Thousands of people in California take Lyft rides each day. It may be an economical and convenient way for them to make a work shift, arrive at class on time, or just visit a friend.
It’s generally a simple process of requesting a pick-up on the Lyft app and then enjoying the ride. But Lyft drivers have to monitor cell phones, the road, and their passengers, sometimes all at once. This distracted driving leads to serious traffic accidents more often than you’d think.
The question of how much risk you are taking by trusting a Lyft driver isn’t easy to answer. Yet, by looking at recent rideshare accident data, a clearer picture emerges of how common Lyft collisions are.
Lyft Rideshare Accidents in California
The difference between accident rates before the advent of rideshare businesses in California and the accident rates after Lyft and Uber drivers began to roll out on freeways and boulevards is easy to see.
A study by the University of Chicago looked at U.S. accident rates before the rise of the popularity of rideshare and after Uber and Lyft cars were seemingly everywhere.
Researchers noted that injuries and fatalities in yearly traffic accidents spiked when Uber and Lyft’s business model got off the ground. A 3% rise in fatal accidents was uncovered. That equates to almost a thousand extra people a year losing their lives in collisions.
What’s more, the study showed that the accident rate in major U.S. cities before the coming of the rideshare phenomenon remained fairly steady each year at around 2 accidents per 100,000 people. Once Uber and Lyft changed the transportation landscape, the average yearly rate went up to around 3.5 accidents per 100,000 people. Rates for bicycle and pedestrian impacts made a similar jump.
Lyft Rideshare Accident Dangers in Los Angeles and San Francisco
Los Angeles County, San Diego County, and San Francisco County figure heavily into these shocking accident figures, because they are the three regions in California that see the heaviest rideshare usage. In fact, these three counties account for two-thirds of all rideshare trips in the state according to SFGate. Of course, California is the most populous state in the U.S. and often records the most fatal traffic accidents of any state in any given year.
Lyft published its own accident study back in 2021. Their report didn’t cover everything that it should have concerning accident risks. According to Lyft’s analysis, there were 34 fatal accidents involving Lyft drivers in 2018, and 49 fatal accidents involving a Lyft driver in 2019.
Can I Seek Compensation After an Accident Caused by a Lyft Driver?
Yes. You may be able to hold a careless Lyft driver and the driver’s employer fully responsible for your injuries and damage.
Lyft drivers are required to carry their own car insurance. You may file a claim against the driver’s insurance provider. This can earn victims the support they need to pay their medical bills. But drivers may only have the bare minimum in coverage, and that policy may have limits on what it will pay you.
In some circumstances, it’s also possible to hold Lyft responsible for its driver’s mistake. It will depend on what the driver was doing at the time of the accident and if they were considered “on the clock” at the time. The liability in Lyft accidents can get tricky. It’s best to talk to a skilled California Lyft Accident Lawyer to determine every available benefit.
You can find out more about what to do after a California Lyft accident here.
Compensation Available After a Lyft Accident
Your lawyer can ask for compensation for your current medical bills and any bills expected in the future. You should also receive full reimbursement for the paychecks you lose at your job while you are unable to work.
Lyft should also provide full support for the physical pain and emotional trauma you endure in an accident and during a long, difficult recovery.
Contact a California Lyft Accident Lawyer
After an accident involving a serious injury in California, contact Maison Law for a no-obligation case evaluation that comes at no charge to you. We take a hands-on approach with every case, and we don’t get paid unless we win your case.
We believe that victims and their families deserve to know about every option available to them so they can make an informed decision. Insurance companies and large corporations like Lyft can purposely confuse victims, but we won’t allow them to treat you unfairly. Tells us what happened so that we can help you get the compensation you need to get your life back on track.
If you decide we can help you earn more in your Lyft accident claim, you won’t need any money to hire us. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement you are awarded.
