Rideshare Law Office demands support for San Francisco victims hurt in accidents involving Lyft drivers. Victims may have been struck by a Lyft driver or were passengers in a Lyft when it was hit by another vehicle. San Francisco victims can contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your injury should be worth and how to hold Lyft completely responsible.
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Rideshare Accident?
If you suffer only a serious injury, like a broken bone or a neck or back injury, it’s a good idea to go over your options with a San Francisco Lyft accident lawyer. The higher the medical bills go, the more Lyft may fight to avoid having to take the blame. They can look for ways to blame you or find ways to downplay how bad your injuries are. It’s all to save themselves money.
A San Francisco rideshare accident lawyer fully investigates your accident and collects the evidence necessary to keep a rideshare company from side-stepping responsibility. Your lawyer also safeguards you from ending up with too little in support to pay all of your bills. Witness testimony and accident reconstruction data will be used to force Lyft to provide the maximum in compensation available.
Your rideshare lawyer can often win you much more in compensation than you could by filing a claim yourself and dealing with a major company like Lyft and its lawyers.
Lyft Car Dangers in San Francisco
Rideshares are a handy service that has made their way onto every road around the Bay Area. Lyft got its start in San Francisco. It’s a major plus as car costs rise, but all rideshare companies put more traffic on the road, and more distracted drivers behind the wheel.
Drivers have to monitor their phones for ride requests, mapping help, and even ratings and reviews. These added attention-grabbers are why rideshare drivers are at an increased risk of ramming another vehicle, hurting any rider in the backseat, and the other driver.
According to a 2020 San Francisco Public Press report, from 2018 through August 2019, the city saw 47 traffic fatalities. Seven of those accidents involved ride-hailing vehicles. The news organization also said that some accidents involving Lyft were being covered up. What’s more, the SFPD found that over a three-year period, more than half of all traffic citations in the city were issued to ride-hailing employees.
At the very least, the sheer number of rideshare workers in the lanes each day raises the chances of a collision. These are some of the major reasons you may, one day, be injured in a collision with a Lyft car:
- Lyft App Cellphone Distractions – All drivers can be distracted by a text, but Lyft drivers must use their cellphones to earn a paycheck. They get ride requests and must decide whether to accept them or not. Then they have to determine the best route on the map. While they aren’t focused on the road, they may come dangerously close to parked cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists.
- Working for Uber and Lyft – To make matters worse, some drivers decide to double their chances at customers by working for two or more companies in the same shift. There are actually apps that cater to these ambitious workers and let them quickly switch back and forth between apps. This only adds to the distraction a phone can provide.
- “Deadheading” – Lyft drivers may just be cruising around a busy section of San Francisco, hoping to get a ride request. While they wait for a customer, they also put themselves and others at risk by aimlessly driving on already busy routes like Valencia Street.
- Pressure and stress – Lyft drivers face pressure from all sides. Their employers want them to pick up and drop off as many customers as possible. The passengers can also put pressure on drivers and even engage in distracting conversations or heated arguments.
- Reckless Decisions – Drivers may use this stress as an excuse to break the speed limit or whip in and out of lanes to make a drop-off deadline. They can also choose to give up sleep the night before, making them drowsy as they traverse busy lanes. Lyft has a zero-tolerance policy for drug and alcohol use, but drivers might decide to travel the city while intoxicated and risk the lives of their passengers and other motorists.
Those who have been hit by Lyft drivers or hurt in a crash while riding in a rideshare vehicle should speak to a skilled Lyft accident attorney before they give up on getting help after an accident. Rideshare drivers who are injured in accidents they didn’t cause may also need help if they aren’t being properly supported by their employers.
Does Lyft Have Insurance for San Francisco Accidents?
Yes. They provide up to $100,000 for accidents caused by a driver who has the app open but doesn’t have a ride request. The coverage limits go up to one million dollars if the driver has accepted a ride request or already had the rider aboard at the time of the impact.
However, Lyft also makes all of its drivers show proof of having their own car insurance. Victims would usually have to file a claim with the driver’s insurer first. If the claim didn’t earn enough to pay for all of the victim’s damages or the victim’s claim was denied, Lyft insurance could kick in.
Unfortunately, victims are often forced to prove who was at fault in an accident, despite what an accident report might say. Lyft attorneys will fight hard to discredit victims simply to protect the rideshare’s profits. It’s often a wise idea for victims to get legal protection of their own and trust their cases to an experienced San Francisco Rideshare Accident Lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions?
What type of support can I get if I’m hurt in a Lyft-involved collision?
Victims must demand help with their current medical bills and any expected in the months ahead. They should be fully reimbursed for the income they lose while having to miss work. Victims are also empowered by California law to ask for support for the physical pain they suffer and the emotional trauma they are put through.
How long can I wait to file an injury claim with Lyft after an accident?
In California, you have up to two years after an accident to file a claim. But you shouldn’t wait years to file. Alert your lawyer to your case as soon as you can so your lawyer can access fresh evidence and track down witnesses before they disappear.
What if I can’t afford to pay a lawyer after a rideshare accident?
You can still count on excellent legal representation. Rideshare Law Office doesn’t get paid unless we are successful in earning compensation for you. Then, your lawyer is paid out of the settlement that a company like Lyft must provide.
Contact a San Francisco Lyft Accident Attorney
After an accident involving Lyft, you may be contacted by representatives from the company. These representatives may be lawyers. They could be insurance adjusters. Don’t give them any recorded statements. Just stick to basic information and then refer them to your attorney. They are hoping you’ll speak out about what happened so they can twist what you say to damage your claim later.
If you or a loved one sustained a serious injury and the accident involved a Lyft, contact us for a free and confidential consultation. Whether you were hit by a Lyft driver, injured as a passenger, or injured as a Lyft driver, we can make sure you get treated fairly and keep you from becoming a victim a second time.
