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What Are The Requirements for Lyft Vehicles and Drivers in California?
There has been much talk in the media and among California’s legal community regarding Lyft’s hiring and training practices. Lyft’s website says they make safety a top priority, however Lyft only reviews the last 7 years of their driver’s criminal history.
Also, Lyft does not fingerprint their drivers nor do they meet with them in person before hiring them. The lax hiring practices on the part of Lyft and Uber have resulted in over 222 allegations for sexual assaults, harassment, theft, rape, and kidnapping.
The vehicle requirements to be a Lyft driver in California are:
- All Lyft vehicles must be four (4) door cars and model years 2005 or newer.
- The drivers are required to take their Lyft vehicle in for an inspection to a qualified mechanic for a full vehicle check. The inspection should include 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 the responsibility of the Lyft driver to maintain their vehicles 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.
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What Are the Most Common Causes of Lyft Accidents in California?
Lyft and Uber accidents in Santa Ana 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?
The state of California is a comparative fault state. This means if a California judge or jury decides that you are partially to blame for your Lyft accident, they will subtract whatever percentage of blame 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, 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 waits for a passenger. During this period, Lyft provides 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 passenger, they are in Period 2 and the insurance coverage is the same as Period 3.
Period 3:
When a Lyft driver picks up their ride, they are considered to be in Period 3. In both Periods 2 and 3 Uber provides their drivers with:
- $1 million in commercial automobile insurance
- $1 million in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
This may seem generous however, Lyft is infamous for denying they have any liability or they attempt to shortchange the victims of a Lyft accident. This 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 Santa Ana Uber accident.
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No upfront costs to you or your family. We strive to recover fair and equitable compensation for our clients.
Why Hiring the Right Santa Ana, California Lyft Accident Attorney is Important
Many Californians involved in a Lyft accident think that all they have to do is file a claim and receive fair compensation for their damages. Easy right? The truth that is generally not the case for many reasons.
It is unrealistic to think that Lyft or any other California rideshare company is going to give you a fair settlement. Even if the amount you are asking for is small in comparison to their revenue, Lyft is not in the business of giving out significant amounts of money. Having Lyft pay for your Santa Ana, California accident is going to be a challenge, so it’s best to make sure you have an experienced and aggressive Lyft accident lawyer by your side.
Lyft may want to speak 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, 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.
The Santa Ana, 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 Santa Ana, 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 Santa Ana, 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!