Injured in A Lyft Accident? Reach Out to an Attorney Immediately!

Driving for ride-hailing companies like Lyft seems like a great opportunity if you own a vehicle and are looking for a side job to supplement your income. Like you, more than 1.4 million drivers get behind the wheel in the U.S. and Canada to take passengers to their next destination. Starting on your time and getting instant pay may seem alluring at first. However, most drivers fail to read the fine print regarding Lyft insurance.

At Gutierrez Law, we get presented with many rideshare claims. Depending on how severe the car crash was, clients hope to pursue damages rightfully owed from Lyft. Unfortunately, insurance is a frequent concern among ride-hailing services. Drivers usually get classified as independent contractors, not employees. That makes it harder to settle with insurance companies.

When you get into a fender bender, Lyft shares the blame. How the app got used at the time of the incident will be a determining factor in your extended coverage plan.

Avoid Waiting to Understand How Lyft Insurance Works

Understanding how Lyft insurance works can get complicated, but a ridesharing accident attorney would advise you to avoid waiting until an accident happens before figuring it out. Before agreeing to drive as an independent contractor, you should know how their policies protect you and your passengers. Providing insurance for drivers if they are engaged in Rideshare or Lyft Delivery Services is the only rule Lyft strictly enforces. You can access the complete certificate of insurance on the app.

Your Driver Status Matters

The amount of insurance coverage you may get offered depends on your driving status. We break it down for you below:

  • Period 0: When the app is in driver mode as you wait for a request.
  • Period 1: En-route to the pick-up location
  • Period 2 & 3: When a ride is in progress (any time from accepting to ending the trip in-app).

Each statute carries a different meaning. This sneaky strategy is one of few reasons why Lyft might be able to evade personal injury lawsuits. The least amount of coverage goes to drivers waiting for a pick-up request with the app on. The most kicks in for the other three statuses (Period 1-3).

Pursuing a legal case against tech companies like Lyft would require guidance from a qualified personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles.

Lyft Insurance vs. California-Mandated Insurance

Do you carry car insurance? If not, you risk facing serious penalties and liability suits in court. All Lyft accident lawyers in LA would agree that it’s easier to win a case if you can demonstrate your ability to exercise a duty of care on the road. In California, all drivers must carry the minimum auto insurance, such as:

  • Bodily injury liability coverage: minimum of $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability coverage: minimum of $5,000
  • Uninsured motorist injury coverage: minimum of $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist property damage coverage: minimum of $3,500

Rideshare insurance is more of a temporary add-on. Los Angeles ridesharing accident lawyers would advise drivers to not just rely on Lyft insurance alone. Policies get modified frequently per state and city requirements. However, Lyft consistently provides the following insurance plans:

  • Up to $1,000,000 for 3rd party accidents
  • First-party coverage, or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
  • Cash value of ($2,500 deductible) for car damages following a collision.

App Status Matters – Make Sure It’s On

In Driver Mode – Trips Pending

Lyft has a liability limit of $50,000 for bodily injury. The coverage might extend to a maximum of $100,000 per incident, but it seldom helps if you were on the receiving end of the accident and wound up with a traumatic brain injury, for example. Lyft only provides liability coverage, meaning you are responsible for paying your medical bills and vehicle damages.

En-route And Driving with Passengers

If you get into an accident on the way to pick up a passenger or while completing a trip, your insurance will carry significant weight. According to an injury attorney in LA, coverage goes into effect when the driver operates in the first, second, or third status.

In this case, Lyft offers $1 million in liability coverage, with a high deductible of $2,500. If you took on this job for extra income, this means you’ll face a severe financial setback. Most drivers must pay significant out-of-pocket expenses for Lyft’s insurance policy to work.

Commercial Drivers Don’t Always Get Covered!

Be mindful of how your personal auto policy will work in a rideshare accident. When you use your motor vehicle to transport passengers, that is considered a commercial activity. Insurance providers generally don’t acknowledge or cover it. Before you sign up to obtain commercial insurance or add a rideshare endorsement to your current policy, consider how often you partake in Lyft’s driver services.

Commercial insurance provides rideshare drivers with maximum coverage to protect when Lyft fails. Prices will vary depending on where you live and whether you meet the requirements. Although Lyft car accident lawyers are wary of insurance companies overall, they recommend pursuing it. The deductible offered through Geico and State Farm is often more affordable. Additionally, Farmers and USAA provide more protection to safeguard drivers waiting for rides, which gets overlooked often.

Did You Get into An Accident? Call Us Today!

While we hope you never get into an accident, it is best to understand how Lyft insurance works. Signing up to become a Lyft driver is easy. Getting into an accident and trying to pursue damages owed is not. That’s why you should reach out to our ridesharing accident law firm. We have the legal expertise to fight for what is right.

About The Law Offices of Oscar H Gutierrez

Our law firm specializes in helping those injured due to an accident or someone else’s negligence. Navigating the insurance agencies and legal framework for compensation can be difficult, especially if English is not your first language. That’s why you should call the bilingual lawyers of The Law Offices of Oscar H Gutierrez to make sure you get compensated for your pain and suffering.

When you meet with one of our English-speaking and Spanish-speaking personal injury attorneys, you can tell them how your accident occurred and who might be responsible. Your attorneys will then launch an investigation into your accident and the events surrounding it to find who is responsible. If someone was negligent and their lack of care led to your injury, they will build a case to make sure they pay your medical bills. You should contact our law firm if you got injured in a:

  • Car accident
  • Motorcycle accident
  • Bike accident
  • Rideshare accident
  • Pool accident
  • Dog attack
  • Workplace accident

We can also help you with product liability and premises liability suits. Don’t leave your medical bills and property damage to chance; instead, hire a law firm that can win you the maximum settlement. Contact our office for a free consultation at 323-999-3500 or email us at contact@gutierrez.legal.