Los Angeles Out of State Passengers Lyft Accident Attorney – Steers & Associates

Nearly 85 million passengers departed from and arrived at LAX in 2017. Many of those travelers were from other countries and other states and used Lyft rideshare services to get to their ultimate destinations. They also use Lyft to get around town during their stays here in Los Angeles. Most Lyft rides are uneventful, but sometimes the vehicles are involved in accidents. What happens if you’re from another country or state, and you’re injured in an accident involving a Lyft vehicle?

After seeking medical attention, contact our Los Angeles Lyft Accident Lawyer.

Insurance
You probably needn’t worry about insurance. Lyft’s insurance covers its drivers for just about any eventuality. You’ll want the accident documented by an accident investigation and police report, so call 911. Ask that an officer be dispatched to the scene. You’ll want paramedics there too if you’re injured. They’ll document your complaints of pain and take you to the nearest emergency room.

Jurisdiction and Venue
Jurisdiction involves the authority of a court to hear controversies and make decisions. Every state in the United States has its own set of courts. If an accident happened in Texas, the Texas courts have jurisdiction to hear the case, and if an accident happened in Minnesota, the Minnesota courts have jurisdiction. Since your accident occurred in California, the California courts would have jurisdiction to hear and decide any personal injury lawsuit that you might file. Venue differs from jurisdiction. Venue deals with which court in the California court system your personal injury case would be heard in. Since your accident and injuries occurred in Los Angeles County, your case would be properly filed in the Los Angeles County court system.

Procedure
Every state also has its own rules of civil procedure. Los Angeles County has its own local rules too. Some judges even have their own rules for their own courtrooms. The rules of whatever state or country that you’re from won’t apply in any personal injury lawsuit that you file. Since your accident happened in California, and you’re accessing the California courts to have your case heard and decided, the California Code of Civil Procedure governs how your case will work its way through the courts.

The Statute of Limitations
Don’t rely on your state’s statute of limitations as the deadline for filing a personal injury case. Some states like Wisconsin have a three year limitations period. Maine has a six year period. The general rule in California is that any lawsuit for personal injuries suffered in an accident must be filed within two years of the date of the accident. There are few exceptions to this rule. If you fail to file your personal injury lawsuit in California within two years of the date of your accident, it’s highly likely that your lawsuit will be dismissed.

The Advantages of a Los Angeles Attorney
You might have an established relationship with a trusted attorney in your hometown. If you’re injured in an accident in a city 1,500 miles away though, you’re likely to obtain the best result by retaining an experienced and respected personal injury attorney in the city or county where your accident occurred. As opposed to an attorney from Milwaukee or Atlanta, we’re far more familiar with California traffic laws, civil procedure and evidence. Insurance adjusters, insurance defense attorneys and Los Angeles County judges know us and respect us. Your attorney in your hometown simply doesn’t have those benefits here in Los Angeles.

Contact a Los Angeles Lyft Accident Lawyer

Contact us right away after being injured in any Lyft or other rideshare accident to arrange for a free case consultation and review. We’ll be fully prepared to answer your questions and advise you of your legal options. After you’ve retained us, we’ll be attending to the details of your personal injury case while you’re home recovering.