How Do I File an Injury Claim After a Lyft Accident
More than 12.5 million people rode in a Lyft vehicle in 2020. Most Lyft rides are safe and uneventful, but sometimes accidents do occur. If you have been injured in a Lyft accident, you need to know how to file a claim.
Who Is Responsible for Paying for Your Injuries
In most cases, the at-fault driver is responsible for paying for injuries to a passenger in a vehicle. In a multi-car accident, if the other driver is at fault, their insurance may pay for your damages. However, in some states, both drivers may share a portion of the fault, so you may need to recover from both the other driver’s insurance and Lyft. If the Lyft driver is at fault, Lyft’s insurance will usually be primary.
What To Do After a Lyft Accident
Lyft has $1,000,000 per accident of liability coverage for passengers in its rideshare vehicles. Lyft’s insurance coverage is primary while a Lyft driver is picking up, transporting and dropping off rideshare passengers. However, if the driver has commercial or personal insurance that provides liability coverage for rideshares, that coverage may be primary and Lyft’s coverage will serve as excess.
Even though Lyft’s insurance may cover the accident, it is a good idea to get the driver’s insurance information, contact information, driver’s license number and license plate number. If the accident involved another driver, you should get this information for that driver as well.
If there are any witnesses to the accident, get their contact information. Take photos of the scene and the vehicles involved. Get medical treatment for your injuries. Call the police and file a report. Get a copy of this report for your records and the insurance company.
Reporting the Accident to Lyft
Lyft has an online reporting tool for vehicle collisions involving one of its drivers. Accidents can be reported any day and at any time. This tool connects you to the Lyft claims center. Avoid discussing the cause of the accident or the extent of your injuries until after you have spoken to an attorney, as a car accident lawyer based in Houston, TX like one from John K. Zaid & Associates can tell you.
Consider contacting an attorney if you have been seriously injured in a Lyft accident. A lawyer can help you determine the value of your injury case and advise you on what you should and should not say to the insurance company. If you decide to hire an attorney, your attorney will deal with the insurance company on your behalf.
