Westlake Village Lyft Accident Lawyer

Unfortunately there’s no rideshare service for water taxis, per Coast Guard regulations. So in order to get to and from that class reunion party at your favorite lakeside bar in Westlake Village, you had to take a Lyft instead. You got into the car expecting an uneventful 20-minute ride to your destination. Instead, you ended up in the hospital and still have a few dozen stitches on your face and a shattered kneecap. You never made it to the reunion, although some of your old friends showed up at the hospital to check on you.

Your plan to stay safe and be responsible backfired. Your driver, it turns out, actually was intoxicated at the time of the crash, which is why he blew through that stoplight. You won’t be getting back to work any time soon and you’re nowhere near your high medical insurance deductible. Oh, and rent is due soon.

You’re not sure whether you can afford to call a Westlake Village Lyft accident lawyer, but you should know that the cost of not doing so may be much, much higher. But who’s actually responsible? Lyft? The driver? Both? Luckily the highly successful team of lawyers at Walch Law takes all their cases on a contingency fee basis meaning you don’t pay a thing until we get you paid. And if you are struggling with doctor bills, we can also help you get the case you need now. Call us NOW to learn why Robert and Gary Walch are the right choice for your Westlake Village Lyft accident lawsuit.

The accident was quite severe but thankfully some bystanders stopped and administered emergency first aid.They also called the police after suspecting that the driver was drunk, leading to his arrest. But he was barely injured. You’re the one bearing the brunt of this accident. If you’re able to do so, it’s always advised that you move your vehicle out of traffic, take pictures of the accident (including damage to all vehicles involved), and take notes pertaining to traffic conditions or other details that could support your claim.

You’ll want to gather the following information after a car accident:

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

As a paying Lyft rideshare passenger, you’ll also want to check the following (again, only if you’re able to do so):

• 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

Your Westlake Village Lyft accident lawyer can help you fill in the blanks after you’ve received proper medical attention (that’s always the first concern). But make sure you don’t accept any early settlement offers from the insurance company, since their motivation is to keep payments as low as possible. When you hire us, we will be able to fully assess the extent of your injuries and the value of your claim to make sure that your settlement fully covers your accident and the impact it has on your life.

It’s important to understand that Lyft drivers are not employees of Lyft, but rather independent contractors. This means the company isn’t explicitly liable for injuries involving Lyft drivers, although they do offer some insurance coverage. As with other businesses, they also want to minimize their legal exposure and won’t make it easy for you to collect.

Be aware that your claim may run into some difficulties, which is why you may want to use an attorney. Commonly reported issues 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 claim will include a demand for damages, which relates to the monetary value of your losses stemming from the other party’s liability. 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)

The fact that your driver was arrested for a DUI should help your claim, but it doesn’t mean it’s a slam dunk, especially if the driver didn’t have adequate insurance coverage. In any event, it’s in your best interests to work with a skilled attorney before filing your claim. Contact the experienced legal professionals at the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, a Law Corporation and learn more. We have over 45 years of experience helping car accident victims and have been working on Lyft accident cases since the rideshare company came into existence. We know how to win these cases and are ready to get started helping you. Call us now!