Uber / Lyft Accident Lawyer – Oakland, CA

Have you been hurt or injured as a result of an Uber or Lyft ride sharing accident?

We can help you get the justice and compensation you deserve!

Ride sharing companies have exploded in the past few years, and with good reason. They are convenient, fast and economical.  However, with the explosion of ride sharing services that depend on drivers focusing on their phone instead of the rode, serious accidents involving Uber and Lyft drivers have likewise exploded.  We have extensive experience in fighting and prevailing against these ride sharing companies. Typically, if you are injured while the Uber or Lyft driver is carrying a passenger (whether you are the passenger of the ride sharing company, or you were hit by a ride sharing company driver), they carry a $1,000,000.00 underlying policy.  There is also an excess policy of at least $5,000,000.00.  However, Uber and Lyft have tried to take the position recently that if the driver does not have a passenger at the time of a crash, then they do not cover the injuries resulting from the accident. At Kleczek Law Office we have successfully fought against these arguments because the Uber and Lyft drivers are still ‘working’ for the ride sharing companies, whether or not they have a passenger in tow.  Uber and Lyft drivers are either looking to snag their next ride while staring at their phone (and continuing to drive), or traveling to pick up their next fare.

Uber Accident Attorney

Uber is a ride sharing, food delivery and transportation company based in San Francisco, California. They rose to popularity thanks to their easy-to-use mobile application (app), a piece of technology that easily allows individuals to order a vehicle for transportation anywhere and anytime they would like. Many people appreciate the convenience of the app and service because they can order a vehicle to pick them at any time of the day to go to the airport, sporting event, or anywhere else they may desire. To accomplish this, users simply enter a destination and the app sets up their pickup location and a vehicle is ordered. People love the fact that they can see how far away the driver is as well as approximately how long it will take for the vehicle to arrive. People who wish to avoid drinking and driving commonly state that they will “Uber” to their location in order to avoid doing so. Uber offers various levels of service to meet your needs, and they currently operate in around 633 cities worldwide. For more detailed information, you can visit Uber’s website at https://www.uber.com/.

Because opting for an Uber ride presents risks as well as benefits, it’s important to educate yourself about what could go wrong with your ride. In particular, understanding the risk for car accidents and what liability the driver and company hold is vital information to have in mind should you ever find yourself in a crash. With that in mind, let’s take a look at Uber and what to do if your driver ends up in an accident while you are in the vehicle.

ARE UBER ACCIDENTS COMMON?

It is important to note that while Uber does its best to promote safety, accidents are not exactly uncommon, and are certainly not unheard of. In fact, as the number of individuals using Uber and other rideshare options increases, so, too, does the number of accidents involving Uber drivers. While this figure might not be high enough to warrant swearing off the ridesharing company forever, it should be noted, nonetheless, that there is a risk every time you enter a vehicle. As we are a bit more concerned with what happens after the car accident occurs rather than exactly how many occur in any given week, we’ll move on from this discussion to one about the risks of Uber drivers and what causes them to end up in vehicle accidents.

HOW CAN AN UBER ACCIDENTS OCCUR?

The factors that impact Uber drivers and lead to accidents are much the same as those faced by other drivers on the road. Inattention, for example, is a big cause of vehicle accidents. The flow of traffic can change in an instant and it is necessary to drive attentively and respond to any dangers quickly and smoothly. When this fails to happen, car accidents are invariably the result. One common cause of inattention while driving is texting or talking while driving. While it is relatively uncommon to encounter an Uber driver who is texting while driving clients to or from their destination, it is certainly not unheard of. Additionally, even maintaining small talk can take attention from the road. Another factor in Uber accidents is the desire on the driver’s part to complete as many runs as possible. The more individuals drivers are able to help, the more money they make. This can lead to drivers rushing from place to place in an attempt to continue moving passengers at as fast a speed as possible. As you might imagine, this can increase the risk for accidents quite significantly.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF RIDING IN AN UBER?

