What should I do after a rideshare accident in Los Angeles?

After a rideshare accident in Los Angeles, call 911 and seek immediate medical attention. Take screenshots of your Uber or Lyft app showing your trip details, driver information, and ride status at the time of the crash. Document the scene with photos, gather witness contact information, and obtain a police report. Do not give statements to any insurance adjuster before consulting an attorney. Contact an experienced rideshare accident lawyer as soon as possible to protect your legal rights.

How long do I have to file a rideshare accident lawsuit in California?

California's statute of limitations for rideshare accident injury claims is 2 years from the date of the accident under CCP § 335.1. If a government-owned vehicle or road defect contributed to the crash, a government tort claim must be filed within 6 months under Government Code § 911.2. Preserving app data, trip records, and driver information early is critical, making prompt legal consultation essential.

Who is liable for a rideshare accident in Los Angeles?

Liability in a rideshare accident depends on the driver's status at the time of the crash. Under California Public Utilities Code § 7574, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft must maintain specific insurance coverage based on driver status: up to $1 million in liability coverage when a driver is transporting a passenger or en route to pick one up, and contingent coverage when the app is on but no ride is accepted. Additional liable parties may include other negligent drivers, vehicle owners, or government entities responsible for road maintenance.

Does Uber or Lyft insurance cover passengers injured in an accident?

Yes. When a passenger is injured during an active Uber or Lyft trip, the rideshare company's $1 million liability policy applies. However, both companies aggressively contest claims and attempt to minimize payouts. An experienced rideshare accident attorney navigates the complex interplay between the driver's personal insurance and the rideshare company's commercial policy to ensure you receive maximum compensation.

Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly after a rideshare accident?

Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors, which limits direct corporate liability in most cases. However, California law imposes specific insurance obligations on transportation network companies under Public Utilities Code § 7574, and there are circumstances where direct claims against the company are viable. An experienced rideshare accident attorney evaluates all available claims and insurance sources to maximize your recovery.

What compensation can I recover after a rideshare accident in California?

Rideshare accident victims in California can recover economic damages including medical expenses, future medical care, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity, as well as non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life under California Civil Code § 1714. In cases involving gross negligence or reckless conduct, punitive damages may also be available.

What if the rideshare driver was off-duty when the accident occurred?

If the rideshare driver's app was off at the time of the accident, Uber and Lyft's commercial insurance does not apply and the driver's personal auto insurance becomes the primary source of recovery. If the driver's personal policy is insufficient, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may provide additional compensation. An attorney will identify all available insurance sources to protect your recovery.

How does the contingency fee work for rideshare accident cases?

Agemian Law Group represents rideshare accident clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront costs or attorney fees. We only collect payment if we successfully recover compensation for you, ensuring our interests are fully aligned with maximizing your recovery.

Rideshare Accident Lawyer Los Angeles

Injured in an Uber or Lyft accident? Determining liability and navigating multiple layers of insurance is overwhelming. You need an experienced rideshare accident attorney who knows exactly how to fight back.

At Agemian Law Group, our Los Angeles rideshare accident lawyers have spent 10+ years recovering maximum compensation for Uber and Lyft accident victims throughout Los Angeles County. With $100M+ recovered and a 4.9/5 star rating across 157+ reviews, we are the rideshare accident lawyer Los Angeles victims trust.

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What Is a Rideshare Accident?

A rideshare accident is a motor vehicle collision involving a driver operating a vehicle through a transportation network company (TNC) such as Uber or Lyft, whether the rideshare driver is transporting a passenger, en route to a pickup, or logged into the app and waiting for a ride request.

A transportation network company (TNC) is a company that uses a digital app to connect passengers with drivers who provide on-demand transportation for compensation. Uber and Lyft are the two largest TNCs operating in Los Angeles. Rideshare accidents in Los Angeles are distinct from standard car accidents because they trigger complex insurance coverage questions, involve corporate policies worth up to $1 million, and require knowledge of California’s specific TNC regulations to resolve successfully.

