San FranciscoRideshare
Accident Lawyer

The rideshare industry was built in San Francisco, and today, millions of people around the world rely on services like Uber and Lyft to travel from place to place. While these services position themselves as a safe transportation option, serious accidents can occur involving rideshare vehicles. If you are injured while riding in an Uber or Lyft, you can sustain severe injuries and losses—and you may wonder about your options for compensation.

Navigating an Uber or Lyft accident claim can be complicated, but the attorneys at Choulos, Choulos & Wyle can help. Our San Francisco rideshare accident lawyers have significant experience representing injured rideshare victims throughout the Bay Area, and we will work diligently to secure the compensation you deserve.

Why Choose Us

• Our firm’s track record speaks for itself—we have obtained a successful outcome in 98% of the cases we have represented.
• Our attorneys have decades of experience in personal injury and wrongful death litigation. We will leverage our knowledge, skills, and resources to craft a compelling case in your favor.
• Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis. You will not owe any legal fees unless our attorneys successfully recover compensation in your case.

Common Rideshare Accident Injuries

Like other types of motor vehicle collisions, accidents involving rideshare vehicles can result in very serious injuries. In some cases, these injuries require long-term medical care and specialized treatment, such as rehabilitation or physical therapy. This can result in thousands of dollars in medical expenses, physical pain, and emotional trauma.

Some of the most common rideshare accident injuries include the following.

• Broken bones and sprains
• Facial injuries
• Burn injuries and scarring
• Neck injuries, such as whiplash
• Spinal cord damage and paralysis
• Brain injuries, including concussions

Who Is Liable for a Rideshare Accident in California?

Like most states, California follows a fault-based system when it comes to car accidents. Drivers who are responsible for collisions must pay for their victims’ damages. All California drivers must carry minimum amounts of liability insurance to uphold this financial responsibility.

• $15,000 for injury or death to one person per accident
• $30,000 for total injury or death per accident
• $5,000 for property damage per accident

When it comes to rideshare accidents, these liability rules still apply. Multiple parties may be liable for your damages following an Uber or Lyft collision, depending on the circumstances surrounding your accident.

• If the rideshare driver caused your accident, he or she would be liable for your losses. You can choose to file a lawsuit or insurance claim against the driver directly. In certain cases, you could also file a claim under the Uber or Lyft insurance policy.
• If another driver caused your accident while you were riding in an Uber or a Lyft, the third-party driver would be responsible for your losses. You would file an insurance claim or lawsuit against the third-party driver, not the rideshare driver or his or her company.
• In some cases, defective automobile parts cause an accident. In this situation, you would file a lawsuit against the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of the defective part.

To determine your optimal path to compensation, you will first need to identify how the accident happened. Your attorney from Choulos, Choulos & Wyle will conduct a full investigation into your accident to help you determine the cause of the accident and the liable party.

Uber and Lyft Insurance Coverage

Most car accident claims begin and resolve in the insurance stage and progress to a lawsuit if necessary. Many insurance policies have a provision that prevents compensation if the driver was using his or her vehicle for commercial purposes. As a result, it is very likely that the driver’s personal insurance may deny your initial claim if he or she was transporting a passenger at the time of accident.

At this stage, you can choose to file a lawsuit against the driver or file a claim under insurance policies offered by Uber and Lyft. Since Uber and Lyft consider their drivers to be independent contractors, not employees, you are unable to file a lawsuit against these companies directly.

These companies offer similar liability insurance coverage to their drivers, which kicks in when the driver causes an accident and his or her insurance policy denies the victim’s claim.

• If the driver is not logged into the Uber or Lyft app at the time of the accident, the companies provide no coverage.
• If the driver was logged into the app but has not accepted a ride, Uber and Lyft will provide up to $50,000 per person injured in the accident, $100,000 in total injury liability, and $25,000 for property damage.
• If the driver has accepted a trip and is on the way to pick up a passenger, or if the driver has a passenger in the vehicle, these companies provide up to $1 million in liability coverage.

Why You Need a Rideshare Accident Attorney

If you plan on filing an insurance claim or lawsuit after a rideshare accident, you need an attorney on your side. Your Uber and Lyft accident attorney at Choulos, Choulos & Wyle can provide several important benefits to your claim, including the following.

• There are multiple paths to compensation available in a rideshare accident claim. Your attorney can evaluate your accident and determine which path is the most optimal in your case.
• You may not know the full value of your potential damages. Your lawyer will be able to accurately estimate your potential award, helping you avoid an insufficient settlement. Your attorney can also enlist the help of expert witnesses who can help calculate your long-term care costs.
• During your claim, you will need to negotiate with insurance companies. Your attorney has the skills and experience necessary to negotiate with insurance representatives on your behalf, advocating for your best possible outcome during these discussions.
• You will need to gather several pieces of evidence to prove the at-fault party’s liability and secure compensation in your claim. Your attorney will have the time and resources to conduct a full investigation into your accident and craft a compelling case in your favor.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

Have you been injured in a San Francisco rideshare accident? In these situations, you may be eligible for financial compensation—and the attorneys at Choulos, Choulos & Wyle can help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your legal options with a San Francisco rideshare accident attorney.