While making the decision to ride or drive in any vehicle carries its share of risks, there are some risks with Uber that are especially serious. For one thing, while Uber does have a screening process in place to help ensure that their drivers have good driving records, the check doesn’t always reach as far back as would be necessary to guarantee that the drivers in question have truly “clean” records. This can result in irresponsible drivers being granted the ability to drive individuals to and from various locations every day. If you were in an accident with an Uber driver, it is always a good idea to reach out to a professional who understands how to look into their backgrounds to determine whether or not Uber was negligent in their screening responsibilities.

DO UBER DRIVER’S HAVE INSURANCE?

Uber is notorious for failing to provide their drivers with enough information regarding their insurance situation. While Uber drivers do have insurance, it only applies in very specific circumstances. To be a bit more exact, there are three periods of time during which Uber will recognize and take into consideration when determining which level of their insurance applies. When a driver is waiting for a request, they are not entirely insured by Uber. When they have picked up a customer or are on their way to picking up a customer are the next two periods during which Uber’s insurance should, ideally, full cover any accidents that occur.

The answer to the question, then, is “yes, but it’s complicated”. Additionally, your driver’s own insurance might not cover the gaps in the insurance that Uber provides.

ARE UBER RIDES SAFE?

Many individuals use Uber often without ending up in an accident. It is important to keep in mind that safety and risk are relative when looking at car accidents. Is driving your own vehicle in busy traffic “safe”? Additionally, keep in mind that the answer to this question also depends upon what area of the process you are looking at. If you are wondering whether or not Uber is “safe” in that they would cover damages from a car accident, then I would refer you to the previous section. They might, or they might not.

WHERE YOU HURT OR INJURED DUE TO AN UBER ACCIDENT?

Have you found yourself injured as a result of an Uber accident? If so, don’t give up the fight for compensation! You have rights that should be upheld, and it is important that you do not waive these. If you were injured, you very well might be entitled to certain kinds of compensation. That means that you should reach out to an experienced attorney who understands Uber driving law and has experience in arguing these kinds of cases in court. They can better help you understand your potential case as well as determine the best way to move forward with your claim.

CONTACT OUR FIRM FOR A FREE CASE EVALUATION

If you have been injured by an Uber driver, time is of the essence. Make sure that you reach out to our experienced attorneys for help as quickly as possible. We can work with you to document your injuries and communicate with the various insurance companies involved. We’ll also do our best to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation to which you are entitled based upon your injuries and the specific circumstances of your case.

If you need help and have been injured by an Uber driver, we can help. Reach out to us today for more information.

Lyft Accident Attorney

Lyft is a ride-sharing service that offers on-demand transportation to individuals in need of rides for a whole host of reasons. The idea is that not everyone has access to, or the desire to use, a car to move from location to location, but sometimes public transportation is sorely lacking. As a result, Lyft – originally known as Zimride – was founded in 2012 in California. The founder was struck by the idea after seeing how ridesharing worked in Zimbabwe, and he set out to replicate the process and adapt it for an American userbase upon his return to the States. To that end, the service is offered via a mobile application (app) that allows users to input a destination and offers them information about various driver and ride options. This is a particularly popular service due to the sheer convenience it offers users. Rather than requiring them to scramble to find a ride, Lyft offers an affordable and dependable option. For more detailed information about Lyft and its various services, you can visit their website at https://www.lyft.com/.

As with anything, deciding to use a Lyft ride presents both benefits as well as disadvantages. More notably, it presents a few distinct risks about which you should be aware. It is important, then, for potential users to understand the liability the company and its drivers might have in the case of an accident before they make the decision to invest in the rideshare. With that in mind, let’s take some time to talk about Lyft and the kind of things you should do if you find yourself in a crash while with a Lyft driver.

ARE LYFT ACCIDENTS COMMON?

