Lyft is what's known as a transportation network company (TNC). It's not a taxi business. Lyft is licensed by the California Public Utilities Commission, and the service that it provides has become increasingly popular. Drivers who participate in Lyft's transportation network will use their personal vehicles to perform transportation services for passengers seeking to travel from one point to another. Ride seekers use their Lyft app to request a ride. When a driver accepts, the customer receives confirmation along with a photo of the vehicle and the driver. Expect the vehicle to have a big pink mustache on its grille identifying it as a Lyft vehicle. A driver might even use a rental vehicle for purposes of providing Lyft services. He or she are compensated for this service by the passenger who uses a credit or debit card.
Will Lyft's insurance cover my injuries?
Whether Lyft's insurance will cover you if you've been injured in an accident with a Lyft driver in California depends on the driver's status at the time of the accident. That's because three different insurances coverages apply at three different times. Here's how they work.
- When the driver mode is off - If a Lyft driver has no intention of providing Lyft service on a given day or time period, the driver's mobile app is turned off. That means that he or she is riding on their own personal insurance.
- When the app is on - Once the driver initiates the app, and he or she is on driver mode and available for service, period one contingent liability insurance coverage provided by Lyft is triggered. It's relatively low coverage with mandatory limits of $50,000 for bodily injury for one person, $100,000 total for more than one person and $25,000 for property damage. If personal injury damages exceed the contingency liability policy limits, the injured person might look to their own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage for the Lyft driver during this contingency liability period is not required by law.
- When a ride request is accepted - As soon as the Lyft driver accepts a ride request, liability, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage apply up to a $1 million limit. That coverage remains intact until such time as the passenger is dropped off. After that, the Lyft driver is either back on contingent liability coverage, or his or her personal coverage if the Lyft app is turned off.
Contact a Los Angeles Lyft Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in an accident involving a Lyft driver, contact us today for a free and confidential consultation. Please also feel free to see other frequently asked questions on our Lyft accident lawyer page.
