Lyft or Uber Vehicle and Driver Requirements in Nevada

The same principles are used to determine who is responsible for a Lyft accident as any other type of auto accident. The person or organization that caused the accident is responsible for paying for the resulting damages. Someone who was breaking the law at the time the accident occurred is more likely to be responsible. For example, if a driver was speeding, tailgating, or texting and driving, they probably weren’t paying as much attention to the road and the other drivers as they should. Every driver has the obligation to drive safely and with care.

Other causes of Lyft accidents are less obvious. Mechanical failure or not performing maintenance or needed repairs can also result in accidents. These cases might be the fault of the vehicle manufacturer or a mechanic. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers can also cause Lyft accidents. Everyone has the legal duty to yield the right of way and cross streets using crosswalks. Darting between cars or failing to yield right of way can cause the Lyft car to strike them when they don’t have time to stop.

If you were injured in an accident with a Lyft vehicle, you must determine the cause before pursuing your case. Initially, your Lyft accident attorney will investigate the cause of your accident. If the responsible party isn’t initially clear, they may work with a professional investigator to determine the cause of the accident.

Once the at-fault party is determined, Nevada state law allows injured parties the right to pursue economic compensation from the responsible party. You will do this by filing a claim through your insurance company or filing a personal injury lawsuit with a qualified Lyft accident lawyer.

Any time a Lyft accident results in an injury, you will likely need to file a negligence claim. You will need to investigate the accident and find all the evidence in your case. Before filing a claim, you must evaluate the details and determine who caused the accident. Once you file the negligence claim, you must negotiate with the company’s insurance company and Lyft to come to an agreement. If you can’t agree, your next option is to file a lawsuit against the responsible parties.

Our Lyft accident attorneys are experienced in handling Lyft accident claims. We will handle every step of your claim process with the end goal of getting maximum compensation for your case. It is better for both sides when we can agree on a settlement without going into litigation. Due to the complexity of Lyft’s insurance system and the potential for high dollar claims, many of these cases can’t be settled out of court. If your case goes into litigation, you need a dedicated Las Vegas Lyft accident attorney who is familiar with the details of your case. Bay Law Accident Attorneys will get to know you and the details of your accident and injuries from the start. If we go to court, we will be prepared to fight for your rights and the compensation you deserve.

In the tragic event that you lose a loved one from injuries they incurred in a Lyft accident, you may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Each state differs in who is allowed to file a lawsuit on the deceased’s behalf. In Nevada, you must be:

• The personal representative (executor) of the victim’s estate
• The surviving spouse or domestic partner, children, or other closest heir
• Parents of the deceased if there is no spouse or children
• The deceased person’s siblings
• The next closest family member

You may receive compensation to pay for your loved one’s funeral expenses from the liable party. If your loved one was a Lyft driver, you might receive death reimbursements from the rideshare company. To learn more about who can file a wrongful death lawsuit and the types of compensation available, contact Bay Law Accident Attorneys. A Las Vegas wrongful death attorney will explain your rights.

If another driver was at fault for the accident that caused your injuries or harm to a loved one, you can file a claim against the other driver’s insurance company. Nevada follows a modified negligence rule that assigns partial guilt to more than one party. If more than one party is negligent in your Lyft accident, you might need to file a claim against both drivers.

The current minimum insurance coverage for Nevada drivers is $25,000 per person per accident. A Las Vegas Lyft accident lawyer might be able to find uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage that results in more compensation for you.

Establishing fault in a Lyft accident can be complicated. Let a Lyft accident attorney from Bay Law take care of investigating your case and collecting evidence to support your claim while you focus on recovering.

Fault is at the heart of every Lyft accident, not only as a basis for a claim or lawsuit but also as a bargaining chip. It isn’t unusual for the driver, Lyft, or the insurance company to shift the blame for the car crash onto you. They might use anything that you say or do against you. For example, they might interpret an empathetic “I’m sorry for your injuries” as a confession of guilt.

Bay Law Accident Attorneys is a firm of experienced attorneys who have dealt with many Las Vegas Lyft accidents. We are experts at identifying evidence and establishing fault. We implement a range of resources including the police report, witness statements, your version of what happened, and sometimes surveillance video or dashcam footage if appropriate.

