Fremont will never be a place that gets left behind. The city and its residents are always among the first to support the latest innovations coming out of the Bay Area. That includes the rideshare revolution that is now the transportation choice of so many in the Tri-City area.
Lyft vehicles roll out day and night to catch anyone requesting a ride across Fremont or into Union City or Newark. Those rides are a lifesaver if you don’t have a vehicle, but Lyft also adds lines of rideshare cars to notorious Bay Area traffic levels.
Lyft Accident Hazards in Fremont
You can be hit and injured by a distracted Lyft driver, and not be sure if you’ll get help with your recovery and wonder just who can legally be held liable. It’s a fair question, especially when a billion-dollar rideshare giant like Lyft is involved. They rake in a lot of money and won’t be happy to have to give some of it back.
After you’ve been struck by a Lyft employee, or hurt as a Lyft passenger, it’s important to talk over your incident and injury with an experienced rideshare accident lawyer. There will be things you should know about your rights that an insurance agent and Lyft won’t be telling you. Contact us for a free evaluation of your circumstances and some direct guidance on what your next move should be.
What to Do After an Accident with a Lyft Driver
You may leave the house on the way to a local campus or a job site. Or on a weekend, you may head for Central Park for a picnic or some golf. Whether you’re in the middle of a commute or your day off, it’s not uncommon to notice a rideshare vehicle veering in and out of lanes, possibly even speeding.
The pressure to keep a customer happy can force Lyft drivers to travel faster and faster, or drive recklessly so they don’t miss an important turn. Drivers may stare at their phones trying to decide if they’ll take the next customer that pops up. All of these bad choices are daily temptations for Lyft workers and they all mean less time looking at the road and showing caution around your car.
If you do end up in an unavoidable collision with a Lyft car there are a few key pieces of evidence you should collect on the scene if possible:
- Call 911. Give a full report to investigators and let paramedics document any injuries.
- Take photos of the scene. As long as you’re physically able, get images of any signs or stickers identifying a Lyft vehicle and employee. Take pictures of the damage to the cars involved, any visible injuries, and street signs. Note the weather and time of day.
- Check for nearby homes or businesses that may have security cams rolling. Video can be powerful evidence if Lyft or the driver’s insurance tries to dispute your accident claim.
- Get information from any witnesses on the scene. That may include a passenger in the Lyft car. Find out if other drivers had a dashcam rolling when the crash occurred.
- Exchange information with the Lyft driver. Remember not to make any statements about what happened or how badly you’re hurt. These statements can be used against you later.
- Make an appointment with your physician. Pay attention to any pain or injuries that appear after you get home or the next day. Once the shock wears off you can notice serious injuries that you didn’t know you had.
Lyft Insurance Coverage in Fremont Accidents
Every piece of evidence is critical after an accident involving Lyft because in a short amount of time you could be filing claims with three different insurance providers trying to get help with your recovery costs.
Lyft requires that all of its drivers carry their own auto insurance coverage. Lyft makes you call upon the driver’s policy first. This claim can fail for several reasons. If it does get rejected, you are then allowed to file your claim against Lyft and their insurer.
Lyft does have up to one million dollars in coverage for injured victims, but it’s only available under certain circumstances. First of all, the Lyft driver must have been logged-in on the Lyft app and working when the accident occurred. Even if this is true, Lyft and its team of lawyers will try to limit how much compensation you can receive and may even try to blame you for your own accident.
You can end up in a situation where neither insurance provider answers your call for help. You might need to file a claim with your own insurance provider to request money from your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Contact a Lyft Accident Lawyer in Fremont
No matter what insurance company you end up having to call upon for help, even your own, an attorney can make a huge difference in the compensation that you see for your recovery. If a Lyft driver causes your injury, it would seem only fair that Lyft steps up and help you cover your bills as you heal.
Unfortunately, that’s not always the case when dealing with a well-protected corporation like Lyft. Make sure you’re well-protected too by having a Fremont Rideshare Accident Lawyer in your corner.