How to Sue Lyft

You deserve to know your legal rights if you were injured during a Lyft ride. Contact a lawyer to learn how to sue Lyft for compensation. 

Lyft has become an extremely popular rideshare company that people rely on every day. However, accidents and assaults can happen when using rideshares such as Lyft and Uber. In many cases, the victim may be entitled to a legal remedy for compensation, but they might not be aware of their rights. 

When can you sue Lyft? And what is the process for doing so? If you were injured, assaulted, or harassed while using Lyft, you may be able to pursue legal action to recover any losses you are facing. However, the assistance of a qualified lawyer may be necessary to protect yourself.

At Levin Simes, we are at the forefront of rideshare litigation and have a proven track record of holding major corporations responsible for their misconduct. If you or a loved one were injured while taking a Lyft, we can provide you with the legal services needed for your claim. Contact us at (415) 426-3000 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation where we can discuss your options.

Read on to learn more about how to sue Lyft in the event of a violation. 

How Can I Sue Lyft? 

If you have been injured while riding in a Lyft, the first step you should take is to contact a lawyer who has experience in handling Lyft or Uber lawsuits. The legal issues involved in a regular car accident are complex, even without a rideshare arrangement. Add to that the layers of corporate rules, insurance, and other issues, and even a simple rideshare accident can be overwhelming. 

By contacting a lawyer, you are helping to ensure that your legal rights are protected. There will be many communications that need to be made with the driver, insurance agents, and other parties, but a lawyer can handle these on your behalf. 

If you need to sue Lyft, here are some steps you can take: 

• Contact a lawyer: Your attorney can assess your claim and determine if you have a viable case to pursue
• Seek medical attention: If you were injured or harmed while using a rideshare, seek medical care immediately. Your health is your top priority. Also, failure to obtain medical treatment could affect your overall compensation in a lawsuit or settlement
• Gather relevant info and items: Begin compiling accident reports, medical records, photos and videos, and other items or info that could be used in your case
• Don’t volunteer information: If the driver, Lyft agent, or insurance agent is trying to contact you, don’t volunteer information — it could be used against your case. Instead, let your lawyer handle all communications with the other side

Your lawyer will be able to help you compile what is needed for your claim, and they can begin the process with the courts for you. Hiring a personal injury attorney typically results in a higher case verdict or settlement than those claims that are handled without one. 

What Compensation Can I Sue Lyft For?  

It may be possible to file a lawsuit for compensation if you were injured while utilizing Lyft’s services. Compensation could potentially cover:

• Medical expenses like hospital bills, costs of medication, and surgery expenses
• Lost wages if you had to miss work during an injury
• Loss of future income if your injury reduces your ability to generate a future salary
• Pain and suffering caused by the accident injuries
• Wrongful death expenses in cases where the incident resulted in a loss of life

Calculation of these expenses is complex, and depends on several factors. These may include the severity of the injuries, the degree of negligence involved, and local jurisdictional laws. 

For instance, Lyft accidents that caused a brain injury may result in long-term or life-long changes in the victim. In such a case, the long-term costs of living with a brain injury need to be calculated into the compensation award. 

A qualified attorney can review your case and your injuries to make sure you aren’t leaving any financial assistance on the table during negotiations. 

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Lyft Lawsuit?

The issue of liability, or who can be held responsible, is a common question in Lyft lawsuits. One of Lyft’s main defenses they claim in car accident lawsuits is that they classify their drivers as independent contractors rather than Lyft employees. As such, Lyft commonly argues that the company is not responsible for the actions of the drivers, since they are not direct employees. 

However, it may still sometimes be possible to file a claim involving Lyft’s commercial auto insurance policy for compensation. This depends on the circumstances of the accident, and is best determined by an experienced Lyft accident attorney.

Also, Lyft has other responsibilities that it must fulfill. For instance, it may be possible to sue Lyft for negligent hiring practices if they fail to perform the proper checks on its drivers. If Lyft has knowingly approved drivers who have a criminal history or a history of drunk driving, it could play a factor in the lawsuit. This is especially true if their hiring practices violate local or state laws. 

Determining liability or who to sue in a Lyft accident lawsuit is a complicated undertaking that is best left to the guidance of a qualified lawyer. 

Can I Sue Lyft for Sexual Assault or Harassment?

One of the main concerns that Lyft patrons have is the possibility of being sexually assaulted or harassed while using rideshare services. This is a valid concern — sadly, passengers have reported sexual assaults while using Lyft, either from the driver, other passengers, or outside parties. 

Like any rideshare company, Lyft has a duty to ensure that its passengers are safe from harm, especially assaults of a sexual nature. It may be necessary to pursue a lawsuit if you have experienced sexual assault during a Lyft ride. 

Filing a Lyft sexual assault claim can help expose instances of abuse and further shed light on the subject. It can help to hold companies like Lyft liable for their policies and practices. At Levin Simes, we are at the forefront of rideshare sexual assault litigation. We have taken the lead nationally in such cases and have represented several women who were subject to Lyft sexual assaults. 

Hire a Lyft Injury Attorney

Injuries can be devastating, leaving the passenger with severe injuries, trauma, and other hardships. Due to the commercial elements of such arrangements, it can be difficult to know where to begin or how to start pursuing a claim for your losses. 

Lyft drivers and the Lyft company itself are not immune to the laws and regulations that keep our roads and communities safe. If a violation has occurred, you may need to file a lawsuit for compensation. 

Our law firm is leading the way when it comes to rideshare litigation and improving the safety standards for companies like Lyft and Uber. We are dedicated to pursuing justice and compensation on behalf of those who have been injured or assaulted while using Lyft. 

Overall, we have collected more than $500 million in settlements for injured people in a variety of personal injury cases over the past 10 years. Contact us at (415) 426-3000 to schedule a free consultation where we can discuss your Lyft case in private. We are on hand to ensure that you receive the ideal legal remedy for your case under the law.