Lyft is an extremely popular rides haring option and has been in business for about six years. If Lyft accidents were incredibly common, it is unlikely they would still be considered viable or safe options for users. With that said, it should come as no surprise that the company has its fair share of accidents. Lyft accidents might not be extremely commonplace, in other words, but neither are they particularly rare or uncommon. As with any vehicle, there is an inherent risk to driving at all, and that is perhaps amplified for Lyft drivers and riders due to the nature of the service. Because we are more concerned with why accidents happen and what to do if you find yourself in one, we will focus less on the exact number of accidents that occur every day and more on the causes of said accidents.

HOW CAN A LYFT ACCIDENTS OCCUR?

There are a few different factors that are commonly behind Lyft accidents. The fact that the drivers in question aren’t always familiar with the area in which they are driving, for example, can put them at a higher risk for accidents than other drivers. When you consider that the amount of money that they make depends solely upon how many clients they are able to move through their vehicle, it becomes clear that rideshare drivers in general might be more stressed than other drivers and have a bigger incentive to hurry through their drives. This might result in less attentive driving, which, in turn, can increase the risk of an accident dramatically. This is amplified if the driver is focused on their vehicle or even their passenger while driving. In some instances, drivers might pay more attention to their smartphone and navigation system than they do the road. When you consider all of these factors together, it is fairly easy to see how and why some Lyft accidents occur as well as things to watch out for if you opt for the services of a Lyft driver.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF RIDING IN A LYFT?

When you enter any vehicle, you are taking a risk. Despite its commonality, driving is not an inherently safe activity. There is always the chance that the worst could happen and you could end up in an accident. With that said, there are certain issues present with Lyft drivers that your regular drivers might not present to potential customers. For one thing, riders are often dependent upon Lyft to accurately screen their drivers to ensure that they have good driving records and have no history of unsafe driving. This process isn’t always as thorough as it could be, however, which means that sometimes poor drivers can fall through the cracks. When that happens, it could very well end up in an accident. If you have been in an accident with a Lyft driver, it is a good idea to reach out to an experienced attorney to help look into the driver’s background to help determine whether or not Lyft was negligent in their responsibilities.

DO LYFT DRIVER’S HAVE INSURANCE?

Lyft and Uber, two of the ridesharing greats, are notorious for their poor handling of car accidents. Their drivers are often erroneously under the impression that they are covered under the company’s insurance, for example, when the reality is that Lyft only covers their drivers in certain situations – and the driver’s personal insurance often won’t cover accidents that occur while driving for Lyft, either. That leaves drivers in a rough situation where they aren’t entirely sure what insurance covers and what it doesn’t. This, in turn, translates to victims of accidents who are even more confused about where to seek their compensation from when it’s time to pay for medical bills and other expenses.

The answer to the above question, then, is that yes, Lyft drivers have insurance – but only under certain conditions. In order to determine whether or not your Lyft driver was covered at the time of your accident, you should consider reaching out to an attorney who understands how insurance works for commercial enterprises and can negotiate on your behalf with insurance companies.

ARE LYFT RIDES SAFE?

Lyft is a popular ride sharing option and has been for six years. Many users are able to use the service without ending up in a car accident. That doesn’t mean that you’ll have the same luck, however, nor does it mean that accidents are rare. You don’t necessarily have to stop using Lyft as a transportation option, but you should be aware of the risks that each ride carries. Much like any ride, a Lyft ride could end in an accident. The insurance settlement process after that accident occurs, however, is often far more complicated than individuals in a car accident in a situation that is not ridesharing in nature.

WHERE YOU HURT OR INJURED DUE TO A LYFT ACCIDENT?

Have you been injured as the result of a Lyft accident? If you have, then you might be overwhelmed looking at all of the information in question. Do not panic! There are experienced attorneys who can help uphold your rights and fight for the compensation to which you might be entitled.

CONTACT OUR FIRM FOR A FREE CASE EVALUATION

If you have been injured by a Lyft driver, keep in mind that the sooner you find an attorney, the sooner we can begin working on your case and moving towards settlement (or trial). With that in mind, reach out to us today for more information about how exactly we can help! We fight for our client’s rights and defend them vigorously.

If you need help and have been injured by a Lyft or Uber driver, we can help. Reach out to us today for more information.