Unlike typical car accidents, Uber and Lyft accidents involve multiple parties and layers of insurance, making it difficult for injured victims to know where to turn. When you file insurance claims after an Uber or Lyft accident, you must navigate both the driver’s personal insurance and the company’s commercial policy, and our experienced Uber accident lawyers know exactly how to pursue compensation across all available policies.

Why Rideshare Cases Are More Complex

Challenge 1

Multiple Insurance Layers
The driver's personal auto insurance, Uber or Lyft's commercial policy, and third-party coverage can all be in play simultaneously in the same accident.

Challenge 2

Insurance Period Disputes
Uber and Lyft regularly dispute which coverage period applies to avoid paying their $1,000,000 commercial policy limits.

Challenge 3

Corporate Liability Shields
Both companies classify drivers as independent contractors specifically to limit their direct liability exposure under California law.

Who Is Liable in a Los Angeles Rideshare Accident?

Liability in a rideshare accident is the legal responsibility for causing the collision and for paying damages to injured victims. Fault can rest with multiple parties simultaneously, and both Uber and Lyft have corporate structures specifically designed to deflect responsibility.

The Rideshare Driver

Driver negligence is a failure by a rideshare driver to exercise the standard of care that a reasonably prudent driver would exercise under the same circumstances, resulting in injury to passengers, other motorists, or pedestrians. It is the most common cause of rideshare accidents in Los Angeles.
Common forms include distracted driving while using the rideshare app, speeding to complete more trips, running red lights, driving under the influence, fatigued driving after continuous trips, and failing to maintain the vehicle in safe operating condition.

Other Negligent Drivers

In many rideshare accidents, a third-party driver causes the collision. Their personal auto insurance and the rideshare company's uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage are both available sources of compensation. Pedestrians and cyclists struck by Uber or Lyft vehicles face the same $1,000,000 commercial policy during Period 2 and Period 3.

Uber or Lyft Directly

Under California law, TNCs bear direct responsibility for accidents occurring during Period 2 and Period 3. California courts and the Public Utilities Commission have consistently held these companies accountable when their drivers cause injuries while actively using the platform.
You have a direct personal injury lawsuit against Uber or Lyft when the company negligently failed to screen out a driver with a disqualifying background, allowed a driver with a history of reckless behavior to continue operating, or when the rideshare app itself contributed to the accident.

Dram Shop Liability

A bar or restaurant that overserved a drunk rideshare driver can be held liable under California's Dram Shop statutes. When a rideshare vehicle is struck by a commercial truck, the case also involves federal trucking regulations.

Government Agencies

Local or state government agencies may be liable if a dangerous road condition contributed to the accident. Claims against public entities require a government tort claim under Government Code Section 911.2 within six months of the incident.

Vehicle Manufacturers

If a defective part contributed to the crash, the vehicle manufacturer bears product liability. Defective brakes, tires, steering systems, and safety features are common factors in catastrophic rideshare collisions throughout Los Angeles County.

What to Do After a Rideshare Accident in Los Angeles

The actions you take immediately following a rideshare accident in Los Angeles County directly affect both your health and the strength of your personal injury claim. Follow these steps to protect your rights and your case.

Move to Safety and Call 911

Get yourself and others out of the path of traffic if it is safe to do so. Call 911 immediately. Request an ambulance if anyone has visible injuries. Even if you feel fine, insist that a police report is filed. Your insurance claim and any personal injury lawsuit will depend on it.

Seek Medical Attention Right Away

Seek medical attention even if you have no visible injuries. Whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, and internal injuries frequently produce no immediate symptoms. Delayed treatment not only endangers your health but is used by insurance companies to argue your injuries are unrelated to the accident.

Gather Evidence at the Accident Scene

If you are physically able, document the accident scene with photographs and video. Capture all vehicles involved, property damage, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible injuries. Collect the rideshare driver's name, license number, insurance information, and contact details from any witnesses.

