888-970-5729
200+
Are There Requirement for Lyft Vehicles and Drivers in California?
Recently. there has been quite a bit of discussion in the media and among California’s legal community regarding Lyft’s training and hiring practices. According to Lyft’s website, they claim they make safety a top priority, however, Lyft only reviews their driver’s last 7 years of criminal history.
Additionally, Lyft does not fingerprint their drivers’ or do they meet with them in face to face before hiring them. Because of these lax hiring practices on the part of Lyft and Uber there have been over 222 allegations of sexual assaults, harassment, theft, rape, and kidnapping.
In California, the vehicle requirements to be a Lyft driver are:
- All Lyft vehicles must be four (4) door cars model years 2005 or newer.
- The driver must take their Lyft vehicle in for an inspection to a mechanic for a full vehicle check. The inspection should examine the steering, brakes, windows, windshield, lights, doors, horn, bumpers, exhaust system, safety belts and tires.
- All Lyft drivers must have their Lyft vehicle inspected every 50,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first
- It’s up to the Lyft driver to maintain their vehicle at all times. If they fail to do so and this results in a California Lyft accident, it may be the fault of the driver.
Get Your Free Case Consultation
No upfront costs to you or your family. We strive to recover fair and equitable compensation for our clients.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Lyft Accidents in California?
Lyft accidents in Bakersfield and throughout California can happen for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common causes of Lyft accidents include, but aren’t limited to:
- Distracted Driving
- Driver Error
- Malfunctioning Motor Vehicle Parts
- Under the Influence of Drugs and/or Alcohol
- Driver Fatigue
- Another Motor Vehicle Driver’s Negligence
Who is At-Fault In a California Lyft Accident?
California is a comparative fault state. This means that if a California judge or jury rules that you are partially to blame for your Lyft accident, they will subtract whatever percentage of blame they feel you have from the total amount of your compensation.
For example, if the California judge or jury believes you were 25% at fault for your Lyft accident, you will receive 75% of the total award for damages.
How Is An Insurance Claim Handled in California After A Lyft Accident?
In California, the Transportation Network Companies, like Lyft and Uber, have special insurance requirements. California law splits Transportation Network Companies into three different periods.
Period 1
This period starts when the Lyft driver opens the Lyft app and is waiting for a passenger. During this period, Lyft will provide a minimum of $50,000 for personal injury and death per person, $100,000 per accident, and $30,000 in property damage coverage.
Period 2
Once the Lyft driver accepts a ride, they are in Period 2 and the insurance coverage is the same as Period 3.
Period 3
When a Lyft driver picks up their passenger, they are considered to be in Period 3. In both Periods 2 and 3 Uber provides their drivers with:
1. $1 million in commercial automobile insurance
2. $1 million in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
This may seem generous, but Lyft is known for denying liability or attempting to shortchange the victims of a Lyft accident. That is why is it so important that you talk to a California Uber attorney at AttorneyJeff Car Accident Lawyer as soon as possible after your Bakersfield Uber accident.
Why Hiring the Right Bakersfield Lyft Accident Attorney is Critical
Many Californians who are involved in a Lyft accident believe that all they need to do is file a claim and receive fair compensation for their damages and that it’s easy. However, that is generally not the case for many reasons.
It isn’t realistic to think that Lyft or any other California rideshare company is just going to give you a fair settlement. Even if the amount you are asking for is small in comparison to their profits, Lyft is not in the business of doling out significant amounts of money. Getting Lyft to pay for your Bakersfield, California accident is going to be a challenge, so it’s best to ensure you have an experienced and aggressive Lyft accident lawyer by your side.
Lyft may want to talk to you after your accident, but it’s not just them that want to have a conversation. Their insurance company is going to want to talk to you as well, and most adjusters are trained to either put the blame for the accident on you or offer you a much lower settlement amount than you deserve.
Get Your Free Case Consultation
No upfront costs to you or your family. We strive to recover fair and equitable compensation for our clients.
The Bakersfield, California Lyft lawyers at AttorneyJeff Car Accident Lawyer will be able to help you to determine how much money in damages you have and can increase the odds of your claim being paid.
In the aftermath of your Bakersfield, California Lyft accident, you will face a lot of challenging decisions. It may be hard for you to deal with your injuries and lost wages.
The experienced Bakersfield, California Lyft accident lawyers at AttorneyJeff Car Accident Lawyer can help you set a plan in motion to assist you in your recovery. Having an experienced California Lyft accident lawyer by your side to protect your rights can give you peace of mind so you and your family can focus on your recovery. Contact us today!