Rideshare services now crisscross Lexington at all hours. The inexpensive, convenient travel option allows people to make more trips they might not have been able to get out for before. The price is right, but getting to your destination safely is also important, especially when you share the road with these professional drivers.
Lyft is just one of the rideshare services that flood the streets and highways with extra traffic and, at times, more hazards. Someone who drives for a living is working while behind the wheel. That can lead to more distracted drivers and more accidents.
Getting Help After a Lyft Accident
If you’re driving and you’re in an accident involving a Lyft Driver or if you’re a passenger in a Lyft vehicle during an accident you should consider speaking with an attorney. These accidents sometimes involve the Lyft Driver’s Insurance, the Lyft Company’s coverage, or the policies of other drivers involved.
It can be hard to know who should be held responsible for your injuries but the attorneys at The Law Offices of Kaufman & Stigger can help you sort this out and get you the compensation you’ll need to pay for your recovery.
Lyft and Uber Distracted Driving
One study found that over the past decade ride-sharing services have increased traffic deaths by 2% to 3% in the U.S. That works out to be up to 1,100 extra fatalities a year.
Distracted driving is always a major cause of traffic collisions and Lyft drivers have many things that can distract them while they’re on the clock.
Here are just a few of the added distractions:
- “Deadheading” or cruising while waiting on the next passenger. Lyft drivers can spend around 50% of their shift waiting on ride requests. Some companies encourage drivers to stay on the road so they’re closer to potential riders. This can lead to more accidents.
- New ride requests. Drivers can be immediately distracted when a new passenger is available. Terms and special instructions need to be worked out. This might require several glances at a phone or even a phone call.
- Locating destinations. Drivers will need to find the passenger’s current location and destination. Drivers utilize GPS systems but even the directions those devices provide have been known to recommend unsafe traffic decisions.
- Speeding so that riders aren’t left waiting or dropped off late. Drivers get rated on their performance and they may become careless trying to keep a passenger happy.
Do Lyft drivers have insurance?
It’s important to know that a Lyft driver’s personal policy covers them if they’re not logged into the Lyft app and not on the job. While Lyft Drivers are clocked in and waiting on a ride request they are not covered by their personal insurance policy unless they have purchased something called supplemental ridesharing coverage.
Lyft coverage for its drivers varies according to what “periods” the driver may be in. In simple terms, if a driver is logged into Lyft and available to pick up passengers, on the way to pick up a passenger, or if they have a passenger in the vehicle.
- Period 1: Period 1 begins when a driver logs in to “driver mode” in the Lyft App, and ends when they accept a ride request, known as a “match notification”. During this phase, Lyft provides $100,000 total injury liability per accident, and $25,000 property damage liability.
- Period 2: Period 2 begins when a Lyft driver accepts a ride request and drives to the customer’s location. Lyft offers One million dollars in liability insurance and One million dollars in uninsured /under-insured motorist coverage. This insurance is in effect until the passenger is dropped off at their destination.
- Period 3: The Passenger is in the car. The one million dollar coverage extends until the passenger gets off a destination. There’s also limited coverage for damage to the driver’s car and uninsured motorists’ coverage.
What to do After a Lyft Accident
If you end up in an accident involving a Lyft vehicle you’ll want to follow these steps to ensure safety and to begin building your case against Lyft:
- Assess any injuries you or your passengers may have suffered.
- Make sure your vehicle didn’t end up in a spot that leaves it at risk for another collision.
- Call 911. Give a full report to Police.
- Take photos of the scene from many angles. Also, take photos of any visible injuries.
- Get information from the Lyft employee and any witnesses on the scene.
- Get yourself checked out by your own doctor. Get full documentation.
Contact a Lexington Lyft Accident Attorney
The best thing to do when injured in an accident involving a rideshare service is to contact an attorney who understands Kentucky law and has experience getting injured victims the proper compensation to cover their recovery and any future needs.
Talk to a Lexington Car Accident Attorney you can trust to be on your side. The attorneys at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, have that knowledge and a combined 100 years’ experience in helping clients get the results they deserve. To discuss your case, contact Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC today, by clicking here to contact them online.
