Lyft Uber Accident Lawyer Southern California

Personal Injury lawyers in Southern California, including Orange County, Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire

Uber Accident Lawyer Southern California

Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft feel like they’ve been around forever, but they’re still a new addition to our society. And when you’re involved in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, it can be shocking to realize that a rideshare driver can make mistakes or acting irresponsibly just like anyone else.

Most importantly, though, it’s crucial that you realize your legal options in the aftermath of an Uber or Lyft accident (or any accident, for that matter). Even though it might feel like a David vs. Goliath situation when you imagine going up against a huge rideshare company, nothing could be further from the truth. The legal system provides ample recourse for you to seek monetary compensation after a rideshare accident if the driver was at fault or acting negligently.

An Experienced Uber Accident Law Firm

If you have been injured in a ridesharing accident as a passenger with Uber, Lyft, or another ridesharing company, you may be entitled to a financial recovery. Ever since Uber officially began operating in San Francisco in 2011, the ridesharing industry has grown – and with it, the number of accidents involving ridesharing vehicles. Fault in ridesharing accidents is determined by negligence and other standard legal principles pertaining to vehiclespedestrians, and bicycles.

Our experienced personal injury attorneys work tirelessly to assist accident victims in the Orange C0unty area and throughout California. We have successfully litigated numerous vehicle accident cases and will help you recover the compensation you deserve if you are injured in a ridesharing accident. Along the way, we will listen compassionately to your concerns, focus on your priorities, and ensure that your rights are protected.

Ridesharing Popularity is on the Rise

No so long ago, if you wanted a private car to take you somewhere, your only real choice was a taxi. However, with the advent of ridesharing companies (Uber and Lyft being the most prominent examples), taxi companies now have competition. With a ridesharing service, a driver will pick you up in their own vehicle and take you to your destination after you pay for a one-way trip through a mobile app.

There’s no denying that ridesharing services are convenient. Taxis might not be available where you are, or there may be a long line for one. In those cases, all you need to do is pull out your smartphone, type where you want to go into the Uber or Lyft app, pay with a credit card on file with the company, and wait for your ride. You will even be able to locate the driver on a map and track their progress to your pickup point.

Drivers for ridesharing companies must pass a background check, and you can report one through the mobile app if you feel they are driving unsafely. Ridesharing drivers must carry their own insurance, and Uber and Lyft also provide insurance for them. However, drivers do not need a taxi license. Rideshare vehicles can and do get into accidents every day that result in personal injury claims by ridesharing passengers or riders in another vehicle. Additionally, ridesharing drivers may have a claim if they suffer an injury while on the job.

Rideshare driver accident

Ridesharing FAQs

As Ridesharing has Increased, So Have Ridesharing Accidents

As more and more people use ridesharing services, road congestion and accidents continue to increase proportionately. According to a study by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the advent of ridesharing services has correlated with about a 3% annual increase in the number of deaths from automobiles, or nearly 1,000 each year. For example, in 2010, there were 32,885 fatalities from vehicle accidents in the U.S., compared to 37,461 in 2016. Accidents involving bicyclists and pedestrians have also risen concurrently.

There are several possible reasons for this, including the fact that there are more cars on the road since ridesharing services were introduced. Congestion is exacerbated by the fact that Uber and Lyft incentivize drivers to keep driving even when they don’t have a fare so they will be available, should someone need a ride.
Since 2013, plaintiffs have filed more than 150 lawsuits against Uber in San Francisco Superior Court, alleging that drivers caused accidents that injured others because they were distracted or otherwise acted negligently. San Francisco Department records show that seven out of 47 deaths related to traffic accidents in that city between January 2018 and August 2019 involved ridesharing drivers.

You May Be Able to File a Claim

If you are injured in an accident involving a ridesharing vehicle that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you have the right to file a claim for financial damages. Immediately after the accident:

  • Get the names, contact information, and insurance information of all the parties involved

  • Take photos of the accident scene to help establish what happened

  • Call the police

Your next call should be to one of our rideshare accident attorneys who will work to protect your rights under the law. We have over 20 years of experience successfully litigating personal injury cases, and will ensure that no one takes advantage of you, whether that is the ridesharing driver, the ridesharing company, or an insurance company.

How Much is Your Uber Accident Case Worth?

Under California law, you may be able to recover financial compensation for both economic and non-economic damages if someone injures you due to their negligence. The amount of these damages will depend on many factors, such as how badly you were injured, the extent of your pain and suffering, and how your earning capacity has been affected. Economic expenses are those that can be calculated. They include things like:

  • Emergency medical care you received due to the accident, such as ambulance/medical services or a hospital stay

  • Medical care you will need in the future due to the accident, like surgeries or physical therapy

  • Earnings you have lost because you are unable to work due to your injuries

  • Reduced earning capacity if you can work after the accident but not in the same job or at the same capacity.

Non-economic damages are more intangible and include compensation if you have experienced pain and suffering, are unable to enjoy activities you used to engage in, or otherwise have been forced to change life in detrimental ways due to the accident.
In addition, the family of someone who is killed in a Uber/Lyft accident can sue for wrongful death to recover both economic and non-economic damages.

