Securing compensation following a Lyft accident can be challenging. Lyft takes many steps to limit its liability in the event of an accident, leaving victims with limited options in many cases. Fortunately, you don’t have to attempt to recover damages on your own. An experienced San Francisco Lyft accident attorney can help you get the money you need and deserve.
At Omega Law Group, we have a long history of helping accident victims recover fair compensation. Our experienced team of San Francisco rideshare accident lawyers will work tirelessly to ensure a favorable outcome for your case. Get in touch with us today to schedule your free initial case review with a member of our legal team.
An Experienced Lyft Accident Attorney Serving San Francisco Can Help You Prove Fault
After suffering an injury in a Lyft accident, an experienced San Francisco car accident lawyer can help you determine who is to blame for your damages. When you hire an attorney, they will investigate your accident to establish fault. If the Lyft driver was responsible, your options for recovering damages will depend on their working status when the accident took place.
Lyft drivers are not employees of the rideshare company. Instead, these workers are classified as independent contractors. By using this classification, Lyft is able to avoid providing their drivers with a variety of employment benefits. Furthermore, this designation helps protect Lyft against liability in the event of a collision.
All Lyft drivers are required to carry their own insurance, which serves as the first source of compensation for anyone injured in an accident where the Lyft driver was at fault. However, Lyft has its own insurance policy as well, which comes into play under certain circumstances.
Lyft Driver Not Logged Into App
If the Lyft driver was not logged into the Lyft app at the time of the accident, the company is not responsible for any damages. If your damages exceed the amount available under the driver’s policy, you will need to file a lawsuit to secure the rest of the compensation you require.
Lyft Driver Logged Into App but No Ride Accepted
If the Lyft driver was logged into the Lyft app when the crash occurred but had not accepted a ride, the insurance policy for the company will come into effect at a limited rate. However, you will still need to file a claim with the driver’s insurance first.
For damages exceeding the driver’s coverage limits, you can file a claim with Lyft’s insurance provider. If your damages are still in excess of this coverage, you will need to file a lawsuit to recover the full value of your claim.
Lyft Driver Logged Into App and Ride Accepted
For cases where the Lyft driver was logged into the Lyft app and had accepted a ride, the insurance policy of the company will be activated at the full amount. This applies whether the driver has picked up the passenger yet or not. While you must still first file with the driver’s insurer, you can recover up to $1,000,000 from Lyft’s insurance provider.
For cases where your damages are severe and exceed the $1,000,000 coverage limit, you will once again need to file a lawsuit to get the full compensation you require. An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer at Omega Law Group can help you ensure all of the paperwork for your lawsuit is completed accurately and filed on time.
Never Accept the Initial Settlement Offer
After suffering injuries in a Lyft accident, you need to use caution when it comes to settlement offers. While the initial offer you receive may sound like a good deal, you need to know that it is likely only a fraction of the full value of your losses. By accepting an offer, you will be unable to collect further compensatory damages when the full extent of your damages becomes clear.
Before accepting any settlement deal, it is important to have an experienced attorney review the terms of the offer. Your lawyer will compare your losses against the money being offered to assess whether or not the deal is fair. They will proceed to explain all aspects of the offer to you so that you can make an informed decision.
While most of these types of cases are settled out of court, it is still essential that you prepare for a potential trial. If you are ready and willing to take your case to trial, you will gain leverage in settlement negotiations. Furthermore, by being ready for court, you will be prepared if settlement negotiations break down.
(310) 526-8383California Uses a Pure Comparative Negligence Model
When dealing with fault following an accident in California, the courts use a pure comparative negligence rule. Under this rule, any party who suffers losses in an accident has the right to pursue damages as long as they were less than 100% at fault.
However, those seeking compensation who were partially liable will only be able to recover compensation at a reduced rate. The amount of money that can be claimed will be reduced at a rate proportional to the level of fault held by the party seeking damages. That means that if you were 70% to blame, you would only be able to recover 30% of the value of your claim.
With this example, if your damages total $100,000, the maximum compensation you can recover will be $30,000.
Reach Out to an Experienced Lyft Accident Attorney in San Francisco Today
Securing the services of an experienced lawyer is the best way to improve your odds of recovering the money you need after a Lyft accident. At Omega Law Group, we put our clients first. Always. Our experienced San Francisco Lyft accident lawyers will leave no stone unturned in our attempt to get you the money you need.
Contact us by phone or through our website to set up your free initial case consultation with a member of our legal team today.
