Agoura Hills Lyft Accident Lawyer

You decided to finally try out a ridesharing service after hearing about it from your friends. You’d seen a lot of cars in Agoura Hills with the Lyft sticker, so you downloaded their app and called for a ride to work. Like clockwork, the driver showed up at your home off Gray Rock Rd. at the time indicated. You hopped in the back, said hello, and you were off. But on the way there, your driver kept looking at her phone; this was troubling, since the traffic was so heavy and she needed to pay attention. And, as you’d feared, she went through a red light and the car was t-boned right about where you were sitting.

The impact totaled her car but also crushed your body. You had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance and received emergency care, but you’ll be okay. You just hope you’ll be able to run and ride a bike again. After getting the medical care you need, your next step should be to reach out to a winning Agoura Hills Lyft accident lawyer at Walch Law in order to file an accident claim.

Below is an overview of what to do after a Lyft accident, including how insurance coverage works, determining damages for your injuries, the importance of working with an attorney, and more.

You were so badly injured that you weren’t able to do much after it happened. Fortunately, the driver was fine and contacted the police and emergency vehicles. She wasn’t able to move her car to the side of the road but she made sure everyone involved in the accident was stable. It’s a good idea to take notes and photographs of the scene, assuming you’re able to do so.

The following information is crucial for filing an accident claim:

• Names and contact information of any drivers involved in the accident
• License plate numbers and descriptions of all vehicles involved
• Insurance information

You also want to check the following if your accident involves a Lyft driver, whether you were a passenger or another motorist:

• Is the driver logged into their Lyft app (when a Lyft driver is off duty, they’re covered solely by their own personal insurance policy)?
• If the app is in driver mode but there’s no passenger, Lyft provides contingency coverage of $50,000 per injury, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage coverage (in case the driver’s own policy denies coverage).
• Lyft also provides up to $1 million in liability coverage per accident for passengers.
• Remember to report your accident with Lyft

Things tend to be quite chaotic following a car accident, so don’t worry if you’re unable to gather all of this information right away. Your Agoura Hills Lyft accident lawyer will be able to track down the details and also conduct any investigations that may help strengthen your claim.

Since Lyft drivers are not employees of Lyft, but rather independent contractors, the company is not considered vicariously liable. But since individual auto insurance policies often exclude coverage for rideshare-related accidents, Lyft is compelled to offer some coverage. Typically, you’ll file a claim with the driver first and then refile with Lyft’s insurer after the expected claim denial.

Insurance companies are in the business of making a profit, so they are not motivated to pay out massive settlements. For this reason, you want to avoid accepting an early settlement offer before you’ve had a chance to fully assess your injuries. This is complicated that much more when multiple parties are involved. Commonly reported issues with Lyft claims include the following:

• Claim is denied, suggesting it wasn’t the Lyft driver’s fault)
• Failure to reply to claims or questions about claims
• Low settlement offers
• Claiming your injury was a “pre-existing condition” and not in fact caused by the accident

When you claim damages, what you’re doing is placing a dollar amount on your losses that resulted from the other party’s liability (usually negligence). Damages may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Disfigurement
• Permanent disability
• Pain and suffering
• Diminished future earning potential
• Loss of consortium (intimacy and affection)

You were trying to keep things simple and leave the driving to someone else. Instead, you’re in pain, unable to walk, and worried about the stack of bills accumulating on your kitchen table. When someone else is to blame for your injuries, you have the right to seek monetary compensation. Contact the experienced legal professionals at the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, a Law Corporation and learn more. Don’t delay and miss the chance at money and don’t make the mistake of accepting a lowball settlement offer—call Walch Law now to learn how much your case is worth and so much more.