We understand that accident victims want to know how much their cases are worth, in part because they may have extensive medical bills and other expenses. The value of a case depends on a variety of factors, including:

  • The severity of your injuries

  • How soon you are likely to recover and to what extent

  • What kind of medical care you may need going forward?

Don’t wait to file a claim for your uber accident injury. Contact our top-rated, expert uber accident attorneys online or  (949) 258-6859 FOR A FREE CONSULTATION.

If you are injured in a uber accident, be sure to keep all your medical records and bills so we can estimate the value of your case during the initial consultation. After that, we will fight for every dime you are entitled to.

Many people have recently sued to recover compensation for personal injuries due to accidents caused by a rideshare driver’s alleged negligence. For instance:

  • The family of a six-year-old girl who was hit by an Uber driver as she crossed the street reached an undisclosed settlement for wrongful death.

  • A woman riding in an Uber vehicle sued when her driver ran a red light and crashed into another vehicle, fracturing her spine and causing other injuries.

Not only have riders successfully sued for personal injuries from ridesharing accidents, but they also have won settlements for sexual assault.

Who is Liable for Uber or Lyft Accidents?

In California, liability in Uber / Lyft accident is currently an issue of debate given the recent passage of AB 5. Under AB 5, drivers are no longer considered independent contractors. Given their new employment classification, rideshare companies may now be open to awave of personal injury lawsuits, depending on the specific circumstances of the accident.

While you may be able to sue the rideshare company directly, you may also be able to recover damages from either the driver’s personal liability insurance or the insurance provided for the driver by the ridesharing company. Which policy applies to your case depends on whether the driver was on duty at the time of the accident. Ridesharing drivers’ personal auto insurance does not cover them if they are on duty because these policies only extend to personal use of a vehicle, and ridesharing is considered a commercial use. The only exceptions are if the driver purchased a commercial insurance policy or a ridesharing endorsement for their personal policy.

The good news is that California requires all ridesharing companies to provide their drivers with insurance when they are working. Uber and Lyft provide up to$1 million in coverage for their drivers who are on the job. You may file a claim against these insurance policies if:

  • You were injured in a ridesharing accident

  • Your injuries resulted from the driver’s negligence

  • The driver’s ridesharing app was on

You have the right to file a claim (pursue a personal injury lawsuit) whether you were a passenger in a ridesharing vehicle, a passenger in another vehicle, a driver of another vehicle, or a pedestrian. Even if you are a ridesharing passenger and another driver caused the accident, the Uber or Lyft insurance policy would cover you if the other driver was uninsured or underinsured. If the ridesharing driver was not on duty when the accident happened, you would have to file a claim against their personal insurance policy or the policy of the other driver, depending on who was at fault.
Between 2014 and 2016, insurance companies in California paid out $185.6 million for claims related to traffic accidents involving ridesharing vehicles, according to a 2017 joint study by the California Department of Insurance and the California Public Utilities Commission.

Questions of liability can be complicated and hard to sort out, particularly in ridesharing cases. That’s why you need an experienced personal injury attorney on your side. If you are injured in a ridesharing accident, call us right away. One of our attorneys will explain your rights and who is liable for your injuries. We will then get to work to make sure you receive all the compensation you deserve.

How Much Time Do I Have to File a Claim?

In California, you have two years to file a personal injury claim stemming from a ridesharing accident. In the majority of cases, the clock starts on the date of the accident. Check with one of our attorneys to make sure you know exactly when your filing period expires. Our attorneys have more than 20 years of experience in personal injury cases and will help you get outstanding medical treatment, refer you to psychologist on our staff if needed, and work tirelessly to obtain a financial settlement that covers for medical expenses, emotional distress, wage loss, and other damages.

It is important to file your claim as soon as possible after the accident. This is, in part, to preserve any evidence you may need. We have expert investigators on staff. These experts will help gather and preserve crucial evidence that will strengthen your case. At times, we also work with accident reconstruction experts who help us show a jury who or what caused the accident.

Do not miss the deadline for filing a claim. If you do, you will waive your right to seek financial compensation for your injuries.

Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation

Why choose us to file your ridesharing accident claim? Simply put, we have the best, most experienced, and most respected ridesharing accident attorneys in California. Our clients are thrilled with the level of personal service we provide, and the results we obtain for them.

Plus, we do not earn a dime unless you win your case. That’s right – if you don’t win your case, we won’t charge you anything for our services. So don’t let financial considerations keep you from suing for financial compensation – you will never have any out-of-pocket expenses if you choose us. Rest assured that if you choose us to represent you, you will not regret it. We won’t take your case unless we are confident we can win.

We are here seven days a week to discuss your case and answer any questions you may have – freely, discreetly, and with the respect and attention you deserve. During your consultation, you will have an opportunity to ask questions, and we will help you understand your legal rights and options, as well as the statutory time limits that may apply to your case.

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