Lyft Car Accident: 5 Steps to Take

What Happens if You’re in a Car Accident in a Lyft?

Whether you over-imbibed at your favorite dive bar or got a flat tire on your way to work, Lyft is like that super cool, perennially available friend who just happens to be free when you’re in the throes of an emergency.

But then the unimaginable happens: You’re involved in an accident while riding in a Lyft, and since that was the one thing your Lyft driver didn’t discuss with you when you climbed into the backseat, you have no clue what to do next.

If you’ve been Googling car accident Lyft, let us clue you in. Here are the steps you can take to lift yourself out of your confusion and crisis.

1. Seek Medical Attention

Roughly 6 million car accidents occur every year.¹ Naturally, Lyft, Uber, and other rideshare companies and services are part of this number. According to research conducted by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the introduction of ride-share services has led to a 3% increase in car accident fatalities.² In other words, accidents happen.

So what should you do if you're in a Lyft accident? Your first order of business if this happens to you is to seek medical attention, as with any other auto accident—even if you feel only mildly dizzy. Injuries, such as whiplash, can be subtle at first, and may develop within days of an accident.³

Ensure to document the medical attention you received for a personal injury, both immediately after the accident and in the time that follows. 

A few other boxes you’ll want to check: 

• Take photos of any visible injuries
• Document any areas of your body that are experiencing pain
• Write down a summary of what occurred during the collision

Some injuries such as whiplash take time to manifest, so be aware of this too.

2. Report the Accident

Be sure to file a police report on the rideshare accident. This will prove immensely valuable if you elect to file a lawsuit, as an officer’s coverage will provide insights on the nature of the accident, who was at fault, and other key pieces of information about the collision.

In addition, file a report with Lyft. Lyft provides customers with the option to contact their Safety Support team via chat or over the phone directly from the app.⁴

It may benefit you to hold off on making a statement or coming to any decisions with Lyft until you've opened your claim with Mighty — Mighty's AI handles communications with Lyft, the at-fault driver's insurance, and any other involved parties on your behalf.

3. Gather Information 

You may or may not decide to file a lawsuit, but in any event, you want to guarantee you have all the pertinent information you need. This should include:

• The time, date, and location of the accident
• Your Lyft driver's name, phone number, and address
• Your driver’s personal insurance information
• The other driver’s name and insurance information
• Testimony from witnesses, if available
• The make, model, license plate numbers, and VINs the involved vehicles

4. Understand Lyft’s Coverage

If your Lyft driver had the app on while transporting you, and is found at fault, Lyft has third-party liability. Briefly, this covers a minimum of:⁵

• $50,000/per person for bodily injury
• $100,000/per accident for bodily injury
• $25,000/per accident for property damage

Liability coverage for Lyft accidents caps out at $1,000,000.⁶

You may be asking, but doesn’t my driver have their own insurance coverage? Yes, Lyft drivers are required to have auto insurance as well.

If you’ve been injured in another way, and this exceeds Lyft’s liability coverage, you may have the option of filing a lawsuit against the driver’s insurance company, too. 

If the other driver was at fault, this applies as well; but keep in mind that the amount awarded may depend on the state in which the accident occurred. 

Furthermore, it may be concluded that both parties were at fault. For example, 13 states, including New York and California, have a “comparative negligence law,”⁷ which means that claims must be filed with both insurance companies.

5. Open Your Claim with Mighty

Getting into a car accident in your Mom’s borrowed Buick is one thing. But for Lyft-related accidents that require dealing with insurance companies, claims, and compensation, a car accident lawyer is best. 

A quality car accident lawyer, preferably one who specializes in ride-share lawsuits, can walk you through the process and provide invaluable direction on what to do next. You may be in a position to receive compensation for:

• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering damages
• Medical bills and expenses—now and in the future

Should You Hire a Lawyer for Your Lyft Accident Claim?

Open the claim — but use Mighty to do it. Mighty's AI builds your case file, opens your claim with the insurance company, negotiates a settlement for you to approve, and routes you your payment if the offer is fair. For most accident claims, that's all you need — and you keep 100% of your settlement.

Only hire a lawyer when you need one, which is rarely in the first month or two after an accident. Waiting has two big advantages. First, you may not need one at all, in which case avoiding their fees leaves you with 33% to 40% more of your settlement. Even if you do need one, waiting until you have more information about your case — including an offer from insurance — gives you leverage to negotiate the lawyer's fee down from the standard rate.

A lawyer is genuinely necessary when injuries are serious, liability is disputed, multiple parties are involved, or the insurance company refuses to engage. For those cases, Mighty's marketplace helps to match you with a vetted lawyer who only gets paid on the increase to your existing offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file a Claim if the other driver was at fault for the Uber or Lyft rideshare accident?

Yes. Even if your Uber or Lyft driver wasn't at fault, you can open a claim against the at-fault driver's insurance. Mighty's AI handles the claim work for you — building your case file, opening the claim with the at-fault driver's insurance, and negotiating a settlement on your behalf.

What if I was partially at fault for the rideshare car accident?

Many states have comparative negligence laws that may reduce your compensation based on your share of fault. Mighty's AI handles the case file work and gathers the documentation needed to establish fault accurately — so the settlement reflects what your case is actually worth. needed to establish fault accurately and capture every category of damage your case is worth.

Can I ride with Uber or Lyft again after a car accident?

TThe ability to use Lyft again depends on the specifics of your situation and Lyft's terms of service. Check Lyft's safety policies and your account status for guidance.

Sources

1. Driver Knowledge. Car accident statistics in the U.S. https://www.driverknowledge.com/car-accident-statistics/
2. University of Chicago News. Ride-hailing services may be driving up traffic deaths. https://news.uchicago.edu/story/ride-hailing-services-may-be-driving-traffic-deaths
3. Mayo Clinic. Whiplash–symptoms and causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/whiplash/symptoms-causes/syc-20378921
4. Lyft. How Lyft works to keep drivers safe. https://www.lyft.com/safety/driver#help-from-real-humans
5. Lyft. Insurance resources for Lyft drivers. https://www.lyft.com/driver/insurance#what-lyft-covers
6. NOLO. I was injured while riding in an uber or lyft vehicle. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/i-was-injured-while-riding-in-an-uber-or-lyft-vehicle.html
7. Investopedia. Comparative negligence: definition types, and examples. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/comparative-negligence.asp