Los Angeles Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents and California Legal Contex

Rideshare accidents can happen in many of the same ways as any auto accident, and some unique ones, too. Common causes in Los Angeles include:

• Distracted Driving: Rideshare drivers often rely on apps for navigation and ride requests. Glancing at a phone for directions or passenger details can lead to dangerous distractions and collisions.
• Driver Fatigue: To maximize earnings, Uber and Lyft drivers may work long hours or late-night shifts. Fatigue can slow reaction times and impair judgment, especially on LA’s congested freeways.
• Unsafe Driving Maneuvers: In unfamiliar neighborhoods or rushing to pick up passengers, drivers might make sudden lane changes, illegal U-turns, or hard stops. Los Angeles’s busy streets and highways (from Sunset Boulevard to the 405 Freeway) leave little room for error.
• Other Negligent Drivers: Sometimes the rideshare driver isn’t at fault, another reckless driver on the road can cause a crash involving the Uber or Lyft vehicle.
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Incidents: In urban parts of LA, rideshare cars frequently pick up or drop off in bike lanes or near crosswalks. Confusion or failure to check surroundings can result in hitting a pedestrian or cyclist.

From a legal standpoint, California is an “at-fault” state for car accidents. This means the driver responsible for causing the accident (and their insurance) is liable for damages. However, rideshare accidents involve additional layers of complexity due to insurance coverages and corporate policies. In California, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft are required to carry substantial insurance for their drivers. For example, once a rideshare driver accepts a ride or has a passenger, Uber/Lyft provide up to $1 million in liability insurance coverage for any injuries or damage caused. If the driver is waiting for a ride (app on but no passenger yet), there is a lower level of contingent coverage (typically $50,000 per person injured, $100,000 per incident, and $25,000 for property damage). If the driver is completely off-duty (app off), only the driver’s personal auto insurance applies. These coverage distinctions are crucial in rideshare cases.

Another important legal aspect is California’s traffic laws and regulations for rideshare companies. Uber and Lyft drivers must follow the same rules of the road as everyone else. If they violate traffic laws (speeding, running red lights, etc.) and cause an accident, they can be held legally negligent. Rideshare companies have faced scrutiny in California and beyond about their responsibility in accidents involving their drivers, but generally they classify drivers as independent contractors. Practically, this means your claim will often involve the driver’s insurance and the rideshare company’s insurance, rather than suing the company directly, unless extreme circumstances apply. Don’t worry: our attorneys will navigate this legal maze for you.Statute of Limitations: In California, you typically have two years from the date of a car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This applies to rideshare accidents as well. (If a government vehicle was involved or you plan to bring a claim against a public entity, you may need to file a special claim within 6 months, but most rideshare cases are against private parties.) It’s critical not to delay, because evidence can disappear and deadlines can pass. Our Providence Law team moves quickly to preserve evidence and protect your right to compensation under California law.

How Providence Law Helps After a Rideshare Accident

Facing the aftermath of a rideshare crash can be daunting. Providence Law is here to lighten your burden and handle every aspect of your case. Our Los Angeles rideshare accident lawyers know the ins and outs of both state law and the rideshare industry’s practices. Here’s how we help:

• Thorough Investigation: We start by immediately investigating the accident. This includes collecting police reports, witness statements, traffic or dash cam footage, and even data from the Uber or Lyft app if available. We examine driver records and background (for instance, whether the rideshare driver had prior incidents) and reconstruct the accident to determine exactly how it happened and who was at fault. By leaving no stone unturned, we build a strong foundation for your claim.
• Determining Liability & Navigating Insurance: One of the toughest parts of a rideshare case is sorting out insurance coverage. Our attorneys will identify all potential sources of recovery. This could include the rideshare driver’s personal insurance, the rideshare company’s insurance policy, and any other drivers involved. We understand the coverage periods that Uber and Lyft use and will argue for the maximum applicable coverage (for example, proving the driver was on the clock so that the $1 million policy applies). We also handle the complex paperwork and communications with insurance adjusters, so you don’t have to get bogged down in red tape or risk saying something that could hurt your claim.
• Handling Insurance Companies: Insurance companies (whether it’s the driver’s insurer or Uber/Lyft’s insurer) often try to minimize payouts or deny responsibility. Providence Law’s team has extensive experience negotiating with insurance adjusters and pushing back against unfair tactics. We will present compelling evidence of fault and the full extent of your losses. Our lawyers won’t let big insurance companies bully you, we’re prepared to counter their tactics with facts, expert opinions, and legal leverage.
• Litigation and Advocacy: While many car accident claims settle out of court, Providence Law is always prepared to take your case to trial if needed. If the insurers won’t offer a fair settlement, our seasoned litigators will file a lawsuit and aggressively advocate for you in court. We will handle all the legal filings, court deadlines, and strategy. Rideshare companies are backed by large insurers and legal teams – you deserve a formidable legal team in your corner too. Our track record in Los Angeles personal injury trials shows we know how to present a persuasive case to a jury if it comes to that.
• Client-Centered Support: Above all, Providence Law prides itself on a client-centered approach. We know you’re going through a painful, stressful time. Our attorneys and staff will take the time to answer your questions, explain your options in plain language, and keep you updated on your case’s progress. We can connect you with medical providers or specialists if you need further treatment and often help coordinate things like car repairs or rental vehicles as a courtesy. You will be treated with respect, compassion, and patience every step of the way. No fees are charged upfront; we work on a contingency basis, meaning we only get paid if we win compensation for you. This way, you can afford top-quality legal help without any added financial stress.

