Were you or a family member injured in a car accident involving a Lyft driver in El Segundo, California? Contact J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers at (323) 284-2834 to schedule a free consultation. An experienced El Segundo Lyft accident lawyer can help you fight to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Our attorneys have already secured tens of millions of dollars on behalf of personal injury victims and their families. We’re now ready to put over 20 years of experience in personal injury law to work in your case.
Why Choose J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers for Help After a Lyft Accident in El Segundo, CA?
Lyft accident claims are often far more complicated than standard car accident cases. Multiple insurance policies, corporate defense teams, and aggressive claims adjusters can make the process overwhelming. Lyft’s commercial insurance carrier may try to delay your claim, minimize your injuries, or shift the blame onto you to reduce what they pay.
At J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers, our experienced El Segundo personal injury lawyers know how to level the playing field. We understand the tactics insurance companies use—and we know how to fight back.
Our firm has secured some of the largest jury verdicts in Los Angeles County and earned membership in both the Million Dollar Advocates’ Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates’ Forum. Insurers recognize our reputation and know we don’t accept lowball settlements.
When you hire us, you get a dedicated legal team committed to protecting your rights and pursuing the maximum compensation available. Call today to schedule your free case review.
Can I Sue Lyft for Damages After an Accident With a Lyft Driver in California?
Typically, no. Uber and Lyft work hard to ensure that their drivers are classified as independent contractors rather than employees. Businesses aren’t responsible for the acts of their independent contractors.
That said, Lyft is now required by law to carry car insurance to cover damages when its drivers are involved in accidents. That’s true whether you were a Lyft passenger, a driver in another vehicle, or simply walking down the street.
What is My El Segundo Lyft Accident Case Worth?
The value of your case will depend on several factors that are different in each situation, including:
- The type of injuries involved
- Whether you’re expected to make a full recovery or suffer a long-term injury
- Your medical expenses today
- Your anticipated future costs, including for rehab, ongoing medical care, and other out-of-pocket expenses
- How the injury impacts your earnings
- Anticipated future impacts associated with a long-term disability, including lost earning capacity
- How you’ve suffered personally due to the accident
- The impact of shared fault, if any
- Available insurance coverage
Our lawyers often work with experts in medicine, vocational rehabilitation, economics, and other specialties to properly assess the value of a personal injury case. We are prepared to fight for every dollar you deserve.
How Might Insurance Issues Impact the Value of a Lyft Accident Claim in California?
Most personal injury claims begin with filing a claim with insurance. California operates under a fault-based car insurance law. If someone else was responsible for your injuries, you’ll begin by filing a claim with their insurance company.
In rideshare accident cases, victims usually file a claim with Lyft’s insurance to seek compensation.
Lyft accidents involve a three-tiered insurance system. The available insurance coverage depends on the driver’s activity at the time of the car accident.
Those activities are:
Lyft App is Off
The driver’s own personal car insurance will be available.
Driver is Logged in and Ready to Accept Rides
Lyft provides the following insurance coverage:
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death per victim
- $100,000 for bodily injury or death per accident (assuming multiple victims)
- $25,000 for property damage and vehicle repairs
This insurance applies when the driver is available to take a ride, but has yet to accept a passenger’s request.
Driver Has Accepted a Passenger Ride Request
Once the Lyft driver accepts a passenger’s ride request, a larger $1 million insurance policy becomes available. This coverage applies when a driver is en route to pick up a passenger and while the passenger is in the vehicle.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Lyft Accident Victims in El Segundo?
Depending on the nature and severity of your injuries, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Your compensation award may include economic damages and non-economic damages.
Examples of the types of financial compensation you may be entitled to receive include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- In-home nursing care
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Reduced quality of life
- Chronic pain
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
Your damages really depend on your unique losses. Our El Segundo Lyft accident attorneys have the resources to conduct a full investigation. We’ll assess your damages and help you determine their value. That includes both your financial expenses and your personal pain and suffering damages.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Help With a Lyft Accident Case in California?
At J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we work on a contingency fee basis. When you hire us, you’ll agree to pay a percentage of your settlement or verdict. There are never any upfront costs involved in hiring an El Segundo personal injury attorney.
Can I Still Receive Compensation if I’m Partly Responsible for Causing a Lyft Accident in California?
California has adopted a pure comparative negligence law. Fault is allocated among all parties who shared responsibility for causing the crash. That said, allocating blame after a rideshare accident can be incredibly difficult.
You deserve an experienced attorney by your side if the defense is trying to pin the blame on you. We have the skills to locate the evidence you need to counter any allegations that you’re responsible.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Lyft Accidents in El Segundo?
Uber and Lyft drivers aren’t trained professionals. Most of them are everyday people driving their vehicles to make extra money.
Most often, Lyft accidents occur because of driver error or negligence, including:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued Lyft drivers
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Stopping in unsafe locations
- Failure to properly maintain the vehicle
- Lane departures
- Aggressive driving
- Unsafe passing
- Illegal lane changes
- Dangerous turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving or drug use
Dangerous road conditions and bad weather can also play a role in any motor vehicle accident.
Our Attorneys in El Segundo Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Lyft Accident Injuries
Our attorneys in J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers represent clients with all types of injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Facial injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Chest injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
Our wrongful death attorneys are also prepared to fight for compensation if you lost a loved one in a fatal Lyft accident.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Lyft Accident in California?
Negligence is a legal concept that’s the basis for most personal injury claims.
To prove negligence, a victim is required to establish:
- The defendant owed them a legal duty of care
- By failing to use a reasonable amount of caution, they breached that duty of care
- The breach of duty was the actual cause of the accident
- Someone was injured and suffered damages due to the accident
Insurance companies will want to see evidence to prove these elements. Medical records, accident records, traffic citations, and many other forms of evidence can be useful.
As a victim, you should be focused on your recovery. Collecting evidence can seem impossible while you’re recovering from painful injuries. That’s where an experienced lawyer can help. Your lawyer will have the tools to build the strongest possible case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Lyft Accident in California?
There’s a two-year statute of limitations in California personal injury cases. Victims who wait longer than two years to initiate lawsuits lose their right to damages.
Exceptions are uncommon. It’s always a good idea to consult a lawyer quickly to learn about your legal options and the time limits in your case.
Contact an Experienced El Segundo Lyft Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Our team at J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers is here to provide the top-quality legal representation you deserve after an accident. Contact a skilled El Segundo Lyft accident lawyer today to discuss your right to compensation.