Two people in California are suing Lyft after their driver refused to let them out of the car and then caused a car accident. The crash took place in Burbank in December 2019, when a man and woman requested a Lyft ride to a company Christmas party.

When they got in the car, they smelled tobacco and noticed the driver was slurring his speech, so they became concerned that he could be impaired. They decided the speech issue could be a result of a medical condition, so they continued the ride, but noticed the driver kept looking away from the road to ask them questions about their destination.

After several minutes of this odd behavior, coupled with unsafe lane changes and sudden turns, the passengers were increasingly worried. Just as they were about to ask to be let out of the car, the driver collided with the car in front of him.

The impact was hard enough that one passenger's phone flew out of her hand and ended up between the center console and the passenger seat. The driver seemed to not even notice the crash and focused only on giving the damaged phone back to the passenger. That's when both passengers attempted to leave the car, but the driver used the child locks to lock them in.

He then started to drive away from the scene of the accident with his passengers locked inside, but eventually pulled over after he almost hit two cars parked on the side of the street. Once he stopped and unlocked the doors, the passengers got out and immediately reported the car accident to Lyft.

At that time, the Lyft driver began yelling at and spitting on the driver of the car he hit. He then drove away before the police could get there. The other driver remained on the scene and told police the Lyft driver smelled like alcohol.

The passengers involved in this rideshare accident are seeking unspecified damages. The lawsuit they filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court alleges negligence, reckless endangerment, and intentional and negligent misrepresentation.

Lyft Accidents in Colorado

Car accidents involving Lyft drivers can happen anywhere, including Colorado. If you've experienced an incident as concerning as the one described above, you should look into getting legal help. This is especially the case if an accident as a Lyft passenger caused you any injuries, property damage, or pain and suffering.

When you hire a Colorado car accident attorney after an accident as a Lyft passenger, you have the chance to pursue compensation from the driver and his or her employer. Bringing a lawsuit against a rideshare company can help you collect damages for any expenses you have associated with the collision, including the following:

• Medical bills due to your injuries
• Missed wages when you took time off work to recover
• Repair or replacement fees for your phone or other property damaged in the crash
• Pain and suffering

If you're curious about what kind of damages you could seek after being injured as a Lyft passenger, you should talk to a Colorado car accident attorney. Contact an experienced one today to learn more!