Over the last decade, ridesharing has become the go-to mode of travel for many people in California and across the United States. Generally, ridesharing involves ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft connecting passengers to drivers through smartphone apps in a taxi-like mode of travel. Ridesharing is very popular in Los Angeles, with Uber and Lyft drivers logging in millions of miles in the city and across Southern California. 

However, despite their increasing popularity, ridesharing comes with unique challenges, especially where the car is involved in an accident injuring passengers or other third parties. Typically, ridesharing companies contract vehicle owners/drivers to transport passengers or app users to different destinations. In such an arrangement, it is sometimes unclear who is liable for an Uber or Lyft accident between the driver and the ridesharing company.

The unusual growth of ridesharing services has caught many unawares, including transport regulators and insurance companies. Accordingly, ridesharing policies and laws are constantly evolving, and without the help of a skilled Uber and Lyft accident attorney, it might be hard for victims of a Uber and Lyft accident to understand their legal rights and options.

If you are in Los Angeles, CA, you can contact our skilled and experienced Uber or Lyft accident attorneys at Heidari Law Group. We will help you navigate the complex legal process while defending your rights to receive the compensation you need and deserve for your injuries and other damages.

Uber and Lyft Accidents versus Other Car Accidents

The rise of ridesharing services has come with unprecedented issues, especially regarding damage recovery. Some unique considerations make the damage recovery process in Uber and Lyft accidents complex than in other car accidents, including:

1. Ridesharing companies identify themselves as technology companies. This makes it hard for passengers and other third parties to recover damages in a traffic accident where the driver is at fault.
2. Ridesharing companies, including Uber and Lyft, also identify drivers as “independent contractors” and not their employees. This limits the companies’ liability to only a few situations, especially where the driver is at fault.
3. Besides the technicalities of whether Uber and Lyft drivers are employees of the companies or independent contractors, insurance coverage for drivers is another grey area. There is a controversy about covering drivers when in between trips or when they don’t have a client. 

While laws are constantly evolving to address these and other ridesharing company’s accident-related issues, Uber and Lyft and their insurers will fight fiercely to deny you fair compensation, mostly using technicalities. 

Despite these complications, the law entitles you to compensation in an Uber or Lyft accident due to someone else’s negligence as a passenger, an Uber or Lyft driver, or any other third party or road user. With the help of a skilled attorney, you may even be able to recover damages from multiple defendants, including the Uber or Lyft driver and the ridesharing company.

Damages Recovery in a Los Angeles Uber and Lyft Accident

Even though Uber and Lyft have strict guidelines for accepting an applicant as their drivers, cases of negligent Uber or Lyft drivers are common. In fact, negligent drivers are liable for most Uber and Lyft accidents. The drivers are mostly at fault for drunk driving, distracted driving, fatigued driving, and a general failure to observe traffic regulations and rules. 

Other parties that may be at fault in an Uber or Lyft accident include other drivers, the ridesharing company for vicarious liability, and government agencies for poor road conditions. Some of the damages you can recover as a victim of an Uber or Lyft accident include medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses, lost wages, lost future earning capacity, and pain and suffering. 

However, you first need to establish and prove the at-fault party negligence beyond a reasonable doubt. A skilled and experienced Los Angeles Uber and Lyft accident attorney will help you identify the at-fault party and then establish and prove their negligence in a personal injury claim.

Contact a Los Angeles Uber and Lyft Accident Attorney

Uber and Lyft accidents can leave victims with severe and even life-changing injuries. Mostly, these injuries require lengthy and costly medical treatment, and considering the victim may be temporarily or permanently out of work, they also have to deal with significant financial and emotional distress. Despite the law entitling victims to compensation, the damage recovery process for Uber and Lyft accidents is far more complex than for other car accidents. 

However, a skilled Uber and Lyft accident attorney can still guide you through the evolving and complex legal process and help you recover damages. If you are in Los Angeles, and you or a loved one is a victim of an Uber and Lyft accident, we are here for you. Our well-qualified Los Angeles Uber and Lyft accident attorneys at Heidari Law Group have broad experience handling similar cases across California. We are committed to fighting for your rights while helping you get the compensation you need and deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation and to learn more about our services.

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