Long Beach Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Hailing your ride with the touch of an app is so convenient it can be difficult to resist, and mega-companies like Uber and Lyft are happy to oblige. While rideshare companies make getting around easier than ever, rideshare accidents are on the rise in Long Beach, and they often prove exceptionally complicated and dangerous.

If a rideshare driver’s negligence leaves you injured in an accident, discuss your claim with an experienced Long Beach rideshare accident lawyer today.

The Risk Involved With Uber and Lyft

There is considerable debate over whether or not the proliferation of rideshare drivers out there has made our roadways more dangerous, but there is no denying that they are out there and that dangerous rideshare accidents happen.

The fact that Uber and Lyft drivers are paid only when they complete a fare and that hustling is part of the gig can lead rideshare drivers to cut safety corners and push beyond the limits of safe driving. Other factors that can increase the rideshare risk include:

• Uber and Lyft drivers spend a good deal of time pulling in and out of traffic and stopping and starting, and accidents are more likely to happen during these driving maneuvers.
• Interacting with the rideshare app, locating passengers in their midst, and following GPS instructions can prove dangerously distracting.
• Driving in unfamiliar areas can make a rideshare driver’s task that much more challenging and, therefore, that much riskier.

Insurance Coverage for Uber and Lyft Rides

If you are injured in an accident caused by a rideshare driver’s negligence, it can leave you at a loss in terms of how best to proceed. One of the most confusing aspects of rideshare claims can be determining which insurance provider is responsible, depending on where the Uber or Lyft driver is in the process.

Passenger on board

If you are a passenger in the rideshare vehicle or there is a passenger in the rideshare vehicle at the time of the accident, Uber or Lyft’s comprehensive liability coverage is in play. The same is true when the rideshare driver is on the way to pick up a passenger who has already initiated service.

Waiting on passenger request

If the rideshare driver is on the app but is biding their time while waiting for a passenger request, the rideshare company’s coverage will not be activated until the rideshare driver’s personal coverage has been exhausted. It is important to note that rideshare drivers for both Uber and Lyft are required to carry specific minimums of liability coverage.

Off the app

Once a rideshare driver toggles off the Uber or Lyft app – even if just momentarily – they are on their own in terms of insurance coverage, which means your accident will proceed in precisely the same way that any other car accident claim would.

This is worth considering because rideshare drivers are invested in maximizing their drive time, often going back and forth between rideshare apps in the process.

The Losses You Experience From a Rideshare Accident

The losses – or legal damages – you experience in the wake of a rideshare accident in Long Beach can include all the following categories of loss:

• Property damage to your vehicle
• Medical costs, including the cost of future treatment and care
• Lost wages that may include a diminished ability to earn
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering

Filing Your Rideshare Accident Claim

You will file your rideshare accident claim with the appropriate insurance provider (there can be more than one for serious accidents). This is not, however, the end of the matter – sitting back and waiting for the insurance company to compensate you fairly is not going to do you or your claim any favors.

The bottom line is that the insurance company is a profit-making enterprise that does what it can to keep settlements low. As such, it is in your best interest to leave the insurance company to your dedicated rideshare accident lawyer. Common practices that insurance companies engage in to boost their profits include:

• Making early lowball settlement offers before claimants have had the time necessary to thoroughly assess their losses
• Denying claims out of hand in the hope that claimants will lose hope
• Attempting to shift fault from policyholders to claimants
• Making the claims process even lengthier and more complicated than it already is
• Pressuring claimants to provide a recorded statement, hoping you will say something they can use to lower your settlement or deny your claim

You can count on the insurance company to do what it can to thwart your claim to the extent possible. This is the most critical reason why having a seasoned rideshare accident lawyer from One Law Group in your corner is the best possible course of action.

How Our Rideshare Lawyers Can Help

While you focus your efforts on the critical task of regaining your health and well-being, you can leave all the following to your trusted rideshare lawyer:

• Gathering and compiling all the relevant evidence to build your most substantial claim, demonstrate fault on the part of the rideshare driver, and identify your entire range of physical, financial, and emotional losses
• Communicating with the insurance company on your behalf and helping to ensure that they do not have the opportunity to elicit a statement from you that ends up harming your claim
• Negotiating with the insurance company for a fair settlement that provides you with the compensation to which you are entitled and that you need to recover fully
• Preparing for trial and taking your case to court in the event a settlement cannot be reached

Make the Call to an Experienced Long Beach Rideshare Accident Lawyer Today

The Long Beach rideshare accident lawyers at One Law Group are dedicated to helping victims like you recover compensation. We are tenacious negotiators and skilled litigators who know how to get insurance companies to pay up.

For more information about how we can help, please do not hesitate to contact or call us at 310-923-9420 today.