Get All Insurance Information

Record the insurance information for the Uber or Lyft driver and all other drivers involved. Take a screenshot of your rideshare app showing trip details, driver information, and the time of the accident. This documentation establishes which insurance period was active at the moment of the crash.

Report to the Rideshare Company

File an accident report through the Uber or Lyft app. Do not accept any settlement offer or make recorded statements to insurance adjusters before speaking with a rideshare accident lawyer. Insurance companies are trained to minimize payouts and any casual statement can be used against you.

Contact a Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Contact Agemian Law Group immediately. Critical digital evidence including GPS data, trip records, and driver logs is lost within days or weeks. Under CCP Section 335.1, you have two years to file, but acting quickly preserves evidence and protects your rights.

Compensation Available in a Rideshare Accident Claim

Securing maximum compensation means capturing every category of recoverable damages, including costs decades into the future. Unlike standard personal injury cases where damages are primarily backward-looking, catastrophic cases focus heavily on forward-looking damages.

Medical Expenses

All medical costs related to the accident including emergency room treatment, hospital stays, surgery, physician visits, physical therapy, chiropractic care, prescription medication, medical equipment, home healthcare, and future medical expenses for ongoing treatment of permanent injuries.

Lost Wages and Lost Income

Wages lost while recovering, salary and benefits you were unable to earn, self-employment income you could not generate, and future earning capacity if the accident caused a permanent disability that prevents you from working in the same capacity.

Pain and Suffering

California permits injured victims to recover damages for physical pain and emotional distress, including chronic pain from accident injuries, psychological trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and reduced quality of life. These are compensable damages regardless of whether they appear in a medical bill.

Property Damage

Compensation for the repair or replacement of your vehicle or other personal property damaged in the rideshare accident. Property damage coverage applies under both the driver's personal policy and the rideshare company's commercial policy during Period 2 and Period 3.

Punitive Damages

In cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct, such as a drunk rideshare driver or a company that knowingly allowed an unqualified driver onto the platform, California courts award punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future.

How We Build Your Case

“With 10+ years of experience handling rideshare-specific crashes throughout Los Angeles County, we have developed a proven process for maximizing compensation in every Uber and Lyft accident case.”

Step 1

Securing Digital Evidence
We act immediately to preserve GPS and timestamp data, app records showing which insurance period applied, full trip history, and the driver's record for prior incidents before they are deleted.

Step 2

Determining the Insurance Period
We obtain records directly from Uber and Lyft to confirm which period was active at the exact moment of your accident. Rideshare companies regularly dispute this to avoid their higher commercial policy limits.

Step 3

Pursuing All Policies Simultaneously
We pursue the rideshare company's commercial auto insurance, the driver's personal auto insurance, third-party liability coverage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage all at once to maximize your recovery.

Step 4

Negotiating With TNC Adjusters
Insurance adjusters working for Uber and Lyft are trained to minimize settlements. We counter these tactics and prepare every case as if it will go to trial, which forces full-value settlements in the vast majority of cases.

Our Proven Process for Motorcycle Accident Claims

A systematic, litigation-ready approach to winning your motorcycle accident case.

Immediate Investigation

We secure surveillance footage, interview witnesses, and engage accident reconstruction experts before evidence disappears.

Medical Documentation

We have helped countless injury victims by working with injury victims and specialists to document both current and future care requirements, capturing the full value of injuries suffered.

Litigation Preparation

Every motorcycle crash claim is prepared as if going to trial. This creates leverage in settlement and ensures we are always ready to fight in court.

Maximum Recovery

We counter lowball offers with documented demand packages. When insurers refuse to negotiate fairly, we take the case to trial and win.

California Law and Rideshare Accidents

Understanding California’s legal framework is essential to protecting your rights and maximizing your compensation after a rideshare accident in Los Angeles County.

California AB5 and Driver Classification

California Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), effective January 2020, redefined how rideshare companies must classify their drivers and significantly altered the liability landscape for Uber and Lyft accident cases. While voters passed Proposition 22 in November 2020 carving out an exemption for app-based drivers, ongoing litigation continues to reshape what these companies owe to injured victims and their own drivers. Our attorneys stay current on every development in this area of California law.

