Los Angeles Rideshare
Accident Attorney
The rideshare industry continues to grow to provide alternative and often more affordable taxi services. Ride-sharing companies, such as Uber and Lyft, use smartphone technology to provide riders with streamlined access to their services. However, this streamlined business model places extreme pressure on rideshare drivers to complete their fares quickly to make more money. Job pressure and distractions from cell phones and GPS devices often lead to tragic accidents.
Motor vehicle accidents involving ride-sharing vehicles, such as Uber and Lyft, can result in serious injuries. Rideshare accident attorney Los Angeles at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates represents individuals who have been injured in these types of accidents. Our legal team will help you get the full compensation that you deserve for the injuries that you have suffered. We are dedicated to protecting your legal rights and working hard to get you the damages that you are entitled to.
With multiple offices located in Los Angeles, El Segundo, Irvine, San Diego, and Riverside, our personal injury lawyers represent Uber/Lyft accident victims throughout California. We have successful recoveries in San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, Stockton, Merced and other cities throughout Northern and Central California. For more information or to schedule a complimentary case consultation with an attorney, please call 888-848-5084.
What Makes a Rideshare Accident Different
An accident involving a rideshare vehicle presents a unique set of circumstances. It is not exactly the same as an accident involving a passenger car, but it is also different from a traditional commercial vehicle collision. Rideshare drivers, such as Uber and Lyft, generally use their own personal cars to provide transportation to riders who use online apps.
Rideshare drivers are not required to have a commercial driver’s license or purchase commercial auto insurance. However, the ridesharing company does provide commercial insurance coverage only while the rideshare driver is on the clock. In other words, who may be financially liable in an accident involving a rideshare car depends on the particular facts of the case.
Determining Rideshare Who Is Responsible in a Rideshare Accident
Rideshare companies, like Uber or Lyft, have a $1 million liability insurance policy. However, there are exceptions as to when this coverage applies. If you were a passenger in a rideshare car, you will likely be covered by the company insurance policy, regardless of whether your rideshare driver was at fault. However, even if your driver, who was on duty at the time of the accident, the rideshare company may still deny liability. This is why it is important to have a Los Angeles rideshare accident attorney on your side to fight for your rights.
If you were hit by a rideshare car, you need to find whether the driver was on duty to determine whether the rideshare company insurance coverage applies. It is important to note that even if the driver did not have a passenger in their vehicle at the time of the accident, they are still considered “on duty” from the time they accept a ride until they drop their passenger off. This includes the time they are “en route” to pick a passenger up.
If you were hit by an off-duty rideshare driver, you may still seek compensation against the driver’s personal insurance policy, instead of the company policy. The legal team at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas will investigate the facts surrounding your accident and pursue every avenue to make sure you get the full compensation that you deserve.
Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents
Even though rideshare drivers are subject to a history background check, they are still prone to the same accident risks as any other motorist on the road. However, there are some additional dangers that may impact rideshare drivers specifically.
Since rideshare drivers often work multiple jobs, they may be especially prone to driver fatigue. Driving while you are drowsy or fatigued can significantly impact your alertness and reaction time as much as driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Moreover, because ridesharing is based on smartphone apps, it means that drivers rely on their cell phones for directions, tracks their time on duty and arranges their next pick-up ride. This constant need for driver to check their smartphone creates an environment ripe for driver distraction, leading to serious accidents.
Rideshare Driver Standards & Vehicle Requirements
In order to help ensure the safety of a passenger, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft require that their drivers meet a certain standard. Both Uber and Lyft require that their drivers:
- Meet the minimum age requirement. Lyft requires drivers to be at least 21 years old. Uber requires drivers to meet or exceed the minimum age for the city in which they work.
- Have a valid driver’s license.
- Have a minimum of one year of licensed driving experience (Uber requires three years if the driver is younger than 23).
- Provide proof of insurance, vehicle registration, and valid inspection.
- Pass a safety screening and driving history background check.
The cars that are being driven in rideshares must also meet certain standards including:
- Must be four-door vehicles.
- Must be in safe driving condition.
- Must be less than 10 to 15 years old.
- Meet the requirements set by the cities the driver is working in.
Common Injuries Suffered by Rideshare Accident Victims
Just like any other motor vehicle accident, rideshares can be involved in many types of collisions, including:
- Rear end crashes
- Head on collisions
- Rollovers
- Parking lot accidents
- Side impact accidents
The nature and severity of the resulting injuries will often depend on the type of crash and the type of vehicles involved. Below are some common injuries that can result from a Los Angeles rideshare accident:
- Traumatic brain and injuries (TBI) and other head injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractures and broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
Whether you need a few weeks of medical treatment for a whiplash soft tissue injury or years of ongoing care for a debilitating TBI, you deserve to recover money damages for all of your losses if a rideshare driver caused the crash. This process is more complicated that most think. You want to have an aggressive Los Angeles rideshare accident lawyer who can identify the proper resources of recovery for your loss.
Compensation for Your Rideshare Accident
The Los Angeles Uber/Lyft accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas have the experience, knowledge and resources to ensure that you are fully compensated for the injuries you sustained after your rideshare accident. Depending on the specific facts of your case, below are some common types of conversation you may be entitled to:
- Past and future medical bills
- Loss of earning
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffer
- Social and mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Any other out of pocket expenses associated with the accident
You Need Legal Representation
Personal injury and property loss claims involving rideshare vehicles are especially complicated. These cases include various factors, such as whether a driver was logged into the app when the accident occurred, and will often result in multiple claims against the company, the driver, and even other drivers – depending on the specific facts of the claim. This is why it is particularly important to hire a personal injury lawyer who has experience in handling accidents involving rideshare vehicles, specifically Uber and Lyft.