Accusations of guilt won’t affect the outcome of your case or the amount of compensation you receive. It is the evidence that establishes fault and the value of your damages that will determine what you get from your claim.

If Lyft calls, it is not for the purpose of helping you. You aren’t required to give a recorded statement or sign anything until you meet with a Las Vegas Lyft accident lawyer. Often, the first call from the insurance adjuster comes with an offer for a settlement. Even though you are struggling financially, you should wait until an experienced attorney helps you negotiate a fair settlement for your claim.

Decline the option to have your conversation recorded or to discuss your injuries. The insurance company wants to record you in case you say something they can use against you. They will use your words to take the blame off of their driver or to minimize your claim. Instead of talking with the insurance adjuster that represents the defendant, give Bay Law a call and get an experienced lawyer to represent you.

Every Lyft driver in Las Vegas uses the Lyft app to look for passengers, connect with riders, and mark the beginning and end of a ride. Although you can tell if there was a passenger in the vehicle, it’s impossible to verify if the driver had accepted a ride request or was on their way to pick them up. Fortunately, it is easy to subpoena this information from Lyft.

A Lyft accident lawyer knows how to obtain information about whether your driver was on the job. This is one of the details needed to determine which parties are liable for your claim.

The legal team at Bay Law Accident Attorneys will investigate the details of your accident, determine liability, and obtain all the records needed to support your claim. Some evidence we look at includes witness testimony, the police report, and your version of how the accident happened. We will compare all these resources and determine how the accident happened and who is to blame.

One of the most frequent questions people ask about rideshare accidents is “Can I sue Lyft as a passenger?” There are some situations where Lyft might be named as a defendant in your case. For example, you discover that the Lyft driver that caused your accident had previous charges for reckless driving, drunk driving, or other serious traffic offenses. If you can prove the rideshare company knew this before hiring them and hired them anyway, they could be guilty of negligent hiring. The rideshare company could also be liable if the driver had these charges brought against them while they were already working for Lyft and the company retained them. The company might also have failed to run a background check.

While there are situations where Lyft might be liable for your accident and injuries, you should never try to deal with the company directly. It is best to work with a qualified Lyft accident attorney who knows how to negotiate with a powerful opponent and get you the compensation you deserve.

Filing a claim after a Lyft accident works the same way as when you are involved in a regular car crash. The person who is liable for the accident is liable for damages to the accident victims. One significant difference with a Lyft accident is the company’s unique liability system. The direction of the lawsuit depends largely on which period of driving the Lyft driver was in when the accident happened.

– Lyft Driver Off the Clock

During this period, the driver is not carrying passengers or looking for them. If the driver is involved in an accident during this period, they are covered by their personal auto insurance. Nevada requires rideshare drivers to carry a minimum of $25,000 per person per accident to cover injuries and fatalities and $20,000 for property damage.

– Lyft Driver Waiting for Ride Request

The Lyft driver is signed into the app and is waiting for a passenger requestor. The driver’s personal insurance is still their primary coverage, but Lyft’s contingent liability insurance now covers them. This insurance covers damages that exceed the limits of the driver’s personal insurance policy. The maximum payout from the contingent policy is $50,000 for injury or death and $25,000 for property damage.

– Lyft Driver Accepted a Ride Request

Once the driver receives and accepts a ride request, they enter the third period. Period 3 lasts until the driver ends the trip in the app. During this period when the driver is “on the clock”, Lyft’s commercial liability policy is the driver’s primary insurance coverage. This policy pays a maximum of $1 million per person or up to $2 million for two people.

Depending on the period, you might pursue compensation from the Lyft driver, the rideshare company, or both.

Lyft drivers are not professional drivers, and they don’t receive any additional training to make them safer. There is no special driver’s license they must obtain to transport passengers around Las Vegas. They are regular drivers who often cause accidents out of negligence.

Some of the most common causes of Lyft accidents in Las Vegas include:

• Distracted driving
• Driving while fatigued
• Blocking traffic while stopped or parking
• Failure to maintain their vehicle
• Making unsafe turns
• Speeding
• Failing to observe crosswalks and intersections for pedestrians and bicyclists
• Running traffic signals and stop signs
• Failing to yield right of way
• Drunk driving

Other hazards like weather conditions, traffic congestion, and road construction can also contribute to Lyft accidents.