Using a rideshare service is an increasingly popular way to get around Las Vegas. More than a third of visitors to the city (35%) used a ridesharing service between 2016 and 2019, an increase from past years, according to the 2021 Las Vegas Visitor Profile report. There are benefits to taking a rideshare, such as saving on gas, but a rideshare is still a vehicle on the road where traffic accidents happen at any time.
If you have been in a rideshare accident in the Las Vegas area, a Lyft accident attorney from De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers can help you navigate the financial recovery process. This process can involve complex issues, such as determining who’s liable for your damages. Whether you were a Lyft passenger or driver, you will want to know what rights you have to seek compensation. You can explore your legal options during a free consultation with our team today.
Determining Liability in a Lyft Accident Can Be Complex
One of the most challenging parts of a rideshare accident case is knowing who is responsible for the damages when an accident occurs. Is it Lyft? Is it the driver, or are passengers on their own? We can identify who is liable for your damages and answer that question once you hire us to manage your case.
There are a few key things to know about Lyft when it comes to liability.
First, rideshare drivers are not employees for the company. They are contractors, and this factor alone can complicate who you can hold responsible for your damages should you get into a rideshare accident. Lyft itself is not vicariously responsible for its drivers because its drivers are not its employees.
Lyft Requires All Drivers to Have Minimum Liability Coverage
As Lyft explains on its website, it requires its drivers to have their state’s minimum insurance coverage. Per the Nevada Division of Insurance, the state’s minimum motor vehicle liability coverage is “25/50/20,” or:
- $25,000 in bodily injury per person
- $50,000 in bodily injury per accident
- $20,000 in property damage
Lyft’s Insurance Applies Only at Certain Times During a Ride
While Lyft requires its drivers to carry personal auto insurance, it provides some liability coverage in specific situations. If a Lyft driver causes a crash, the company’s $1 million liability policy takes effect only at certain stages of the ride.
- If the Lyft app is off or not active at the time of the crash, the driver’s personal auto insurance is in effect.
- If the Lyft app is on and the driver is waiting for a ride request, their personal auto insurance applies. Lyft provides third-party liability insurance for covered accidents if the driver’s insurance does not provide enough coverage.
- If the Lyft app is on, and a ride is in progress, Lyft’s insurance policy is in effect and will cover your injuries or losses up to $1 million. “In progress” means the driver is on the way to pick up a passenger or is providing a ride to the passenger.
What Does This Mean to You as a Lyft Passenger?
You could file a claim against Lyft’s liability policy depending on the coverage rules outlined above. It only applies when the rideshare driver is responsible for the accident. As outlined above, the driver is covered only at specific points during the ride. This means you may have to file a claim for damages with:
- The driver’s personal auto insurance
- Lyft’s insurance coverage, if applicable
- The insurance company of the other driver who caused the collision
- Your own auto insurance if you own a vehicle and are covered by uninsured driver coverage
What Does This Mean to You as a Lyft Driver?
If you are a Lyft driver and did not cause the accident, we could help you file a claim against:
- The driver who caused the crash
- Your own auto insurance coverage if the other driver is uninsured or underinsured
You Can Seek Compensation After a Vegas Lyft Accident
We represent passengers and drivers who have been in Lyft accidents. Here’s how we help each person.
If You Were a Lyft Passenger in Las Vegas…
If you were in a Lyft accident in the Las Vegas area as a passenger, you should not have to pay out of your pocket for your medical bills and other damages.
If your driver exhibited negligent behavior that caused or contributed to an accident, you could be entitled to compensation for your losses. Likewise, if your Lyft driver was not at fault for the crash causing your injuries, we can help you file a claim against the insurance policy of the driver who hit your Lyft driver’s vehicle.
Our Vegas personal injury lawyer can work on your behalf to recover losses for your:
- Medical bills: If you had to go to the hospital or seek medical care from a doctor, these expenses are recoverable. They may include emergency care, your hospital visit, any tests you had to take, surgeries, pain medication, rehabilitation care, and more. We can also pursue ongoing costs for medical care that result from the accident.
