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What do I do if I am in an Accident as a Lyft Driver?

If you were injured while driving as a Lyft driver, and those injuries were caused by another person's negligence, you have rights that deserve to be protected. You could be entitled to significant financial compensation for the injuries you suffered. You can file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible parties and be protected by Lyft's insurance in addition to any coverage of the driver responsible for the accident.

If you or someone you care about has been injured or killed in an accident while working as a Lyft driver in Denver or the greater Denver metropolitan area, an experienced personal injury attorney at accidentdenver.com can fight for your rights.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What do I do after a Lyft accident?

If you are driving for Lyft and involved in a motor vehicle accident, you should immediately call 911 and report the accident, especially if there are any injuries (or even the possibility of injuries if you are not sure). If it is clear that there are no injuries, it is still crucial that you report the accident to the appropriate law enforcement authorities (i.e., highway patrol, local police, sheriff's office).

Having a police report is also critical because it can be used as evidence in your personal injury lawsuit against the responsible driver and is helpful in making a claim on Lyft's insurance policy.

2. How do I report my Lyft driver accident in Denver?

After an accident, you can report it in several ways:

  • Call 911
  • Call the local police department, sheriff's office, or highway patrol
  • Report the accident on Lyft's website
  • Call your insurance carrier

Notifying the appropriate parties is good for everyone involved, but especially you.

3. Will I be covered by insurance after a Lyft accident?

If you were not logged into the Lyft app and were off duty, Lyft's insurance does not cover you. You will have to rely on your own insurance or the insurance of the person that caused the accident instead.

If you were logged into the app, waiting on a passenger to call for you, but had not yet accepted a passenger, you will be covered in the following amounts:

  • $50,000 for bodily injury per person;
  • $100,000 for bodily injury per accident (for all persons injured);
  • $25,000 for property damage per accident.

If instead, you had a passenger or were on the way to get a passenger, Lyft's primary insurance applies in the amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000) per accident. What this means is that Lyft's insurance policy will cover up to $1,000,000 in total damages for the entire accident.

Your status at the time of the accident plays a key role in determining what insurance coverage you may have.

4. Whose name goes in the personal injury lawsuit after my accident?

Who will be named in the personal injury lawsuit after an accident as a Lyft driver depends on the circumstances of your individual case. The most common parties who may be named include, but are not limited to:

  • Lyft (the company),
  • a driver responsible for the accident,
  • a responsible driver's employer (if working while driving),
  • any responsible insurance companies, and/or
  • manufacturers, road designers, etc.

Depending on your case, other parties may be named as well. Your experienced attorney will ensure all proper parties are named in your case. 

5. What is a personal injury lawsuit?

A personal injury lawsuit is a civil lawsuit for money damages to compensate you for injuries sustained as a result of another person's negligence or wrongdoing. It is designed to compensate you for your out of pocket costs, as well as other damages such as pain and suffering.

Even though you were working at the time of the accident, you have the right to make sure that you are made whole following a vehicle collision. You may have suffered severe injuries, pain and suffering, and lost wages. You deserve to be compensated for these losses.

6. How long do I have to file my personal injury lawsuit?

If you are injured as a driver in a Lyft accident, you have three years from the date of the accident to file your personal injury lawsuit. This is called the statute of limitations and is very important to pay attention to.

What this means is that if you fail to file your personal injury lawsuit within three years from the date of the accident, your case will almost certainly be dismissed. This is true even when you would have had a winning case, so it is critical that you approach an experienced attorney soon after your accident to avoid this possibility.

If a person died as a result of the accident, a wrongful death action is appropriate. In that case, the statute of limitations is only two years from the date of the accident. There are exceptions to these time limits, but they are rare, so it is crucial you consult an experienced attorney quickly following your accident.

Exceptions to the statute of limitations include:

  • Defendant Bankruptcy: If the defendant is bankrupt, the time period is tolled.
  • Minor: If a plaintiff is under 18, the statute of limitations is tolled until he or she reaches adulthood.
  • Incompetent Persons: If a person cannot competently understand and take care of him or herself, the time period can be tolled.
  • Discovery Rule: If a person has not and could not have discovered the injury until a later time, the time begins not on the date of the accident, but when the injury was discovered or should have reasonably been discovered.

Consult an Experienced Denver Rideshare Auto Accident Lawyer

If you were involved in an accident while a driver in a Lyft vehicle, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit and receive financial compensation for any injuries you suffered as a result. You were the victim and should not have to bear the burden of the high costs.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in the greater Denver metropolitan area, please do not hesitate to contact accidentdenver.com today at 303-642-8888 for a free consultation. We are here waiting for you.

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