Comparative Negligence

Comparative negligence is a legal doctrine that allocates fault between multiple parties involved in an accident and reduces each party's compensation by their percentage of responsibility. California follows a pure comparative negligence system under Civil Code Section 1714. If you were partially at fault for the rideshare accident, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are not barred from recovery entirely. Even if you were 50% at fault, you recover 50% of your total damages.

Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations is the legally imposed deadline by which an injured victim must file a personal injury lawsuit or permanently lose the right to pursue compensation in court. Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, injured victims have two years from the date of the rideshare accident to file. Waiting beyond this deadline permanently bars your claim. Critical evidence such as GPS data, app records, and driver logs is deleted within weeks of the crash.

Frequently Asked Questions About Motorcycle Accident Claims in Los Angeles

Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly for my accident?

Yes. You can file a personal injury lawsuit against Uber or Lyft when the accident occurred during an active ride (Period 2 or Period 3), when the company negligently failed to vet the driver, when a driver with a history of unsafe behavior caused your injuries, or when the rideshare app itself contributed to the crash. California law holds TNCs accountable even though their drivers are classified as independent contractors.

What if the Uber or Lyft driver was not at fault?

If another driver caused the rideshare accident, you pursue a personal injury claim against that driver’s insurance company. You also have access to Uber or Lyft’s uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage when the at-fault driver carried insufficient insurance. Our attorneys identify and pursue all available sources of compensation on your behalf.

What if I was a rideshare driver injured in an accident?

If you were driving for Uber or Lyft when another driver caused an accident, you pursue a claim against the at-fault driver. Because rideshare drivers are classified as independent contractors rather than employees, workers’ compensation rules generally do not apply. Bodily injury coverage, third-party liability coverage, and uninsured motorist claims must all be evaluated. Our team includes an experienced Lyft accident attorney who has handled dozens of cases involving injured Uber and Lyft drivers throughout Los Angeles County.

How long does a rideshare accident claim take to resolve?

The timeline for resolving a rideshare accident claim in Los Angeles varies based on the severity of your injuries, the complexity of insurance coverage, and whether litigation becomes necessary. Many cases settle within several months of completing medical treatment. Cases involving serious injuries or disputed liability may take longer. We keep you informed throughout every stage of the process.

How much does it cost to hire a rideshare accident lawyer?

Agemian Law Group handles all rideshare accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront. We cover investigation costs, expert witness fees, and court filing fees, and we only receive payment if and when we recover compensation for you. If we do not win, you owe us nothing

What is the statute of limitations for a rideshare accident in California?

Under CCP Section 335.1, injured victims have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in California. Contact a rideshare accident lawyer immediately. Digital evidence from the rideshare app is deleted within weeks, and early preservation is critical to a successful claim.

Why Choose Agemian Law Group for Your Rideshare Accident Case?

Agemian Law Group is a personal injury law firm based in Los Angeles with 10+ years of experience representing accident victims throughout Los Angeles County. We provide legal representation in English, Armenian, and Spanish.

10+ Years Rideshare Experience

Deep expertise navigating Period 1 gap coverage, TNC insurance period disputes, app data preservation, and rideshare-specific negotiation tactics that general car accident firms do not possess.

$100M+ Recovered

Over $100 million recovered for injury victims throughout Los Angeles County across motor vehicle accidents, including rideshare-specific cases against Uber and Lyft's insurance carriers.

No Upfront Costs

Every rideshare accident case is handled on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win. We advance all costs including investigation, expert witnesses, and court filing fees.

Multilingual Team

We serve clients in English, Armenian, and Spanish. Every rideshare accident victim in Los Angeles County deserves expert legal representation regardless of their primary language.

Serving Rideshare Accident Victims Throughout Los Angeles County

We represent Uber and Lyft accident victims and their families across all communities in Southern California.