California Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Rideshare services like Lyft and Uber can be incredibly convenient methods of transportation, but being involved in a rideshare accident can be incredibly complicated. Although both companies provide mandatory insurance for their drivers, seeking compensation for damages can nonetheless be a complicated, frustrating process.

If you or a loved one were in an accident with a rideshare vehicle, please contact a California rideshare accident attorney from Pollard | Bailey immediately to discuss your case. We have the experience and knowledge necessary to seek the maximum possible compensation, and the best results you deserve. Give us a call at (310) 854-7650 today.

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Why Choose a California Rideshare Accident Attorney?

At Pollard | Bailey, we are dedicated to providing exceptional legal representation for all of our clients.

• We have more than 40 years of combined experience successfully representing clients in car accident claims.
• We always fight with the best interests of our clients.
• We have the resources to fully investigate your accident, hiring other experts if possible to help substantiate your claim.
• We are not afraid of large corporations or insurance companies, and we will not hesitate to take them to trial if it is necessary to get the compensation you deserve.
• We operate on a contingency fee arrangement — you only get charged for our services if we win your case on your behalf.

Why Do You Need a Rideshare Accident Lawyer in California?

Securing compensation for a rideshare accident claim it can seem similar to that of a standard car accident, but it can come with a unique set of complications that require the counsel of an experienced California rideshare accident lawyer.

• Determining liability can often be tricky with a large company such as Uber or Lyft involved.
• If you were injured as a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, the claims process may be more complicated.
• Negotiating with the insurance providers of large companies can often be frustrating — they may make it difficult or outright impossible to recover the damages you are entitled to.
• Varying insurance policies may be at issue depending upon whether the Rideshare vehicle was actually carrying a fare. Rideshare companies often obscure the full level of insurance coverage available to the injured parties.

a California car accident attorney from Pollard | Bailey has the experience and knowledge to go up against rideshare companies and their insurance providers, ensuring that you receive the representation necessary to receive the compensation you deserve.

What Do I Do After an Uber Crash?

The first thing to do after being in an accident is to check if all parties are okay. If necessary, call 911 and wait for them to arrive. On the Uber app, contact support by going to Help, then Trip Issues and Adjustments, and “I was in an accident.”

You can also submit a crash report here.

What are the Causes of Rideshare Accidents in California?

Identifying who is at fault in a rideshare accident can be complicated. However, a rideshare accident is primarily an auto collision, and some behaviors typically cause these accidents, including:

• Speeding, without concern for weather conditions, traffic, pedestrians, or the posted speed limit
• Failure to yield or obey traffic signs and signals
• Operating a vehicle while fatigued or without sufficient training
• Unsafe lane changes
• Tailgating
• Defective vehicles
• Distracted or impaired driving

Various factors contribute to rideshare accidents, and the primary one is a distraction. With the need for rideshare drivers to check their device for GPS instructions and notifications of new clients, they take their eyes off the road and are more prone to causing a collision.

Your rideshare accident may also be the fault of the rideshare service for hiring an inexperienced or poor driver or a driver with an inadequately maintained vehicle.

Understanding Who Is Responsible for My Ridesharing Accident Injuries

If you were riding as a passenger in an Uber, Lyft, or another type of ridesharing service it’s important to know who is responsible for the accident. It’s also important to understand how insurance will generally apply in this situation. All drivers of rideshare services are responsible for carrying and maintaining their own insurance policies. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean their personal insurance will cover the damages.  Unless the drivers have a commercial insurance policy or special provision that provides coverage when they are a ridesharing driver, it won’t cover.

If you are filing a claim, there must be evidence that proves the Uber, Lyft, or rideshare driver was liable for the accident, and what injuries were sustained. You must be able to prove that the driver was negligent in order to have a valid claim.

What is Uber’s Insurance Policy?

A: Uber insurance policies step in when a driver’s personal insurance doesn’t. Insurance for drivers with Uber applies when:

1. The Uber app is offline. In this case, personal insurance and coverages apply.
2. The driver is waiting for a ride request. If personal insurance does not cover this, Uber’s third-party liability will apply:
   • “$50,000 in bodily injury per person
   • $100,000 in bodily injury per accident
   • $25,000 in property damage per accident”
3. The driver is on their way to pick up passengers and during trips. If personal insurance does not cover this, Uber’s third-party liability will apply:
   • “$1,000,000 third-party liability
   • Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury²
   • Contingent comprehensive and collision³
     • Up to actual cash value of car ($1,000 deductible)”

Pollard | Bailey Will Fight for Your Rights

Regardless of your position during the incident—in the rideshare vehicle, a pedestrian, or in your vehicle—if you were impacted by the collision and sustained injuries, you must seek a competent California personal injury lawyer. Pollard | Bailey will keep you updated on your case and possible options, whether that’s pursuing a personal injury claim against the rideshare driver or another responsible driver, or suing the rideshare company in a third-party lawsuit.

As your California uber accident attorney, we will get to the bottom of who is responsible for your injuries. We will present the extent of your injuries, treatment, and suffering, as well as the negligence of the driver and company to provide a safe service, in order to secure you the appropriate damages.

Our office is in Beverly Hills, but we proudly serve the entire State of California – all 58 counties. At any given time we have a multitude of cases pending in both Northern and Southern California, frequently litigating cases on behalf of clients in the following Counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Marin, Mariposa, Merced, Napa, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, San Diego, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tehama and Ventura.