- Lost income due to missed work: If your injuries made you take off from work so that you could recover, you can file a claim to recover your lost wages and other benefits. If the accident left you unable to work in the same capacity as before, we will seek awards for that, too.
- Pain and suffering: You could seek compensation for your discomfort, pain, or even disability as you work to recover from the Vegas Lyft accident. If you have lingering trauma after the accident, you might be able to be compensated for therapy and counseling you require to heal after the crash.
We will estimate the costs of each non-financial damage you suffered before establishing the dollar value of your case. From there, we will seek compensation from the liable party’s insurer, which could be your own insurer, depending on the accident and the circumstances.
If You Were a Lyft Driver in Las Vegas…
Our Lyft accident attorney in Las Vegas can work on your behalf to recover compensation for you if you were in an accident.
If the other driver caused your accident, you can file an insurance claim against that other driver’s insurance policy. We can also help you file a claim with Lyft if its insurance was in effect when the crash occurred. Lyft’s insurance applies if you are waiting for a rider or en route to pick up a passenger or driving a passenger to their destination.
How Our Attorneys Can Help
Whether you are a driver or passenger in a Lyft accident, you must first know which policy is in effect so you can know which insurer you can file your claim with. This is not an easy task, particularly because insurance companies are known to avoid accepting responsibility for your losses. We will determine who you can file with. We will also:
- Investigate your accident, collect your accident report, and build your case
- Identify all liable parties who are responsible for your damages
- Speak with witnesses and expert witnesses who can help prove your injuries and damages
- File your insurance claim and negotiate with insurers on your behalf
- File your lawsuit with the court on time if a settlement isn’t reached
- Fight for your recovery at trial
Our Vegas Lyft Lawyer Will Protect Your Right to Sue for Damages
Going back and forth with an insurance company can run the clock out on how long you have to sue for damages if your insurance claim goes nowhere. This can apply whether you are the Lyft passenger or Lyft driver.
In Nevada, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit from the accident, per NRS § 11.190(4)(e). We are aware of how insurance companies operate and know the tactics they may try in your case. Our Lyft accident lawyer will not let your claim fall by the wayside.
What to Do After a Las Vegas Lyft Accident
A rideshare accident can leave you shaken and unsure of what to do. It is the beginning of what could be a long process, so we encourage you to remain calm and take these steps to help you prepare for your case. Lyft drivers and passengers should:
- Call law enforcement. You should report the crash to the police as soon as it happens. Insurers will want to see a police report, which gives an independent account of what happened. You can reach the police by calling 911. Lyft also has included a 911 button on the app that you can press to call for emergency help.
- Exchange insurance information. This includes giving and getting information from your Lyft driver if you are a passenger. If you are a Lyft driver, get insurance information from the motorist who hit you.
- Seek prompt medical care. You will need to show how the crash directly caused your injuries. Seeing a doctor right away ensures you document your injuries promptly and can prove the accident caused them. Make sure you get copies of all your medical records.
- Gather evidence. Any evidence you have of the crash can help you establish your case. Take photos of your injuries and the accident scene, including the cars involved. You can also record the scene with a smartphone or another device so that you have video footage.
- Get contact information from witnesses. The more people you have who can attest to what happened, the better it is for your case. These independent parties can help you tell your story about what happened.
- Report the accident to Lyft. Lyft says its Customer Care Team is available 24/7. When you call, they can walk you through your next steps.
- Seek legal help as soon as possible. Our team is ready to connect to review your legal options and explain how our Lyft accident attorney in Las Vegas can help you pursue recovery.
We Will Seek a Favorable Outcome to Your Las Vegas Lyft Case
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers advocates for injured victims and helps them recover losses. We represent rideshare car accident victims, whether they are the passenger or driver. Our Lyft accident attorney in Las Vegas will seek the best outcome for you so that you can move on from your accident.
Reach out to us today for a free consultation after a Lyft crash in the Vegas area. We work on contingency, which means you can explore your legal options up front without paying us. We recover our payment only if we win compensation for you.