Our attorneys will be able to anticipate and avoid disputes that might reduce your financial recovery or prevent you from obtaining any compensation at all.
Possible Claims Involving a Rideshare Accident
Below are some of cases the legal team at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas handles involving a rideshare accident:
- Claims Filed by Rideshare Passengers
- Claims Filed by Rideshare Drivers
- Claims Filed by Pedestrians
- Claims Against Rideshare Drivers
- Claims Against Uber or Lyft
- Claims Against Drivers of Other Vehicles
- Claims Against Government Entities
- Wrongful Death Rideshare Accident Claims
- Other Rideshare Accident Claims
Regardless of what type of claim you may think you have after getting into an accident involving a rideshare, it is important that you immediately contact an experienced rideshare accident attorney.
Contact an Experienced Los Angeles Uber/Lyft Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident while riding in an Uber, Lyft or any other type of rideshare vehicle, the legal team at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates can help. We specialize in handling rideshare app accidents, especially Uber and Lyft. We have the experience to help you recover your lost wages, medical expenses and any other costs related to your rideshare accident.
The Law Offices of Samer Habbas is dedicated to helping accident victims receive the just compensation for injuries. With multiple offices located in Los Angeles, El Segundo, Irvine, San Diego, and Riverside, our personal injury attorneys represent rideshare accident victims throughout California. We have successful recoveries in San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, Stockton, Merced and other cities throughout Northern and Central California. For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our Los Angeles rideshare accident attorneys, please call 888-848-5084.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue Uber or Lyft after an accident in Los Angeles?
You may be able to file a claim if your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence. Depending on the circumstances, your claim may involve the rideshare driver’s insurance, Uber or Lyft’s commercial insurance policy, another driver’s insurer, or multiple parties. Liability depends on factors such as who caused the crash and whether the driver was logged into the rideshare app at the time of the accident.
California Senate Bill 371, which took effect January 1, 2025, significantly reduced the uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage Uber and Lyft must carry for passenger trips — from $1,000,000 down to $60,000 per person, a 94% reduction. This matters if a third-party uninsured driver hits your Uber or Lyft vehicle. The $1 million third-party liability coverage when the rideshare driver is at fault was not changed. This means if you’re injured in a rideshare accident in Los Angeles after January 1, 2025 involving an uninsured third-party driver, your own personal UM/UIM policy becomes critically important as a backup source of compensation.
Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly after an accident in Los Angeles?
Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors under California’s Proposition 22 — upheld by the California Supreme Court in July 2024 — which limits but doesn’t eliminate direct claims against the companies. You can pursue the rideshare company directly for negligent hiring (inadequate background checks), negligent retention (keeping a dangerous driver on the platform), or negligent supervision. You can also access their insurance coverage directly under AB 2293. Our Los Angeles rideshare accident attorneys know how to build these arguments and have handled crashes across DTLA, Hollywood, LAX pickup zones, Culver City, and El Segundo.
Call 911 to report the accident and get a police report filed — this is required under California law for any accident involving injury or property damage over $1,000. Seek medical attention immediately, even if injuries seem minor, since symptoms of whiplash and traumatic brain injury often don’t appear for days. Take screenshots of the Uber or Lyft app showing your trip details and driver information before the session expires. Report the accident directly in the app to trigger the company’s internal reporting process. Most importantly, don’t give a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster before calling a Los Angeles rideshare accident lawyer — these early statements are routinely used to reduce or deny claims.
How much is an Uber or Lyft accident settlement worth in Los Angeles?
Settlement amounts vary widely depending on the severity of injuries, which insurance coverage period applies, and whether the driver or a third party caused the crash. Minor injury cases might settle for $10,000–$50,000, while catastrophic injury cases — spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injury, wrongful death — can reach into the millions under Uber and Lyft’s $1 million commercial policy. Los Angeles is a high-value jurisdiction with experienced plaintiff attorneys and juries that typically award significant damages for serious injuries. Our firm has recovered over $400 million across all case types and will give you an honest assessment of your case’s value in a free consultation.
What if I was a pedestrian or cyclist hit by an Uber or Lyft driver in LA?
You have the same right to compensation as a passenger. If the driver was in Period 2 or 3 at the time of the crash — which can be verified through app data — the $1 million commercial policy applies to your claim as an injured pedestrian or cyclist. High-risk areas in Los Angeles include LAX pickup/dropoff zones, Hollywood and DTLA entertainment districts, Sunset Boulevard, and busy pedestrian areas around Culver City and West Hollywood. California’s pure comparative negligence rule means you can recover even if you were partially at fault, with your award reduced proportionally by your percentage of fault.
California’s statute of limitations for personal injury is two years from the date of the accident. If the accident involved a government entity — for example, a Metro bus or city vehicle — you have only six months to file a government tort claim. If you were a minor at the time of the accident, the clock typically doesn’t start until your 18th birthday. Missing the deadline means permanently losing your right to compensation, regardless of how strong your case is. Contact our team at 888-848-5084 right away — we serve rideshare accident victims throughout California. We have successful recoveries in San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, Stockton, Merced and other cities throughout Northern and Central California.
Rideshare accident cases are among the most insurance-complex personal injury cases in California, involving multiple competing policies, corporate legal teams, and app-based digital evidence that disappears quickly if no one acts on it. Uber and Lyft’s insurance adjusters are experienced at minimizing payouts and will move fast to secure a low settlement offer before you understand your case’s real value. Studies consistently show that represented claimants recover significantly more than those who handle claims alone. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing upfront and nothing at all unless we win.
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