Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have become a part of the daily traffic patterns in busy cities like Glendale, California. An app on your smartphone quickly connects passengers and drivers, and you can even choose to carpool with other riders to save money. But what happens if you get into a car accident while using a rideshare service?
Unlike a standard auto accident, rideshare wrecks present their own legal challenges, from determining who is liable to navigating complex insurance claims. Talking to an experienced Glendale rideshare accident lawyer who has handled these types of personal injury cases can provide you with a valuable advocate.
If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident, whether as a passenger, another driver, or even a pedestrian, Legal Fighters is here to guide you through these unfamiliar waters, providing you with the resources and support you need to pursue fair compensation for your injuries.
With over $2.5 billion in settlements won for clients, our California-based firm has the reach and experience to stand up to large rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft.
The rise of Uber and Lyft has revolutionized the way we travel, but with this convenience comes increased risks on the road. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were a number of fatal crashes involving rideshare vehicles across the United States. This reflects the growing safety concerns associated with the rising prevalence of rideshare services.
In California, rideshare accidents have become increasingly common. Studies show California has one of the highest rideshare activity levels in the nation due to its major cities, such as Los Angeles, that rely heavily on rideshare transportation services.
Glendale, an urban center, has seen a rise in traffic accidents involving rideshare vehicles. These incidents often involve pedestrians and cyclists, who are particularly vulnerable to collisions with cars making frequent stops to pick up and drop off passengers.
Handling a personal injury claim involving a rideshare service can feel overwhelming due to the complex interplay of insurance policies and liability issues. At Legal Fighters, we have the resources, legal acumen, and nationwide reach to help you take on even the largest rideshare companies.
Our rideshare accident attorneys have successfully helped clients across the country recover the compensation they deserve for their injuries, and we’re ready to assist you in Glendale. Here’s how we can help:
One of the unique challenges of rideshare accidents is determining which insurance policy applies. A personal injury attorney with experience handling rideshare cases involving Uber, Lyft, and similar services will be familiar with the details of these policies and how they apply to your crash.
Unlike standard car accidents, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft provide layered insurance coverage that depends on the driver’s status at the time of the accident. The rideshare process is typically divided into three phases, each with different levels of insurance coverage.
If a rideshare driver is off-duty or not logged into the Uber or Lyft app, the rideshare company’s insurance does not apply. In this case, the driver’s auto insurance is the only available coverage. If the driver causes an accident while off-duty, you will need to file a claim against their personal insurance policy, which may offer limited liability coverage depending on the driver’s policy.
The insurance situation changes once a driver logs into the app and is waiting for a ride request. During this phase, the driver’s personal auto insurance is still the primary coverage, but Uber and Lyft provide supplemental liability coverage if the driver’s personal insurance doesn’t fully cover the damages. This supplemental coverage typically includes:
However, it’s important to note that this coverage only applies if the rideshare driver is deemed at fault for the accident and their personal insurance falls short or denies the claim. Navigating these different layers of coverage requires careful analysis, especially since insurance companies often try to shift liability onto each other to minimize payouts.
Once a driver accepts a ride and is en route to pick up a passenger or is actively transporting passengers, the insurance coverage the rideshare company provides increases significantly. Uber and Lyft offer up to $1 million in liability coverage during this phase, which applies if the rideshare driver is responsible for the accident.
Additionally, both companies provide uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage if the other driver involved in the accident doesn’t have sufficient insurance. This coverage can help cover your medical bills and other damages if the at-fault party is uninsured or underinsured, ensuring that you’re not left footing the bill.
As you can see, rideshare insurance is not straightforward. It often involves multiple policies from different parties, including the rideshare company’s and driver’s personal auto insurance. Understanding which policy applies at which phase of the ride can be overwhelming, especially when insurance companies attempt to avoid liability by pointing fingers at each other.
For example, the driver’s personal insurance may deny a claim, stating that the driver was “on the clock” with a rideshare company, while the rideshare company’s insurer might try to shift responsibility back to the driver’s personal policy.
