Canoga Park Lyft Accident

You were scheduled for elective surgery (hip replacement) at Canoga Park’s West Hills Hospital, so you thought the best way to get there and back was to take a Lyft. The surgery went well and when it was time to head home, you simply called for a Lyft ride on your phone. Your driver seemed like he knew what he was doing but also was tailgating others the whole way back. Just a couple blocks from your house, though, he rear-ended a car in front of you. He didn’t seem to suffer any injuries but you got whiplash and injured your newly repaired hip joint. Now you’re back in the hospital again.

You’re concerned about your hip, not to mention the whiplash, and hope the driver’s insurance company (or is Lyft responsible?) doesn’t try to suggest your hip injury was a preexisting condition. You’ll want to reach out to a Canoga Park Lyft accident lawyer at Walch Law before filing your claim, as Lyft claims can sometimes be quite complicated.

It’s important to understand what to do after a Lyft accident before it happens. The following information will guide you on how your claim is filed, how damages are determined, and more.

There are certain things you should do after any automobile accident, beginning with the important task of providing emergency first aid to those who require it. Although you were in a great deal of pain following the collision, you were still able to call the police for an official report and also called for an ambulance to take you back to the hospital. Your driver checked on you and also moved his car out of the roadway.

Also, you’ll want to gather the following information after any type of motor vehicle accident (Lyft-related or otherwise):

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

But since the accident does involve a Lyft driver, you’ll want to make sure you check the following if you’re able to do so (if not, your attorney can help you fill in the blanks later):

• 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

If this all sounds confusing, you should know that you’re not alone. This is why you’ll probably want to work with an experienced Canoga Park Lyft accident lawyer before you file your claim. Also, be careful about accepting an early settlement offer from the at-fault driver’s insurance company before you’ve had a chance to get a full assessment of your injuries and losses related to the accident. They’re motivated to keep payouts low and close cases quickly, which isn’t necessarily in your best interests.

Since you reinjured your surgically repaired (replaced, actually) hip, you may need some expert legal help establishing liability. But when multiple parties are involved, as is the case with Lyft accidents, this can get really tricky and you probably don’t want to do it yourself. Also, keep in mind that Lyft drivers are independent contractors (not employees in the legal sense), which means Lyft has limited liability for claims (although they do provide back-up insurance for their drivers).

Your claim may run into one or more complications, which is why you may want to use an attorney. Commonly reported issues with Lyft-related 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

Your injury claim will include a demand for damages, which is a term pertaining to the dollar amount attributable to the injuries that were caused as a result of the at-fault party’s negligence. Damages for a motor vehicle accident may include (but are not limited to):

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

Going back to the hospital before even getting a chance to go home was not part of your plans. When someone else’s negligence results in your injuries, pain, and other complications, you owe it to yourself to seek compensation. Call the experienced professionals at the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, a Law Corporation and learn more about your legal options. Wondering how much a lyft accident lawyer costs? We cost absolutely nothing until we get you paid so give us a call today to learn more. We will get you paid the most following your Lyft accident.