Auto insurance policies and procedures have been commonplace for many years, but the recent surge of rideshare vehicles and new policies to handle these companies has forced people to become more confused and unsure of how to proceed after accidents. Before, transportation was limited to personal driving, taxis and private chauffeurs, and public transportation. Now, with the advent of Lyft, you can receive rides from other drivers on the road who are located nearby. There has been a change in policy because of the issues Lyft created with respect to insurance policies and settlements. The app and company did not become a passing trend, however, and the changes made to laws are here to stay; the effects Lyft and similar businesses had on transportation will not be going away any time soon. Riders need to learn, therefore, how to handle Lyft accidents. Our attorneys at Normandie Law Firm are here to help you understand the process behind filing an accident report with Lyft. Clients often call us with questions about the claim process; some of these questions include:
- How can I file an injury report with Lyft?
- How do I report an injury during a ride to Lyft?
- How can I file an accident report with Lyft?
Lyft Information
Lyft is a rideshare company that was created with the intention of easing transportation for its customers. Taxi companies had a set number of employees who would use company-owned cabs, and many times, the fares would be pricey and the trips would take long due to there being no close service stations. Lyft links its customers to drivers who are already located relatively close; the customer specifies the pick-up point on his phone and the driver travels there then brings the passenger to his destination.
The allure of Lyft comes from its ease of use and cost, but it is not without its flaws. Initially, Lyft did not offer auto insurance to its drivers, and as a result, the drivers essentially drove without any protection. This is because private or personal auto insurance policies do not cover commercial driving, or driving done for money. Taxi cab and limousine companies provide their drivers with commercial insurance, but these individuals are employees. Lyft claimed that its drivers were independent contractors, and thus, they would not be provided any insurance at all. After a widely publicized case unfolded involving an Uber driver and a young girl who was killed in an accident, rideshare companies were forced to bestow insurance policies onto their drivers.
These new policies were put into place to protect all people involved in the accident, including the driver, the customer and passengers, the driver of another vehicle, and anyone outside of the vehicle (such as bicyclists, pedestrians, and more).
Common Causes of Lyft Accidents
Lyft accidents occur for many of the same reasons that normal accidents do. Drivers may not be paying close enough attention and they may not obey all the rules of the road. This is much more dangerous and reckless when there are other passengers in the car – not only do these careless drivers place themselves at risk, but they have a duty to protect their customers, and driving unsafely violates that duty.
In addition to normal instances of law breaking, such as ignoring stop signs and stop lights, running red lights, and not obeying right of way laws, Lyft drivers may also text while drive, talk on the phone, navigate the app, ask for directions, and accept additional rides. They seldom wait to pull over before making changes on the app, which can be exceedingly dangerous.
Lyft Insurance Policy
Lyft uses an insurance policy for its drivers that is unique in how it functions. It separates the drivers into different statuses depending on what part of the trip they are carrying out.
While the driver has the app on and is waiting for a customer, there is a $50,000 limit on damages that can occur to a person (with $100,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage). This is the start of the driver being “on the clock.”
When the driver accepts a ride and is en route to a passenger, there is a $1,000,000 limit in play, which covers all involved parties. This limit ceases once the ride has been completed, and the limit will then revert back to the initial $50,000 amount. Further, underinsured and uninsured coverage (used when you are involved in an accident with an individual whose policy does not cover damages or who has no insurance whatsoever) also has a limit of $1,000,000.
Filing an Accident Report
The protocol for filing an accident report is similar regardless of your status in the vehicle (driver or passenger). You should notify Lyft via their Critical Response Line that an accident occurred. The Critical Response Line is, fortunately, available around the clock because of the fact that Lyft drivers may work at all hours of the night. You can access it via the app
When you file an accident report with the Critical Response Line, a Lyft representative will contact you with more information on how to proceed. You will be asked to verify various details about the ride and may be asked about any injuries so that insurance can take care of them. However, there are times when this does not happen. You must also be wary of accepting certain offers from the representative. Often, when a business offers some kind of compensation, accepting it can signal that you are no longer able to receive some other kind of payment. Free rides, for instance, can be leveraged against you.
You should always make sure to consult with an attorney before accepting any offers with Lyft. An attorney can also help make sure that your claim is moving along and has not been thrown out or ignored.
Additional Steps
As is the case with any auto accident, you should gather evidence of the incident. Because you were on a Lyft trip, you should screenshot the app and ask for your receipt of the transaction. You should document your injuries via photographs or videos and collect information from the driver. If any other parties were involved, such as another driver or a pedestrian, you should take statements from them as well. A police report may also be requested if law enforcement arrives on the scene. Bills from the paramedics can be used to show your physical injuries and treatments as well.
It is crucial that you have as much evidence as possible. Merely having a screenshot of the app and telling Lyft about the accident will not be enough to net you compensation for your injuries. If there is no proof that the injuries occurred, you will be unable to earn compensation.
What You Can Earn
By filing a lawsuit against Lyft for injuries you sustained in an accident, you are able to receive certain types of compensation for your damages. Our lawyers can help you earn compensation for:
- Medical Bills: Any medical expenses stemming from the accident can be covered. Your hospitalization fees, medication costs, surgery costs, ambulatory transportation costs, and physical therapy fees can all be included, as well as future medical treatments that you may require.
- Property Damage: Any items that were lost or broken in the accident can be replaced or reimbursed.
- Lost Wages: You may be forced to miss work because of your injuries. You can thus collect your lost income from this time, as well as any future lost earnings due to additional recovery time or further medical procedures that you must undergo.
- Pain and Suffering: The emotional damages that accompany an accident can be difficult to overcome. You may be compensated for PTSD, fear, anxiety, psychological trauma, mental pain, and more.
- Punitive Damages: Punitive damages are additional forms of monetary compensation that are meant to punish the defendant and dissuade him from acting the same way again. However, courts usually view these damages as excessive. As a result, only the most skilled lawyers will be able to net them for you.
With the help of our law firm, you can be sure that you will be covered in the event of a Lyft accident.
Normandie: Here to Help
Our lawyers at Normandie Law Firm promised to do everything we can to help you earn compensation from a Lyft accident. We will make sure that you adequately and properly file an accident report with the company and that you will not be at a loss. You should be aware that you have help and there is no need to be confused – assistance is here.
We will help you file your lawsuit and pursue compensation as well. Our aggressive attorneys will relentlessly work to make sure Lyft pays you a fair settlement. You deserve to have your expenses covered if a reckless driver caused you to suffer.
Call us today for a free legal consultation. You can ask any questions you want and we will answer them to the best of our abilities. We will be glad to discuss your case with you and tell you how to file an accident report with Lyft. Further, if you select us for legal representation, we will also offer you a zero fee guarantee on your case – meaning you will pay us no out of pocket expenses throughout the entire process. We only get paid if we win, and the money is taken out of the settlement we bring you; if we lose, we receive nothing at all.
Contact Normandie Law Firm today for more help in filing an injury report with Lyft.
More Information
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