accident.
When the Lyft app is on, and the driver is open for rides
Suppose a Lyft driver is online, receiving ride requests, or waiting for rides during the accident. In that case, the company holds a third-party liability if your personal insurance doesn’t cover for minimum compensation requirement, that is:
- For the bodily injury of one person – $50,000
- For the bodily injury of all victims in one accident – $100,000
- For property damage in one accident – $25,000
During rides
When a Lyft driver is on their way to a request or giving a ride to a passenger, the company holds a minimum of $1,000,000 third-party auto liability. The insurance covers for:
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
- MedPay
- Occupational Accident coverage
How Can A Lawyer Help In A Lyft Accident Claim In San Diego?
Lyft accidents involve dealing with more than one insurance company. Identifying what you are claiming for and whom to contact as a victim still recovering can be extremely complicated. You may need to be made aware of commercial insurance policies or whether your situation meets the criteria for Lyft to cover the insurance. All three parties need a Lyft accident lawyer to help get through the case on a fair and satisfying note.
As your lawyers, we will first review and analyze your case to identify the proper sharing of faults and how much the damages amount. By properly understanding your standpoint, we can give you a substantial amount of claim you are to ask the defendant’s auto insurance or Lyft. The application procedures with commercial insurance companies are also more elaborate. We will handle all forms, paperwork, phone calls, and settlement meetings when representing you. There is a much lesser chance of mistakes or miscommunication if you have an experienced attorney to undergo all procedures.
How Long Do I Have to File A Lawsuit After A Lyft Accident In California?
According to the California Statute of Limitation, the deadline to file a lawsuit for personal injury is 2 years from the date of the accident. Similarly, that of property damage is 3 years. However, if the injury was only later discovered, the deadline is 1 year from the date of discovery.
If you have been injured in a Lyft accident in California, you must immediately get into investigating and negotiation with the guidance or representation of your lawyer. There is always a chance of the settlement meeting failing to protect your rights and give you a satisfying compensation. In that case, you may have to file a lawsuit against the defendant’s insurance company. Ensure you have enough time to thoroughly investigate and file the lawsuit with the Statute of Limitation in mind.
Contact A Top-Rated San Diego Lyft Accident Attorney Today
If you or your loved one have been injured in a Lyft accident, don’t wait to contact an attorney any longer. With limited time on your hands, it is best to file a personal injury claim against the defendant immediately.
Shamon law has a team of professional attorneys dedicated to helping accident victims recover their losses after tragic accidents. We work to prevent insurance companies from seeking opportunities for foul play from vulnerable accident victims. With a team of Lyft accident lawyers practicing expertise in working with commercial insurance companies, we assure a proper investigation and fair compensation for your accidental losses.
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Final Thoughts
It is never fair to suffer from severe injuries and financial pressure out of an accident that you had no control over. As your lawyer, we protect your legal rights and hold the defendant responsible for their actions. We will guide you through the policies and help you understand the best possible cure for your case. You deserve resourceful legal representation to investigate on your behalf and help win satisfying compensation for your injuries and property damage. Contact us today for a free consultation.
San Diego Lyft Accident FAQs
If the Lyft driver is at fault, you can file the personal injury claim to the driver’s auto insurance company and report the case to Lyft.
California comes under pure comparative negligence jurisdiction. Suppose you were partly at fault for the accident, i.e., you and the Lyft driver shared the faults. In that case, the fault is divided into percentages.
If you were at 40% fault, that amount is deducted from the overall compensation amount, and you will receive 60% of the total compensation. You must still undergo all procedures with the defendant’s and Lyft’s insurance. At the same time, reach out to your personal insurance to prepare for the other party claiming for their share of compensation.
In California, the liability is held by the negligent driver, who broke the traffic rules or acted carelessly to disregard the safety of others on the road.
San Diego Lyft accidents are connected to the Lyft company and their commercial insurance provided to their drivers and riders based on the situation. When filing a personal injury claim, you must consult with the driver’s auto insurance and Lyft. Therefore, Lyft accidents are different from other car accidents.
In California, the Statute of Limitations is 2 years for personal injuries and 3 years for property damage.
We have a ‘when we win, we pay you’ policy where we don’t charge fees until after you win the case. You do not have to pay any amount out of pocket. On the contingency fee basis, around 30 to 40% of the total compensation amount will come to us.
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