Ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber have transformed the way people get around Long Beach, offering convenience, affordability, and a safer alternative to driving after a night out. But with more rideshare vehicles on the road, accidents can still happen, sometimes leaving passengers, other drivers, or pedestrians seriously injured. So, what happens if you’re hurt in a Lyft accident in Long Beach, CA?
After a Lyft accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance will generally pay for your injuries and property damage. However, when ridesharing is involved, determining which insurance policy applies can become complex. In this article, you will understand liability in Lyft accidents and what to do to protect your rights in such cases.
What to Do After a Lyft Accident in Long Beach
If you’ve been in a Lyft accident, there are important steps to follow to protect your rights and prepare for filing any damage claims.
- Contact the authorities
If there are injuries or significant property damage, call the Long Beach Police Department immediately. A police report is a key document for any future claims.
- Prioritize safety
Check for injuries and, if necessary, move anyone at risk to a safer location to prevent further harm.
- Collect evidence
Document the accident thoroughly. Take clear photos of vehicle damage, any visible injuries, and the overall scene. Gather contact information from all parties involved and any witnesses willing to provide statements.
- Notify your insurance company
Report the accident to your insurance provider within 24 hours. They’ll guide you through the claims process and help complete any required forms, including those for the DMV.
- Seek medical care
Even if you feel fine, visit a doctor to rule out hidden injuries. Prompt medical attention ensures any injuries are documented and linked to the accident. Keep all medical records, prescriptions, and bills for your claim.
- Consult a Lyft accident attorney
An experienced rideshare accident lawyer can assist in calculating damages, handling the claims process, and securing the compensation you’re entitled to.
Can I Seek Compensation for the Damages of a Lyft Accident in Long Beach, CA?
If someone else’s actions caused a crash and injured you, you have the right to hold the responsible party accountable. However, you will need to prove that their carelessness or negligence directly caused the accident.
Understanding Negligence in Car Accidents
Every driver has a legal and moral responsibility to operate their vehicle safely. When someone chooses to break this responsibility, such as texting while driving, they engage in negligent behavior. And if their actions directly cause a crash, they may be held liable for the harm they’ve inflicted on you.
How to Prove Negligence
To secure the compensation you deserve, your legal team must establish four critical elements of negligence:
- Duty of Care – The other driver was legally obligated to drive safely and obey traffic laws.
- Breach of Duty – They violated this duty through reckless or illegal behavior, such as texting while driving.
- Causation – Their distracted driving directly caused the accident.
- Damages – You experienced measurable harm, including physical injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional suffering.
While these elements may seem straightforward, proving them can be challenging, especially if you’re injured and unable to gather evidence at the scene. That’s why having an experienced Long Beach Lyft accident lawyer on your side can be beneficial in gathering evidence, proving negligence, and managing your case.
What if the Rideshare Driver Is at Fault?
If the driver was not actively using the app at the time of the crash, it means they were not logged in or available to accept rides.
Since the driver was operating their vehicle for personal use rather than as part of the app’s service, the rideshare company’s insurance coverage does not apply.
Instead, their personal auto insurance policy would be responsible for covering any damages or injuries resulting from the accident.
It’s important to confirm the driver’s insurance details and file a claim through their personal insurance provider for compensation.
What Happens When the Rideshare Driver Was Working at the Time of the Crash?
If the driver was logged into the app, such as when:
- They were waiting for a ride request,
- Driving to pick up a passenger, or
- Actively transporting a passenger to their destination,
Then the insurance policy provided by Lyft should come into effect.
Understanding Lyft Insurance Coverage
Rideshare companies like Lyft offer insurance coverage for accidents, but the extent of that coverage depends on the driver’s status at the time of the incident. Here’s a clear breakdown of how Lyft’s insurance policy works:
Lyft Insurance Coverage
Offline (App turned off): When the app is off, the driver’s personal auto insurance applies.
Period 1 (App on, waiting for a ride request):
- Up to $50,000 for bodily injury per person
- Up to $100,000 for bodily injury per accident
- Up to $30,000 for property damage
Periods 2 & 3 (Ride accepted or actively transporting passengers):
- $1 million in commercial auto insurance coverage
- $1 million in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
While there is Lyft insurance coverage that can cover your damages, they won’t easily give in and give what you deserve. Instead, they will fight back with their robust legal teams and find loopholes to avoid liability or reduce your settlement.
This is why it is crucial to work with a Long Beach Lyft accident lawyer who has the expertise and experience to go against Lyft’s legal team and fight for your rights.
What Happens When Multiple Drivers Share Fault in an Accident?
In accidents where multiple drivers are at fault, California’s comparative fault system applies. This system assesses each driver’s level of responsibility and adjusts compensation accordingly.
- The fault is assigned by percentage. For instance, if two drivers are involved in an accident, one running a red light and the other speeding, an investigation might determine one driver is 70% at fault while the other is 30%.
- All responsible parties can be held accountable. You have the right to seek compensation from each at-fault party based on their share of responsibility. This often means dealing with multiple insurance companies.
