Orange County Uber and Lyft Accident

Calling an Uber or Lyft for a ride home, to get to work on time, or meet up with friends has become commonplace. You may not think twice about opening the app. But all of that may change if you are in a collision with an Uber or Lyft vehicle. You may be the passengers or in another vehicle. Or, you may be the Uber or Lyft driver trying to earn extra income. Whatever your circumstances, you will benefit from legal guidance in the aftermath of the crash. Contact our Orange County Uber and Lyft accident attorneys at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss how to pursue compensation for your injuries. We are proud to represent all injury victims and surviving family members after all types of accidents in Orange County and throughout California. Through our dedication, we have helped more than 5,000 clients win over $300 million in settlements and court awards. To talk about your options after a Lyft or Uber collision, contact us online or call 1-800-GO-HARRIS.

Common Causes of Uber and Lyft Crashes in Orange County

Our team at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers has handled many rideshare accident claims since Uber and Lyft launched in the area. We have found that some of the most common causes of crashes involve:

• Speeding: Rideshare drivers and other motorists on the road are often in a hurry to get to their destination. For Uber and Lyft drivers, getting to their destination quickly can enable them to have more passengers in a period of time.
• Distracted driving: Most drivers are guilty of being distracted from time to time, and rideshare drivers are no different. Many Uber and Lyft drivers consistently use their phone for GPS, to work within the rideshare app, and text. Uber and Lyft drivers also can get distracted while eating or drinking, interacting with guests, reaching for something in the vehicle, or looking at something outside of the vehicle.
• Drowsy driving: Many drivers get behind the wheel when they are too tired. Lyft and Uber drivers who work at night or in the early hours of the morning may be driving after getting too little sleep. This increases the risk of a collision or falling asleep behind the wheel.
• Impaired driving: It should be unheard of for a Lyft or Uber driver to drive after drinking or using drugs. However, it certainly happens. If you are injured in a crash and the other driver appeared to be intoxicated, call an Orange County Uber and Lyft accident lawyer right away.

Personal Injury Compensation in California

After being injured in a collision involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation for your physical, psychological, and financial injuries. To obtain compensation through an insurance claim or lawsuit, you must be able to establish another person was at fault. This may be the Uber or Lyft driver or another driver. Through the insurance claim process or litigation, our Uber and Lyft accident lawyers in Orange County will fight for you to receive compensation for your:

• Medical Bills
• Lost Wages and Employment Benefits
• Property Damage
• Emotional Distress
• Disability
• Disfigurement
• Reduced Earning Potential
• Loss of Spousal Affection

Lyft and Uber Insurance Coverage

Crash victims often ask us if they can see Uber or Lyft if the rideshare driver was at fault for the accident or if they were rideshare passengers at the time. The answer is typically no. Rideshare drivers are independent contractors. Uber and Lyft are not responsible for their conduct the same way the businesses would be liable for an employee’s conduct. You cannot sue Uber or Lyft because one of their drivers caused a crash. That being said, Lyft and Uber do have insurance policies that may apply to your circumstances. Each rideshare platform devices coverage between 1) when a driver is signed into the app but has not accepted a passenger request and 2) from the time the driver accepts a ride request to when the ride ends. In the first scenario, Lyft and Uber contingent liability coverage up to $50,000 for one person’s injuries, $100,000 for injuries per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. In the second scenario, Lyft and Uber offer liability coverage up to $1 million per accident. This coverage can be very helpful in obtaining full and fair compensation for your injuries. However, you typically need to pursue compensation from the at-fault driver or vehicle owner’s personal auto insurance policy first. Our Orange County Uber and Lyft accident attorneys can help you navigate this complex insurance claim process.

Let Harris Personal Injury Lawyers Help You After an Uber or Lyft Accident

Being hurt in a car accident is traumatic enough. Having to deal with one or multiple insurance companies while recovering from your injuries is challenging and irritating. However, you do not have to do this yourself. Let our experienced and effective Uber and Lyft accident lawyers in Orange County fight for you. Contact us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS.