Ridesharing apps such as Uber and Lyft have become a part of everyday life for many individuals, and the increase of rideshare drivers on the road makes it more likely that you may find yourself in an accident involving a rideshare. Unlike an accident involving another private citizen driver, there are some unique complications involved in being in an accident with a Lyft.
When dealing with large corporations with various policies on accidents, having legal counsel gives you a much better chance of succeeding with your claim. If you or a loved one has been in a car accident involving a Lyft, contact the lawyers at Zinda Law Group today for a free case consultation.
Who Pays For Your Bills If You’re Injured in a Lyft Accident?
There are many different laws about whether employees or employers are liable for things that employees do while on the job. However, Lyft drivers are not classified as employees but as independent contractors, making it easy for Lyft to avoid liability in most cases. Because of this, if you are injured in an accident with a Lyft driver it is likely you will be dealing with the insurance of the Lyft driver.
However, Lyft does have insurance for its drivers that supplements the insurance that the driver personally has. If a Lyft driver is driving with his app turned on when the accident occurs, this supplemental insurance will be applied to the accident—but if the Lyft driver does not have his Lyft app turned on, he is just treated like any other driver and only his insurance will be involved.
John (Jack) Zinda
Founder / CEO
Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationDoes It Make a Difference if You’re a Passenger, Another Driver or Pedestrian?
No matter if you are a passenger, another driver, or a pedestrian, if you are involved in an accident with a Lyft driver, you are able to seek compensation for your injuries according to Lyft insurance policies. If the Lyft driver does not have drive mode activated, only his insurance will be used; if drive mode is on, Lyft’s policies may be supplemented. In either case, if you were injured by a driver you can seek compensation.
Neil Solomon
Partner
Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationShould Lyft or Their Driver Be Liable for Your Injuries?
One important fact of the case is whether or not the Lyft driver has his Lyft app turned on driver mode when the accident happens, because otherwise Lyft will not be involved, as the driver was involved in the accident in his “off the clock” time from his job. But even when the app is on, this will only implicate Lyft’s insurance policy because Lyft classifies their drivers as independent contractors and not employees. It is unlikely that Lyft itself will have any liability for the actions of their driver.
Lyft will still want to know about the accident. If you have been hit by a Lyft driver, you can and should report the accident to Lyft on their Help Page. However, take caution when you do this, because speaking to Lyft is like speaking to an insurance company following an accident—the representative you are speaking to is trained to protect the interests of the company, not your best interests, and is listening for an admission of fault on your part or something else that can be used to deny coverage. Consider speaking to your lawyer before speaking to Lyft, or having your lawyer report the accident to Lyft himself.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
Standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ready to answer in your time of need.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationHow Lyft’s Insurance Policies Work
The supplemental insurance limits on Lyft are different if the Lyft driver had a passenger in his car or was on his way to pick up a passenger when the accident occurred. If the Lyft driver is driving with his app turned on but has no passenger and is not driving to pick up a passenger (he might have just dropped off a passenger, or is driving waiting to accept an assignment), the supplemental insurance limit is $50,000 per person in the accident with a limit of $100,000 total, and a $25,000 maximum for property damage. However, if there is a Lyft passenger in the car or the Lyft driver was on his way to pick up a passenger, Lyft’s supplemental insurance is higher, and the limit is $1 million.
Cole Gumm
Attorney
We are here to ensure you won’t have to face this difficult time alone.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationNeed Help? Contact Zinda Law Group Today
Being involved in a car accident with a Lyft driver can be even more complex than an ordinary car accident because there is a large corporation involved. It may be difficult to gather the facts of the case that could end up making a big difference, such as whether or not the Lyft driver was in drive mode or heading to pick up a passenger. Hiring experienced legal counsel will ensure that your claim will have the best chance of success.
At Zinda Law Group, our car accident attorneys have recovered compensation for numerous clients. Furthermore, the uncertainty of the legal system is not a prohibitive factor in obtaining legal representation with Zinda Law Group because of their No-Win, No-Fee Guarantee, which means that unless you receive a settlement, you will pay nothing in legal costs.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
We have successfully represented clients in a wide variety of cases across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
