There is no disputing the fact that Lyft, and similar ridesharing services, play an important role in the lives of their thousands of users across the United States. In addition to enabling you to easily get from A to B in an unfamiliar city while on vacation, it could mean the difference between you being able to get to a medical appointment or work interview and missing out. Created with the objective of reducing the cost of using a cab-type service, and thereby making it more accessible, these ridesharing services, operated via a smartphone app, may cause some disgruntlement amongst those working within the traditional cab industry, but are increasingly popular with users.
As with any other type of vehicular traffic, riding in, or driving near, a Lyft vehicle carries some risk of becoming involved in a collision and sustaining serious injuries and extensive property damage. When you find yourself in this difficult situation, hiring a Lyft crash lawyer from the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg could ensure you do not face financial hardship alongside your physical pain and suffering.
Insurance and Lyft Drivers
All drivers on California roads must hold valid auto insurance and, if you are a driver, you are certainly already aware of that fact. When a vehicle is used for a commercial purpose, including ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft, the insurance requirements become more complex. By law, those driving for Lyft in Santa Ana will be required to hold specific insurance cover relating to drivers, passengers, and any injured third parties. The ridesharing company themselves must also comply with heftier insurance requirements, namely California Vehicle Code Section 5430, which makes it mandatory to hold $1 million uninsured and underinsured motorist cover for:
- Personal injury
- Wrongful Death
- Damage to the property of others
Depending on the circumstances of your Santa Ana Lyft insurance, you may need to claim on both Lyft’s insurance and the driver’s own personal auto insurance policy. This can quickly become complex as, of course, both insurance companies will fight to reduce their losses but, when you hire an expert lawyer to handle your personal injury lawsuit, you can focus on taking the time you need to recover from your injuries, rather than battling for the settlement you deserve.
How Often Do Santa Ana Lyft Accidents Really Happen?
As Lyft do not actually own their vehicles but treats their drivers as contractors using their own vehicles for work, it is tricky to compile statistics relating specifically to ridesharing accidents. However, the general car accident statistics are relevant, meaning that each year (based on 2015) Santa Ana roads see an average of around:
- A total of 2,461 injuries and fatalities
- Alcohol plays a role in 216 of these car accidents
- 650 drivers arrested for driving under the influence (DUI)
- 552 accidents arising from driving at excessive speeds
- 194 hit and run accidents
- 191 accidents during the nighttime hours of 9 pm and 3 am
When you have been injured in a Santa Ana Lyft accident, you need an excellent lawyer by your side. Schedule your free initial consultation by calling us today at 310-997-0904.
