Getting Help After a Lyft Accident
If you’re driving and you’re in an accident involving a Lyft Driver or if you’re a passenger in a Lyft vehicle during an accident you should consider speaking with an attorney. These accidents sometimes involve the Lyft Driver’s Insurance, the Lyft Company’s coverage, or the policies of other drivers involved. It can be hard to know who should be held responsible for your injuries but the attornies at The Law Offices of Steers and Associates can help you sort this out and get you the compensation you’ll need to pay for your recovery.Lyft and Uber Distracted Driving
One study found that over the past decade ride-sharing services have increased traffic deaths by 2% to 3% in the U.S. That works out to be up to 1,100 additional fatalities a year. Distracted driving is always a major cause of traffic collisions in California and Lyft drivers have many things that can distract them while they’re on the clock. Here are just a few of the added distractions:- “Deadheading” or cruising while waiting on the next passenger. Lyft drivers can spend around 50% of their shift waiting on ride requests. Some companies encourage drivers to stay on the road so they're closer to potential riders. This can lead to more accidents.
- New ride requests. Drivers can be immediately distracted when a new passenger is available. Terms and special instructions need to be worked out. This might require several glances at a phone or even a phone call.
- Locating destinations. Drivers will need to find the passenger’s current location and destination. Drivers utilize GPS systems but even the directions those devices provide have been known to recommend unsafe traffic decisions.
- Speeding so that riders aren’t left waiting or dropped off late. Ratings for drivers can suffer.
Do Lyft drivers have insurance?
Be aware! In an accident, a driver’s personal policy covers them if they’re not logged into the app and not on the job. While Lyft Drivers are clocked in and waiting on a ride request they are not covered by their personal insurance policy unless they have purchased something called supplemental ridesharing coverage. Lyft coverage for its drivers varies according to what “periods” the driver may be in. In simple terms, if a driver is logged into Lyft and available to pick up passengers, on the way to pick up a passenger, or if they have a passenger in the vehicle. Period 1: Period 1 begins when a driver logs in to “driver mode” in the Lyft App, and ends when they accept a ride request, known as a “match notification”. During this phase, Lyft provides $50,000/person for bodily injury, $100,000/accident for bodily injury, $30,000/accident for property damage. Period 2: Period 2 begins when a Lyft driver accepts a ride request. Lyft offers $1 million in liability insurance and $1 million in uninsured / under-insured motorist coverage. This insurance is in effect until the passenger is dropped off at their destination.Damages recoverable in Lyft accidents
After an injury in an accident, you’ll face a challenging recovery and that recovery will usually be very expensive. An attorney can help you seek coverage for damages to your health and finances you might not have considered. Those hardships you’ve endured due to the negligence of a Lyft driver might consist of:- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future lost earnings
- Any permanent disfigurement
- Any permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of a normal life
