Encino Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer

Encino Rideshare Accident Attorney – Uber & Lyft Accident

Over the past decade, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have become very popular throughout the United States. Every day, many people living in the Encino area use these services as alternatives to public transportation or driving themselves, and companies like Uber and Lyft offer opportunities for drivers to earn extra income.

Helping Encino Clients Recover From Rideshare Accidents

While most people are able to take advantage of these services without issue, others are not so fortunate. It is vital for all rideshare passengers to understand that they face most of the same risks in a rideshare as they would in any other passenger vehicle. Unfortunately, the aftermath of a rideshare accident can be far more challenging to navigate than many injured drivers initially expect.

The Law Offices of David Davidi, APLC, can provide the compassionate and responsive legal counsel you need after suffering injuries in a rideshare accident. The recovery process for this type of crash is very similar to what you face in your efforts to recover from any other type of motor vehicle accident like car accident, motorcycle accident, truck accident, or bicycle accident, pedestrian accident etc but navigating the insurance-related issues after this type of accident can be incredibly difficult. Rest assured, our team is capable of streamlining your recovery and helping you secure maximum compensation for the losses you suffered.

Proving Liability for a Rideshare Crash in Encino, CA

An essential first step in recovering from any motor vehicle accident in California is proving how the accident happened. The state enforces a fault-based system for resolving car accidents. Part of this system is the state’s requirement for all drivers to have auto insurance. An auto insurance policy in California must include several types of coverage to meet the state’s minimum coverage requirements. However, a different set of rules apply to rideshare accidents.

Uber and Lyft are legally required to have insurance coverage that comes into play when a driver causes an accident. These two rideshare companies are the leaders of their market and have equivalent insurance coverage. These policies vary based on the timing of an accident:

• If a rideshare driver is not logged into their app and marked as available for a ride request, their own personal auto insurance policy would apply if they were to cause an accident.
• Once a driver has logged into their app and marked themselves as available for a ride request, the first tier of the rideshare company’s insurance coverage will apply. This level of coverage can come into play when the driver’s insurance does not apply, covering up to $50,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $100,000 in total accident liability coverage for bodily injuries to multiple persons, and up to $25,000 in property damage liability coverage.
• After a driver accepts a ride request and starts driving toward their passenger’s pickup point, or once they have their passenger in their vehicle, the final tier of coverage applies, and the insurance policy will provide up to $1 million in third-party liability coverage.

The insurance coverage available through a rideshare company may seem like more than enough to cover the damages from your recent accident. However, similar to filing any other type of insurance claim, the actual process of obtaining the compensation you need is likely to be far more challenging than you initially expected.

A Encino rideshare accident lawyer is the ideal resource to consult if you are unsure how to approach the recovery process from a rideshare accident. Your legal team can assist you in filing your claim with all necessary supporting evidence to ensure you receive a fair determination. If your claim is denied or you experience any unethical treatment from the insurance company, your legal team can handle these issues on your behalf as well.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim After a Rideshare Accident in Encino, CA

In the event that available insurance coverage cannot fully compensate for the losses you incurred from a rideshare accident, you will need to pursue a personal injury claim against the driver who caused your accident. This requires proving exactly how the accident occurred, identifying the defendant responsible, and proving their actions directly caused your claimed losses.

Once you have secured as much of a recovery as you can through insurance, your Encino rideshare accident attorney can assist you in filing a personal injury claim to recover the remaining losses. California law enables you to claim compensation for all your economic damages that insurance can’t cover, such as:

• Medical expenses immediately resulting from the accident. Your attorney will help you gather all your medical records needed to prove the scope of treatment you require after your accident.
• Long-term medical treatment costs for managing symptoms and handling severe complications or disabilities. Some accidents result in catastrophic injuries, and victims can seek full repayment for all the medical care they require to recover.
• Lost income from time spent in recovery after the accident. The defendant will be responsible for any income they cause you to lose while you recover from your accident.
• Lost future earning potential when you cannot return to work due to your injury. Unfortunately, some accidents result in catastrophic injuries and permanent disability. If a defendant has rendered you permanently unable to earn income, your Encino rideshare accident attorney can assist you in holding them accountable for the income you could have earned in the future.

Once you accurately calculate your economic damages with the help of an experienced Encino rideshare accident attorney, you may be surprised to discover you can claim much more compensation than you initially expected. In addition to these economic losses, you can also claim compensation for the pain and suffering you experienced. There is no cap on pain and suffering damages in a rideshare accident case, and your attorney can assist you in determining a fair amount to include with your other listed damages.

Determining the Causes of Rideshare Accidents in Encino, CA

Rideshare accidents happen for many of the same causes as all other motor vehicle accidents. Distracted driving, speeding, moving violations, and other acts of negligence can easily result in devastating collisions. Additionally, it is also possible for illegal misconduct to cause a serious accident. If you are unsure who caused your recent accident, or if you were seriously injured and can’t remember how your accident happened, you need legal counsel you can trust if you want to secure any type of suitable recovery.

A good attorney will help their client secure the physical evidence they need to firmly establish liability for their accident, prove the extent of their client’s economic losses, and help the client make a strong case for suitable pain and suffering compensation. Success with these recovery efforts is likely to require solid physical evidence, statements from witnesses who saw the accident happen, and any available digital evidence that could support the claim. For example, liability for some accidents could be proven with expert witness testimony. An accident reconstruction expert could explain the forces in play and how the accident unfolded instant by instant. Vehicle computer data, cell phone records, and traffic camera footage are all potentially crucial evidence as well.

It is important to remember that when liability is contested in any personal injury case, it is possible for the state’s pure comparative negligence law to come into play. Under this statute, a plaintiff loses a percentage of their award equal to their percentage of fault for causing the accident in question. If you are concerned about bearing any level of partial responsibility for your recent rideshare accident, you need experienced legal counsel to help you determine the best way to diminish the comparative fault you hold. If a plaintiff is found to bear any partial liability in a personal injury case, they lose a percentage of their award to reflect this.

Resolving a Civil Claim in Encino, CA

The vast majority of personal injury cases filed in the United States end with private settlement negotiations. When both parties are willing to compromise, a settlement can allow them to reach a mutually acceptable solution to their case. If your recovery from your recent rideshare accident extends into a personal injury case, a good attorney should seek a swift settlement on your behalf. However, settlement may not be possible if the defendant denies their liability for your damages and/or disputes the range of damages sought by the plaintiff.

The attorneys at the Law Offices of David Davidi, APLC, aim for maximum client recovery in all our cases. Our firm has years of experience handling all types of vehicle accident cases on behalf of clients in Encino and throughout the area. We know the challenges victims of these accidents often face and the many legal questions they are likely to have while recovering from their accidents.

Contact Us

We can determine the best path to recovery from your recent accident. Our firm develops individually tailored legal strategies for every case we accept, addressing each client’s unique concerns as we guide them through their legal proceedings. Time is a crucial factor in any civil claim for damages, so it is always best to start your case as soon as possible. If you’re ready to meet with a Encino rideshare accident attorney you can trust, contact the Law Offices of David Davidi, APLC, today and schedule your consultation with our team.