- Your compensation is reduced if you share some blame. If you’re partially at fault (for example, 10% for not wearing a seatbelt), your settlement will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Accidents involving shared fault can quickly become legally intricate and emotionally taxing. Insurance companies may try to deflect blame to minimize payouts.
That’s why having an experienced car accident attorney is crucial. They will thoroughly investigate the crash, determine fault percentages, and advocate to secure the maximum compensation you deserve.
What You May Face After a Lyft Accident in Long Beach, CA
From painful injuries to emotional trauma and overwhelming expenses, the aftermath of a Lyft accident is often far more than just physical recovery.
Understanding what you may face can help you prepare and fight for the support you deserve.
Physical and Emotional Toll on Lyft Accident Victims
The damage goes beyond the crash scene. Many victims struggle with both physical pain and emotional distress.
Common physical injuries:
- Broken bones, cuts, and bruises
- Whiplash, nerve damage, or spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Emotional and psychological struggles:
- Anxiety, depression, or panic attacks
- Trouble sleeping or fear of riding again
- PTSD symptoms and long-term mental distress
The Financial Burden After a Rideshare Crash
Medical bills and missed work can quickly pile up after a rideshare accident.
Common financial stressors include:
- ER visits, surgeries, and follow-up care
- Prescription medications and rehabilitation
- Loss of income due to missed work
- Out-of-pocket expenses insurance doesn’t cover
- Long-term care or disability-related costs
- Funeral or accidental death benefits for the families of deceased victims
With the overall impact of a Lyft accident, it can be hard to quantify every loss you encounter from the crash. Fortunately, the best Lyft accident lawyer Long Beach offers can calculate all damages you suffer and fight for fair compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for a Lyft Accident?
Under California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1, you have up to two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.
However, the deadline is significantly shorter if your claim involves a government entity, such as issues stemming from dangerous road conditions or malfunctioning traffic signals. In these cases, you have just six months to take legal action.
Failing to meet these deadlines could cost you your right to compensation. Take action now; acting promptly not only protects your rights but also strengthens your case.
Can I File a Claim if I’m Partially at Fault?
Yes. California operates under a pure comparative fault system, allowing you to recover damages even if you bear some responsibility for the accident. However, your compensation will be adjusted according to your percentage of fault.
For instance, if you’re found to be 30% at fault, you can still recover 70% of your total damages.
Keep in mind, insurance companies often attempt to overstate your level of fault to minimize their payout. The good news is that experienced attorneys are here to challenge these tactics, ensuring you aren’t unfairly blamed or denied the compensation you deserve.
What Legal Challenges You May Face When Filing a Claim Against Lyft After a Rideshare Accident
Being injured in a Lyft accident is already a stressful experience, and going through the legal process that follows can feel even more overwhelming.
While Lyft offers up to $1 million in liability coverage, accessing that compensation can be far from straightforward. Victims often encounter legal and insurance barriers that delay or diminish their rightful settlements.
Unfortunately, even with strong supporting evidence, insurance companies and large corporations don’t always play fair. Here are some common tactics you might face:
- Claim Denial or Delays: Insurers may argue the driver wasn’t logged into the app or wasn’t “on duty” at the time of the accident to deny or delay your claim.
- Disputing Injuries: They could challenge the severity of your injuries, especially if you didn’t seek immediate medical attention.
- Minimizing Liability: Lyft may downplay its responsibility by emphasizing that its drivers are independent contractors.
- Lowball Settlement Offers: Insurers might present low offers early on, hoping you’ll accept out of financial desperation.
- Shifting Blame: They could attempt to shift responsibility onto another driver, or even you, to reduce or avoid payouts entirely.
Understanding these potential hurdles can help you prepare for the challenges ahead and ensure you’re better equipped to fight for your deserved compensation.
How We Can Help
Managing these complicated policies can be overwhelming, especially when you’re recovering from injuries.
That’s where we come in. By working with a Lyft accident attorney in Long Beach, you can focus on healing while we identify the responsible party, evaluate insurance coverage, and fight tirelessly to ensure you’re fully compensated.
Been hurt in a car crash? Call our auto accident lawyers for a free review of your claim.
How an Attorney Can Help
A skilled attorney can handle the heavy lifting, giving you the time and space to focus on your recovery. They can:
- Obtain the crash report and gather supporting evidence.
- Collect witness statements.
- Subpoena phone records to prove distracted driving.
- Collaborate with accident reconstruction experts.
- Push back against insurance companies aiming to minimize your claim.
We ensure that no detail is overlooked. From determining whether the driver was logged into the Lyft platform to analyzing fault and pursuing all applicable insurance claims, we do it all with an unwavering commitment to protecting your rights.
Contact Us Today
Don’t face the aftermath of a Lyft accident alone. With decades of experience, The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker is a name you can trust to secure justice and fair compensation.
Call us at 800-333-0000 today for a free consultation and take the first step toward holding the responsible parties accountable.
References
California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. (n.d.). California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=335.1
comparative negligence | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute. (n.d.). Law.Cornell.Edu. Retrieved June 11, 2025, from https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/comparative_negligence
Insurance coverage while driving with Lyft. (n.d.). Lyft. https://help.lyft.com/hc/en-us/all/articles/115013080548-Insurance-Policy
