San Francisco Uber and Lyft Accidents
San Francisco is a major hub of finance, tourism, culture, and commercial activity for California and the United states with a 2018 population of 883,405. Many of the City’s residents rely on public transportation and ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft. However, public transport use has been declining since the beginning of ridesharing. Nearly 93 million people have used Uber since it started in San Francisco in 2010, but that convenience does not come without risk.
Even though in California rideshare drivers are required to maintain clean driving records and must have no more than three at-fault accidents or traffic citations within the last three years, not everyone complies with the process. The University of Chicago and Rice University released a new study finding that ridesharing services, since 2011, have increased traffic deaths from 2 percent to 3 percent nationwide to nearly 1,100 fatalities each year. Additionally, traffic in urban areas has increased in large part because Uber and Lyft drivers spend between 40-60 percent of their time deadheading – a practice designed to search for passengers while on the roadways.
This study, in conjunction with San Francisco’s dense population, heavy traffic, and proximity to busy roads like the 280, the 880, the 101, and Pacific Coast Highway, makes it no surprise San Francisco rideshare drivers with and without passengers are commonly involved in car accidents just like other motorists. Collisions with other vehicles as well as pedestrians and bicyclists often occur, as well as passenger injury, motorist injury, and wrongful deaths resulting from Uber and Lyft accidents. If you are injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury attorney today to find out if you might be entitled to compensation.
Causes of San Francisco Uber and Lyft Accidents
San Francisco can be a hazardous driving environment for private drivers as well as rideshare drivers – nearly 30 people in the city are killed and over 500 are severely hurt annually. Though excessive speeding is cited in studies as the primary cause of severe and fatal traffic accidents in San Francisco, many other factors may play a role in Uber and Lyft accidents like:
- Intoxicated driving;
- Unsafe turns; and
- Distracted driving with cell phone use or texting.
Many rideshare accidents and injuries in San Francisco may be avoided through proper driving techniques and abiding by traffic rules, but the practice of negligent conduct behind the wheel of a car can bring serious if not fatal injuries. These injuries deserve compensation, which can be tricky to recover without an experienced personal injury attorney by your side to help steer your case.
Recovering for Injuries from a San Francisco Uber or Lyft Accident
San Francisco Uber and Lyft accident claims can be complicated and are commonly litigated as personal injury claims asserting negligence. If a party is found to have negligently caused a victim’s injuries or wrongful death, they can be liable for various damages to compensate for hospital bills, lost income, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and other losses. In special circumstances, if a victim can prove malice, fraud, or oppression was involved, they may also be entitled to punitive damages designed to punish a party’s wrongful behavior.
However, because Uber and Lyft drivers use regular vehicles, the waters can get unclear quickly when multiple insurance companies and policies are at play in an accident. Depending upon if a rideshare driver was on duty at the time of the accident or picking up, transporting, or depositing a paying passenger or not, the driver’s insurance may or may not cover the damages.
If a driver was not on duty, personal injury and wrongful death fall under the personal car insurance policy they are required by law to maintain. However, if the driver was on duty but did not have a paying passenger or else was in the process from accepting a ride to dropping the passenger at their destination, Uber and Lyft have insurance policies that should cover any claims and damages.
- If the driver was on duty but without a passenger – Uber and Lyft have $50,000 bodily injury liability coverage for a person, $100,000 total bodily injury coverage per single accident, and $25,000 coverage for property damage in an incident.
- If a rideshare accident occurred after a driver accepts a passenger ride request but before the passenger has been dropped and competed their ride – both companies will cover the driver with a liability and underinsured or uninsured motorist policy worth $1 million.
An experienced San Francisco Uber or Lyft attorney will be able to understand the applicable insurance coverage in each situation, present the best arguments, and help you avoid mistakes that could hurt your claim.
Contact a San Francisco Uber or Lyft Accident Attorney Today
If you or a loved was injured in a San Francisco Uber or Lyft accident, contact the skilled Daneshrad Law attorneys today to protect your claim and give you the best chance of success. San Francisco Uber and Lyft attorney Alan Daneshrad has years of experience representing victims just like you to secure them the maximum financial compensation possible and keep you from being bullied into accepting a settlement below what you deserve for your injuries. Let our experienced attorneys help you get your life back on track after an injury or the sudden loss of a loved one in a rideshare accident. With an experienced attorney representing you, you can focus on your recovery and take steps to give your legal claim the best possible chance of success while we work diligently towards securing the best possible outcome for your claim.
The Daneshrad Law attorneys have the skill and dedication to personal service you want when pursuing a claim for your San Francisco Uber or Lyft injuries. Contact us toll free at (888) 881-3529 to schedule a free initial case consultation. Let us review your case and deliver personalized representation starting today.