This is why having an attorney who understands rideshare insurance can make all the difference to your claim. By breaking down the different phases of rideshare insurance and understanding the coverage available at each stage, we can help ensure that you don’t fall through the cracks in the insurance process.
At Legal Fighters, we are committed to securing the compensation you deserve, regardless of the obstacles presented by insurance companies.
Rideshare accidents can involve several parties, making determining who is responsible for your injuries difficult. Liability could fall on:
California has been at the forefront of the legal battle between rideshare companies and state labor laws, with its controversial Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) setting the stage for significant changes in how gig workers, including rideshare drivers, are classified. Passed in 2019, AB5 was designed to reclassify many gig workers, including those driving for Uber and Lyft, as employees rather than independent contractors.
When rideshare drivers are considered employees, the company must take on vicarious liability for any accidents or injuries the driver causes while they are performing their job duties. This means that if you’re injured in an accident involving a rideshare vehicle, you could directly sue Uber or Lyft as the employer, and these companies would be responsible for covering your damages.
This could result in a higher likelihood of receiving fair compensation, as large corporations like Uber and Lyft have more significant resources than individual independent contractors. Also, the rideshare company’s insurance coverage would typically apply to broader circumstances, potentially leading to more comprehensive payouts.
When drivers are classified as independent contractors, on the other hand, companies like Uber and Lyft are more likely to argue that they bear limited responsibility for accidents caused by their drivers. In these cases, you would need to pursue compensation from the driver’s personal insurance policy or the company’s supplemental insurance, which may offer more limited coverage depending on the circumstances of the accident.
Don’t try to figure this out on your own. An experienced rideshare crash lawyer from Legal Fighters knows the ins and outs of the changing landscape of California law as it applies to rideshare lawsuits. They will manage your claim to ensure you receive the maximum compensation you are due.
In recent years, pooled rides—where multiple passengers share a rideshare vehicle to reduce costs and improve efficiency—have become an increasingly popular option for riders in California’s urban centers, including Glendale. Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have marketed this service as an affordable and eco-friendly alternative to solo rides.
While pooled rides offer clear advantages in terms of cost savings, they also come with unique risks that can complicate accident claims. Whether you were a passenger in a pooled ride or injured by one, these types of rides bring added complexity to personal injury claims. Rideshare companies might attempt to limit their liability when multiple passengers are involved.
One of the inherent risks of pooled rides is the frequent stops drivers must make to pick up and drop off multiple passengers along the route. Each additional stop increases the chances of a rear-end collision, particularly in busy traffic conditions, such as those commonly found in California’s densely populated cities.
Frequent stops may force the driver to make last-minute lane changes or sudden stops, heightening the risk of accidents. This constant starting and stopping affects other drivers on the road and places the passengers inside the rideshare vehicle at greater risk of being involved in an accident.
Pooled rides create more opportunities for driver distraction, which is one of the leading causes of accidents nationwide. In a standard rideshare trip, the driver’s attention is focused on navigating to a single destination. However, in a pooled ride, the driver must juggle multiple tasks, including:
When an accident occurs in a pooled ride, determining liability and recovering compensation can be more complicated than in a traditional rideshare trip. With multiple passengers in the vehicle, there may be competing claims regarding who was injured, the extent of each person’s injuries, and who is at fault. Here are some of the complexities involved:
Legal Fighters stands apart from other personal injury law firms due to our commitment to collaboration with the most elite attorneys and legal professionals nationwide. This unique co-counsel approach allows us to offer unparalleled resources and strategic insight for every case we handle.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a rideshare accident in Glendale, don’t wait. Contact Legal Fighters today to discuss your case. We are ready to help you manage the complexities of rideshare accident claims and secure the compensation you deserve.
You don’t have to face a rideshare accident insurance claim alone. Reach out to Legal Fighters and let our team of attorneys support you every step of the way. Call us now for a free, no-obligation consultation. Call our main office at (888) 586-4957 or contact us online.
