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 across Southern California. For more information or to schedule a complimentary case consultation with an attorney, please call 949-727-9300.
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 across Southern California. For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our Los Angeles rideshare accident attorneys, please call 949-727-9300.
