Whether you’re trying to get down Van Ness Avenue or up Huntington Boulevard, Fresno traffic jams make the rideshare option pretty tempting. Let someone else do the driving.
Lyft drivers will pick anybody up, anywhere in the city, but while they’re trying to lock in a location and looking at their phones, your car might be right beside them on the road. That may be a dangerous place. These distracted rideshare drivers can easily lose sight of the road and be clueless as they veer into your path.
Getting Help after a Fresno Lyft Driver Accident
You may be on the way to work, or maybe you’ve just dropped the kids off at school when an encounter with a careless Lyft driver sends you into a violent crash. The injuries you’ll suffer could be serious and the bills you’ll collect between a hospital stay and missed time at work will be expensive.
At Maison Law of Fresno, we want to protect the victims of accidents caused by careless drivers. If the at-fault driver was working for a rideshare company at the time, then we want to make sure the driver and companies like Lyft don’t try to sweep your pain and suffering under the rug. Talk to our attorneys for a free consultation and let us help you get full compensation to pay for every step of your recovery.
Fresno Lyft Driver Distraction Risks
There are dozens of rideshare drivers on the road at any time of the day or night and the chances of them causing an accident grows each time someone requests a pick-up. The increased traffic coupled with the threat of distracted drivers on-the-clock and behind the wheel add up to a dangerous risk.
Distracted driving is a problem for everyone on the road, even safe drivers. In 2019, Go Safely California found that nearly 60% of California drivers surveyed reported being hit or nearly hit by a driver who was talking or texting on a cell phone.
Lyft drivers couldn’t do their jobs without their phones. They get notified each time there’s a customer wanting a pick-up. They must figure out where the rider is located and decide if they’ll accept the transport job or not. These decisions are often made behind the wheel.
Lyft drivers can also take their eyes off the road to interact with a rider. They can be fatigued from working too many hours or even working for too many ride services. There are apps designed to allow drivers to quickly switch back and forth from the Lyft app to the Uber app, all to snag more riders. It’s great for the paycheck, but all these distractions can mean your chances of seeing a rideshare driver make a traffic mistake are that much higher.
Lyft Insurance Coverage in Fresno Accidents
It’s understandable that drivers will try to make money any way they can, but when accidents happen during a ride, the drivers should be held responsible when those on-the-job duties cause them to be careless behind the wheel. What’s more, the companies they drive for should be held accountable. Lyft does provide some insurance coverage for its driver but it only applies in some cases.
Drivers are required to carry their own insurance and then Lyft supplements that protection in certain situations.
- If a driver is logged into the Lyft App but doesn’t have a customer request Lyft provides $100,000 total injury liability per accident, and $25,000 property damage liability.
- If a driver has accepted a ride request or has picked up the customer Lyft’s policy offers one million dollars in liability insurance and one million dollars in uninsured /under-insured motorist coverage until the rider is dropped off.
- If a Lyft driver hasn’t logged into the Lyft app yet or has just logged off, any victims in an accident wouldn’t be covered by Lyft insurance. Filing a claim against the driver’s own insurance policy would usually be the only way to get help with your physical and financial damages in the aftermath of a collision. If you still feel Lyft should take some of the blame in an accident, an attorney can help you figure out the best way to proceed.
Filing a Claim Against Lyft After an Accident
If it’s determined that a Lyft driver was negligent and caused an accident then a claim for damages can be filed. The civil lawsuit can also target the Lyft company and factors like their hiring and safety records can be called into question to build a strong case.
If you can reach a settlement or a positive trial verdict then you can expect compensation for things like hospital bills and ambulance fees. The paychecks you’ve missed while being out of work can also be reimbursed by the at-fault driver’s insurance and/or Lyft’s insurance coverage.
California offers victims up to two years after an accident to file a claim over their injuries. It’s a good idea to file a lawsuit as soon as possible, though, because evidence and documents can be harder and harder to retrieve as time passes.
Contact a Fresno Auto Accident Attorney
If you’ve been seriously injured in an accident caused by a Lyft driver you may not be sure who can be held responsible for your pain and suffering. The fact is, both Lyft and their employee might be held liable and be forced to pay. Allow a local attorney who has experience dealing with major companies and their lawyers work to get you the maximum compensation to ensure your recovery is paid for.
After an accident involving a serious injury in Central Valley, contact attorney Martin Gasparian for a free consultation and case evaluation. Mr. Gasparian takes a hands-on approach to every case. He believes that every client should work directly with their lawyer, get honest advice, and personalized attention to detail their case deserves.