Our goal is simple: to handle the legal and insurance complexities so you can focus on what matters, getting better. Providence Law has helped countless accident victims in Los Angeles recover physically and financially after serious crashes. We’re ready to do the same for you.

Types of Compensation Available for Rideshare Accident Victims

After a rideshare accident, you may be entitled to various forms of compensation (known as “damages”). California law allows injured victims to recover economic damages, non-economic damages, and in some cases punitive damages. Here are the main types of compensation we will pursue on your behalf:

• Medical Expenses: This includes all hospital and doctor bills, emergency care, surgery costs, medication, medical devices, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and any future medical treatment you will need as a result of the accident. We seek to cover both your current medical bills and estimated future medical care (for example, if you need ongoing therapy or additional surgeries).
• Lost Wages and Earnings: If your injuries force you to miss work, you can claim compensation for the income lost during recovery. If the injuries affect your long-term ability to work or your career prospects, we will also seek loss of earning capacity – the projected income you will lose out on in the future. This is especially important if you suffered a serious injury that limits your physical abilities or if you have to take a lower-paying job because of lasting impairments.
• Pain and Suffering: Not all consequences of an accident come with receipts. You deserve compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering you’ve endured. This includes things like chronic pain, trauma, anxiety, depression, inconvenience, and loss of enjoyment of life due to the accident. For example, if you can no longer pursue hobbies or activities you loved, or if you experience nightmares and fear of driving, these non-economic damages should be recognized. Our team will work with you and perhaps medical experts to document how the accident affected your quality of life.
• Property Damage: If you had personal property damaged in the accident, such as your vehicle (in cases where you were driving your own car and got hit by a rideshare driver) or belongings (a cellphone, laptop, etc., damaged in the crash), we will include those repair or replacement costs. In many rideshare cases, the primary property damage is to vehicles. We’ll ensure the responsible party pays for your car repairs or total loss value if applicable.
• Punitive Damages: These are awarded in rare cases involving egregious wrongdoing, for instance, if the at-fault driver was extremely reckless or intentionally caused harm. In a rideshare context, an example might be a driver who was drunk or on drugs while driving for Uber/Lyft and caused a severe accident. Punitive damages are not common, but Providence Law will evaluate if your case might qualify, as they can significantly increase the compensation and send a message condemning the bad conduct.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): If a loved one was killed in a rideshare accident, close family members can pursue a wrongful death claim. The compensation in such tragic cases can cover funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support, the value of the love, companionship and guidance the deceased would have provided, and more.

Every case is unique, you might have other specific damages, such as the cost of canceling a trip or hiring help for chores you can’t do while injured. Providence Law’s attorneys will thoroughly calculate all your damages to ensure you seek the maximum compensation available. We often consult with economists, medical professionals, and life-care planners to fully value long-term costs, especially for serious injuries.

Case Example: Seeking Justice After a Rideshare Crash

Sometimes it helps to imagine how a case might unfold. Here’s a hypothetical example based on real Los Angeles rideshare accidents:

Case Example: Maria, a 34-year-old marketing professional, calls an Uber from her apartment in Downtown Los Angeles to LAX. On the way to the airport, another car runs a red light in South LA and T-bones the Uber vehicle. Maria suffers a fractured collarbone, a concussion, and severe whiplash from the collision. The Uber driver is also injured. An ambulance takes Maria to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

In this scenario, who is at fault and what happens? Police determine the other driver ran the red light, making that driver clearly at fault. However, Maria was a paying passenger in an Uber, which means Uber’s $1 million insurance policy should cover her injuries (since the ride was in progress). Despite this, the other driver’s insurance company initially disputes the claim, trying to argue the Uber driver might share some blame for not reacting in time. Maria is left confused about whom to pursue, the other driver? Uber? The Uber driver’s personal insurance?

This is where Providence Law steps in to help Maria. First, we reassure her that as an injured passenger, she is not responsible for the accident in any way. Our team immediately gathers evidence: the police report proving the other driver’s red-light violation, traffic camera footage from the intersection (confirming the Uber had a green light), and eyewitness statements from nearby pedestrians. We notify Uber and its insurance carrier of the incident and Maria’s injuries, and also file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance.

Our investigation uncovers that the at-fault driver was texting while driving, further clear negligence. Given the severe injuries, we pursue compensation under Uber’s policy as the primary coverage (since rideshare companies often have robust coverage for passengers). We also pursue the at-fault driver’s insurance as secondary coverage. When the insurance companies try to delay and point fingers at each other, Providence Law aggressively negotiates on Maria’s behalf. We present medical documentation from her doctors about the fractured collarbone (which required surgery) and concussion symptoms. We also document how she missed two months of work and will need ongoing physical therapy.

Thanks to our preparation and pressure, the insurers agree to a settlement that covers all of Maria’s medical bills, her lost wages, and an amount for her pain, suffering, and the disruption to her life. Throughout the process, Maria didn’t have to speak to insurance adjusters or worry about paperwork; Providence Law handled every call and filing, keeping Maria updated. In the end, Maria obtains justice and fair compensation for an accident that was entirely not her fault, allowing her to recover financially while she focuses on healing physically.

This example illustrates how having experienced rideshare accident attorneys can make a huge difference. Whether the fault lies with another driver, the rideshare driver, or multiple parties, Providence Law knows how to sort out the complexities and fight for our clients. We treat every case and every client with dedication, as if we were fighting for our own family.