Lyft Accidents

Lyft, like Uber, is a transportation network company that allows users to request a ride through a mobile app. Lyft has not been around as long as Uber; the company formed as Zimride in 2012, but officially changed its name to Lyft one year later. Lyft, like Uber, has faced legal battles from those who have been injured while using the service. Lyft tries to shield itself from legal liability and protect its bottom line, and as such, those victims injured in accidents with a Lyft driver must speak to a San Francisco Lyft accident lawyer for help obtaining the compensation they deserve.

Lyft has not run into the major legal trouble that Uber has. The reason for this is that Lyft launched years after Uber. The company had time for Uber to pave the way for them in a new ride-sharing space, and learn from Uber’s mistakes. There also are not as many Lyft drivers on the road as there are Uber drivers. Even so, Lyft drivers have been involved in a large number of accidents in which drivers, passengers, and others on the road have incurred serious injuries.

Lyft has seen many other legal battles, as well, with a motion filed in February of 2019 to stop a wage increase for drivers, arguing it would hurt their competitive edge. Perhaps more seriously, as of May 2019, Lyft was in the middle of a class action lawsuit that alleged it discriminated against users with disabilities.

Before those legal hurdles, Lyft faced one of its most tragic cases in November of 2014. It was at that time that a 24-year-old man lost his life after the Lyft he had taken home was in an accident. It was the first fatality involving the company. For those going up against any large corporation ro purse compensation after an accident, it is not an easy road. If you have been injured or a loved one killed in an accident involving a Lyft driver, you need the help of a Lyft accident attorney in San Francisco.

Lyft has largely followed Uber’s business model, extending it to their Terms of Service. While Lyft has their own contract users must agree to before hopping into a ride-sharing vehicle, the language is largely the same. Lyft’s terms state that the company has no control over the quality or safety of the transportation, and that users essentially enter a Lyft vehicle at their own risk.

Lyft also shifts the blame to drivers almost entirely, although they do provide liability insurance if a passenger is in the vehicle at the time of an accident. Still, as the family of the man killed in 2014 has learned, Lyft’s insurance company stalls on paying out settlements just like any other. Due to the fact that their drivers are also considered independent contractors and not employees, it is easier for Lyft to place fault on their drivers, instead of with their company.

No company should ever get away with avoiding blame. It is essential that anyone injured while in a Lyft, or by a Lyft driver, speaks to a San Francisco Lyft accident lawyer who can hold the company liable and help you obtain the compensation you deserve for you hospital bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

If you have been hurt in a Lyft accident, you need a Lyft accident attorney in San Francisco on your side. At the Brod Law Firm, we have the necessary experience and resources to hold large ride-sharing companies liable, regardless of what they have included in their contract. You do have options, even if large corporations do not want you to know what those are. Call us today at (800) 427-7020 for your free case evaluation.