Rideshare Accidents
Trusted Orange County, CA Rideshare Accident Attorneys
Orange County, CA Uber Accident Attorneys You Can Trust
Uber controls more than 2/3 of the rideshare market. It is a popular and convenient service for getting around Southern California. Like any travel on Orange County’s freeways and surface streets, however, rideshare comes with certain risks. Traffic accidents are always a possibility, and if you are hurt while riding in an Uber, you have a right to compensation. Pro Attorneys understands the nuances of rideshare insurance litigation and can counter the insurance company’s delaying and lowball tactics to get you the maximum settlement.
Complex Insurance Issues
A California appeals court recently ruled that Uber (and Lyft) must their drivers as employees, rather than independent contractors. While the rideshare companies are expected to appeal to the state Supreme Court, whichever classification is ultimately decided will have implications on accident liability and whether Uber or the driver’s auto insurance company should pay. Because Uber drivers can set their own working hours and own or rent the vehicles they use on the job, it may come down to whether the driver is “on the clock” when the accident happens. Pro Attorneys cut through these complications and insurance company runaround. We can compel Uber to release evidence to prove your claim.
Causes of Uber Accidents
Uber drivers have a duty to drive carefully to ensure the safety of their passengers, pedestrians, and other cars on the road. If you’re in an automobile accident involving an Uber driver in Orange County, CA, Pro Attorneys can marshal the investigative and negotiation skills to assign liability and recover the compensation you deserve. Uber drivers have been involved in several serious accidents. In 2013, an Uber driver struck and killed a 6-year-old girl. In 2020, a drunk driver entered an airport entrance ramp the wrong way and collided with an Uber, killing the driver and a passenger. As in any other case of driver negligence, victims are entitled to compensation if an Uber driver is at fault (wholly or partially) in an accident. A driver who becomes distracted and strikes another car, pedestrian, skateboarder, or bicyclist creates a demonstrable loss. Those negatively impacted should seek to recover damages such as medical bills, lost wages, car repairs, reduced quality of life, and more.
About Insurance Policies
Liability and awards associated with accidents involving Uber drivers often come down to which insurance company is responsible. Cutting through the red tape can be difficult on your own, especially if you’re dealing with an injury or caring for someone who was hurt in the accident. If you or someone you know has been injured in an Uber accident call an Orange County, CA attorney from Pro Attorneys for a free consultation: (833) 776-3777. Our firm will parse Uber’s complex rules about its drivers’ liability coverage
Uber covers its drivers with a $1 million liability policy. The company also carries uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. These policies apply to passengers inside the vehicle,
Uber requires drivers to maintain personal auto insurance policy on the vehicles they own and use for work. This policy may be responsible if the driver is not working at the time of the accident. Uber’s coverage is in effect only when the driver has activated the app to driver mode and is actively accepting fares. California law offers some guidance on insurance liability and coverage depending on which “period” an accident occurs:
Period 1: After an active driver has opened the app but is still waiting for a fare. Uber must provide $200,000 in driver liability insurance, $100,000 in death/personal injury coverage per incident, and $50,000 for death or personal injury per person.
Period 2: After the driver has accepted a request and is driving to the pickup location. Commercial insurance coverage of $1 million is activated.
Period 3: The passenger is in the vehicle. $1 million of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage applies.
Lyft Accident Attorney in Orange County, CA
Trusted Orange County, CA Rideshare Accident Attorneys
After Uber, Lyft is the second largest rideshare company in the country. While riding a Lyft is generally safe, any mode of transportation carries some risk. When things go wrong with a Lyft experience, serious injuries can result. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident with a Lyft driver call an Orange County, CA automobile accident attorney from Pro Attorneys for a free consultation: (833) 776-3777. Masih Kazerouni, Esq. and his colleagues at Pro Attorneys experienced in all aspects of the rideshare and insurance industries. We will fully investigate your accident, completely document your injuries and financial and non-financial losses, and aggressively litigate to recover the compensation you deserve.
Lyft drivers must be over 21, use a car that passes a comprehensive safety inspection, pass driving tests, and background checks, among other requirements. While no studies have reported the statistical probability of being involved in an accident with a Lyft driver, there are documented cases from Orange County, CA and around the country in which severe injuries and even deaths were reported.
Insurance
Lyft provides liability insurance for its drivers, and the drivers must maintain their own, personal collision and comprehensive coverage. California insurance laws and Lyft’s internal policies may determine which policy or policies may cover your case. It may depend on whether you were a Lyft driver, passenger, or pedestrian/bystander, which driver is at fault, and other variables. The Pro Attorneys team will work through these details to determine who should pay – and how much – for the injuries and harm you suffer in a Lyft accident.
