Is Lyft Responsible for Passenger Injuries?

Where you or a loved a passenger in a Lyft during an accident? Are you experiencing serious injuries? Do you wish there was some way to hold the at-fault party responsible for your accident?

At The Levinson Law Group, we understand the devastating consequences of a Lyft accident and the costs that can arise in its aftermath. Recovering from your injuries is your top priority. However, you will also need skilled legal counsel to help you seek justice.

Can Passengers Sue Lyft for Injuries and Damages?

Passengers injured while in a ride-share vehicle are generally covered by the rideshare company’s commercial liability insurance. Lyft is considered to be a transportation network company, hence the application of commercial liability insurance.

When a ride-share accident has happened, the passengers may have a claim against the Lyft driver, but they may also be covered by the rideshare company’s $1 million commercial policy if the damages involved in the crash surmount what the driver’s insurance covers.

If another driver, and not the Lyft driver, is at fault for the accident, injured passengers can file a claim against the deemed at-fault driver. In some instances, the other driver may either not have insurance at all or not have enough insurance. Lyft’s underinsured and uninsured (UM/UIM) policy generally covers the damages, up to a limit of $1 million per accident.

Lyft Insurance Policy

Lyft has a 1 million dollar insurance coverage. However, depending on the circumstances of an accident, the insurance policy may not be fully available. What insurance policy kicks in after an accident involving Lyft will be determined by various factors.

Lyft’s insurance policy provides a few types of coverage. Insurance coverage depends on when the accident occurred. The ride-share experience is broken down into four periods:

• Period 0: The Lyft app is off, and the driver is using their car for personal purposes.
• Period 1: The Lyft app is open, and the driver is waiting for a ride request.
• Period 2: The Lyft app has matched the driver with a passenger, and the driver is en route to pick up the passenger.
• Period 3: The Lyft driver has a passenger in the vehicle.

Lyft Policy Coverage

For passengers of a Lyft, Period 3 is the only relevant portion. During Period 3, Lyft provides the following insurance coverage:

• $1,000,000 in third-party liability
• $1,000,000 in uninsured/underinsured motorist protection

Regardless of whether the Lyft driver is at fault or a third party is at fault, Lyft’s insurance policy will provide up to $1 million in coverage, either through UIM coverage or third-party liability coverage

To be clear, whose insurance is applicable in a Lyft rideshare accident?

Accidents involving rideshare vehicles can be confusing and complex because the driver is using their personal vehicle to ferry passengers around. Most insurance companies do not cover a driver for using their own vehicles as commercial vehicles.

That means the ride-share company’s insurance comes into play in most instances involved a Lyft accident and an injured passenger. Lyft carries third-party liability insurance that pays up to $ 1 million for property damage and personal injuries per accident. Lyft’s policies come into play after the ride-share driver’s personal insurance is depleted – if the driver even has insurance. As a passenger, you are covered under that type of liability policy if the ride-share driver is at fault for the collision.

If the accident was not the ride-share driver’s fault, the passenger may recover compensation for their injuries from the at-fault driver. The passenger would file a third-party claim against the at-fault driver, or file a personal injury lawsuit. If the at-fault other driver does not have insurance or not enough insurance, then Lyft’s UM/UIM insurance may kick in.

It’s complicated, and at the Levinson Law Group, we work to make it uncomplicated for you if you were a passenger in a Lyft driver’s vehicle. We give you straight answers to your questions, explain all the ins and out of ride-share insurance, and make certain you have all the information you need to make an informed decision about your case.

Two other factors that may come into play for an injured Lyft passenger

Filing a lawsuit in a Lyft accident case can be done, but two factors may make it a bit more difficult. The first one is that Lyft rideshare drivers are considered to be independent contractors and not employees. Or as ride-share companies continue to insist, they only match up available drivers with passengers wanting a ride.

Employees have more rights than independent contractors and the company could be held liable for a worker’s negligence. Thus, if a rideshare driver is at fault for a crash, a plaintiff could try to argue that Lyft shares some of the blame. This may or may not work. In California, there are legislative attempts to protect Lyft and Uber drivers and classify them as employees.

The second factor that may make seeking compensation a bit difficult is whether or not you were wearing a seatbelt. If you were not wearing one, it may reduce any award you could receive. This would be due to the at-fault driver claiming that since you were negligent in not wearing a seatbelt, that was the reason for the injuries sustained in the crash.

Contact The Levinson Law Group Today

If you or a loved one were involved in a Lyft accident, reach out to The Levinson Law Group attorneys right away. At The Levinson Law Group, our dedicated team of car accident lawyers is here to help.

If you have questions about the recovery process, we can answer them. If you are not sure you want to bring a case against the other driver, we will not pressure you. We only want to make sure that you are informed to make the best decision for yourself and your family.

When you decide to work with The Levinson Law Group, you can rest assured that you will have someone in your corner throughout the entire process. To learn more about your options, call The Levinson Law Group at 760-512-8088. We accept cases on a contingent fee. That means that if there is no recovery in your case, you pay no fee. And in most cases, we even advance the costs.