Rideshare apps like Lyft and Uber are extremely popular in California. In many cities, consumers prefer the convenience of summoning a ride using an app on their smartphone versus calling or trying to flag down a taxi. Rideshare passengers in Rancho Cucamonga and other Southern California cities usually enjoy a smooth ride to their destination, but there are times when the trip results in an auto accident.
If you or someone close to you has been injured as a passenger in a Lyft accident in the Rancho Cucamonga area, you may be entitled to significant compensation – depending on the severity of your injuries. Rideshare accident claims can be complicated, however, and it may be difficult to recover the amount of compensation that you are entitled to.
For this reason, it is highly recommended that you speak with an experienced auto accident attorney from Muhareb Law Group about your case. We will provide a free, no-obligation consultation to thoroughly assess the circumstances of the Lyft accident that you were involved in and advise you of your legal rights and options.
Why are Lyft Accident Claims So Complicated?
Lyft accident claims can be complicated for a number of reasons. One major factor is that Lyft, like other ride-sharing companies, is considered a third-party liability carrier, which makes the claims process more complex than if you were filing a claim with your own personal insurance company, for example.
Another reason why Lyft accident claims can be complicated is that the company’s insurance coverage can change depending on the specific circumstances of the accident. Lyft drivers go through several different phases of insurance coverage depending on whether they are logged into the app and available to accept ride requests, en route to pick up a passenger, or actively transporting a passenger.
Each phase is associated with different levels of coverage, and it’s important to understand what coverage is available (in each phase) in order to understand your rights in the event of an accident.
Here are the different phases of insurance coverage for Lyft drivers:
- Offline or Not Logged In: When a driver is not logged into the app and is not available to accept ride requests, their personal insurance policy is the primary coverage. In this phase, Lyft does not provide any additional coverage.
- Logged In and Available to Accept Rides: Once a driver logs into the app and becomes available to accept ride requests, Lyft provides liability coverage at the minimum levels required by California law. This includes coverage for bodily injury and property damage caused by the driver’s negligence.
- En Route to Pick Up: When a driver has accepted a ride request and is en route to pick up the passenger, Lyft’s liability coverage increases to $50,000 per person/$ 100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
- On Trip: Once the driver has picked up the passenger and is actively transporting them to their destination, Lyft’s insurance provides up to $1 million in liability coverage per incident. This coverage includes bodily injury, property damage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Here are a couple of common examples of how this might play out. If a Rancho Cucamonga Lyft driver is transporting a passenger at the time of the accident, the company’s commercial insurance policy with liability limits of up to $1 million will typically provide coverage.
If, on the other hand, the driver is not on a ride and is simply logged into the app and available to accept ride requests, the driver’s personal insurance policy will likely provide the coverage. The different phases of insurance coverage can make it difficult to determine the appropriate coverage and can lead to disputes over liability.
How Long Will It Take for My Rancho Cucamonga Lyft Accident Claim to Settle?
The length of time it takes for a Lyft accident claim in Rancho Cucamonga to settle can vary depending on a number of factors. Some claims may be settled relatively quickly, while others can take months or even years to resolve.
One factor that can affect the timeline of a Lyft accident claim is the complexity of the case. For example, if the accident was straightforward and liability is clear, the claim may be settled more quickly than if liability is disputed and/or there were multiple parties involved.
Another factor that can affect the timeline of a Rancho Cucamonga Lyft accident claim is the extent of the injuries and damage. If the injuries are relatively minor, the claim may be settled more quickly than if the injuries are severe or permanent.
It is not uncommon for a Lyft accident claim to take six months or longer to settle. This is especially true if the plaintiff suffered moderate to severe injuries.
The attorney for the plaintiff will need to know the full extent of the injuries before presenting a demand letter to the insurance company with a proposed settlement amount. And if the injuries are on the more severe side, it can take a while to know all of this information.
Another common issue that can slow things down is the fact that insurance companies are known to slow-walk claims in an attempt to frustrate claimants into accepting a lower settlement amount. While the insurer is supposed to notify the claimant within 40 days of receipt of a filing, they could drag the process out for several months after that.
Do I Need a Lawyer for My Lyft Accident Claim?
Whether you need a lawyer for a Lyft accident claim depends on the specific circumstances of your case. In some cases, such as those with minor injuries and no dispute over liability, it may be possible to settle your claim with Lyft’s insurance company without the need for legal representation. However, there are certain situations in which it can be very beneficial to have a skilled Rancho Cucamonga rideshare accident attorney by your side.
If the accident caused serious injuries, it may be in your best interest to have a lawyer help you navigate the claims process. An attorney can help you determine the full extent of your losses and ensure that you receive full and fair compensation. They will also be able to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, which can be especially helpful if you are unsure how to deal with the insurer yourself or if the insurance company is not offering a fair settlement.
Additionally, having an attorney may be useful if the cause of the Lyft accident is disputed or if there are other complicating factors. For example, let’s say you were having some drinks at Joseph Filippi Winery on Base Line Rd, and you summoned Lyft to drive you home. On the way home, the Lyft driver’s car gets hit by another vehicle as the Lyft driver is speeding up to make the stoplight before it turns red.
The Lyft driver is determined to be partially at fault because he was speeding, but the driver of the other car is also at fault for going through the stoplight before it turned green. To further complicate things, the other driver is found to be over the legal limit of .08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at the time of the crash.
In this scenario, you are potentially dealing with at least three different liable parties. The Lyft driver is partially liable, and Lyft’s insurer is on the hook because the driver was in the middle of a trip at the time of the crash.
The other driver is likely the most at fault, however, for being intoxicated and going through a red light. The establishment that served alcohol to the drunk driver could also be partially at fault.
With all the different parties involved, it would be in a plaintiff’s best interest to retain strong legal representation in a case like this. An injured plaintiff has more than enough to worry about getting recovered, going through rehabilitation, going back to work, and getting their life back on track. The last thing they need is to deal with several different insurance companies trying to determine how to proceed with their accident claim.
If you are unsure whether you need a lawyer for your Lyft accident case, you may want to consider at least speaking with an attorney for advice. Most personal injury attorneys offer free initial consultations, so you can discuss the specifics of your case with an experienced professional at no cost.
Contact Our Experienced Rancho Cucamonga Rideshare Accident Attorney
Getting injured in an auto accident can turn your life upside down, and in the case of a Lyft accident, it can be difficult to successfully navigate the claims process. If this has happened to you, Muhareb Law Group is here to help! Call our office today at (909) 519-5832 or message us online to set up your free consultation and case assessment. We look forward to serving you!