Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer in Beverly Hills

How Our Beverly Hills Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers Can Help

Most rideshare cases move through the same practical steps. We review the facts of the crash, work to confirm the driver’s status through the app, request the police report, and preserve photos, video, and witness information before it is lost. From there we coordinate your medical documentation, handle communication with every insurer involved, and calculate the full value of your damages.

When an insurer makes a fair offer, we negotiate the settlement. When it does not, we are prepared to file suit and take the case further. Throughout, you focus on recovery while we handle the paperwork, the deadlines, and the adjusters.

You do not need to understand rideshare insurance before calling. A lawyer can review what happened, explain your options, and help you avoid the missteps that quietly weaken a claim.

A rideshare accident lawyer can protect your claim while you focus on medical care and recovery.

Common Causes of Uber & Lyft Accidents in Beverly Hills

Most rideshare crashes in and around Beverly Hills come down to preventable driver behavior or unsafe traffic conditions. The cause often shapes who is responsible and which insurance coverage applies.

Distracted Driving

Uber and Lyft drivers constantly juggle the app, navigation, and ride requests, and a few seconds of divided attention in heavy traffic is enough to cause a serious crash.

Speeding Between Fares

Drivers who rush to reach the next pickup and maximize earnings leave less time to react, and higher speeds make every collision more dangerous.

Unsafe Pickups and Drop-offs

Stopping short or pulling over in busy Beverly Hills traffic to collect or release a passenger creates sudden hazards for everyone around the vehicle.

Fatigued Driving

Long shifts and late-night hours leave many rideshare drivers drowsy, which slows reaction time much the way impairment does.

Sudden Stops and Unsafe Lane Changes

Watching the app instead of the road, drivers often brake late or change lanes without checking blind spots, causing rear-end and sideswipe collisions.

Drunk or Drug-Impaired Driving

Impairment — whether by the rideshare driver or another motorist — slows judgment and reaction time and can support a claim for additional damages.

Reckless Driving by Other Motorists

Many rideshare passengers are hurt by a third driver who runs a light, tailgates, or drives aggressively, which raises questions about whose insurance has to pay.

Poor Road or Weather Conditions

Potholes, missing signage, and wet or poorly lit roads can contribute to a crash and sometimes point to a public entity’s responsibility.

Vehicle or Mechanical Failure

Worn tires, failed brakes, or skipped maintenance on a rideshare vehicle can cause a crash and shift responsibility toward the driver or owner.

Inexperience With the Area

Drivers unfamiliar with Beverly Hills streets may make abrupt turns or last-second moves while following GPS, catching other drivers off guard.

Not sure who was at fault or which insurance policy applies? A free consultation can help you understand your options before you give a statement or accept an offer.

Common Injuries in Uber & Lyft Accidents

Rideshare crashes can cause injuries that show up right away and injuries that surface hours or days later. Back-seat passengers are often turned or unbelted when the impact hits, and even a low-speed collision can lead to lasting pain, medical bills, and time away from work.

• Whiplash and neck strain
• Soft tissue injuries
• Head injuries and concussions
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Back injuries
• Broken bones
• Internal injuries
• Lacerations and bruising
• Shoulder and knee injuries
• Emotional trauma, anxiety, and PTSD
• Wrongful death

Photos, app records, witness information, and medical records can become important evidence after a rideshare crash.

What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Beverly Hills

The steps you take after a crash can affect your health, your claim, and your ability to prove what happened. When you are not sure what to do, a short call with a lawyer can help.

What Evidence Can Help Prove an Uber or Lyft Accident Claim?

A strong rideshare claim is built on records that show what happened, who was driving, and how badly you were hurt. Because Uber and Lyft trips are tracked in the app, digital evidence often matters as much as what happens at the scene. Helpful evidence may include:

• Police report
• The Uber or Lyft trip record and receipt
• App data showing the driver’s status
• Photos and videos of the scene
• Dashcam and traffic camera footage
• Witness statements
• Medical records and ER records
• Vehicle repair estimates
• Insurance correspondence
• Pay records showing lost income
• Expert and accident reconstruction reports in serious cases

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Rideshare Accident?

The value of an Uber or Lyft claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the treatment you need, the income you lost, and the insurance coverage available. Because rideshare crashes can trigger up to $1 million in liability coverage during an active ride, seriously injured victims may have access to more compensation than in a typical car accident — but only when the claim is documented and presented correctly.

Compensation may include:

• Medical bills
• Future medical care
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Property damage
• Rental car or loss-of-use damages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium
• Wrongful death damages where applicable

Compensation may include medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering.

Uber & Lyft Insurance Coverage Explained

Rideshare insurance is one of the most confusing parts of these claims, because the coverage that applies depends entirely on what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash. Uber and Lyft split a driver’s time into periods:

• App off: Only the driver’s personal auto policy applies, and many personal policies exclude commercial driving.
• Period 1 – app on, waiting for a request: Uber and Lyft carry contingent liability coverage (in California, at least $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident / $30,000 property damage) above the driver’s own insurance.
• Period 2 – en route to the pickup: Up to $1 million in third-party liability coverage applies.
• Period 3 – passenger in the car: The full $1 million liability policy applies, along with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Because of these shifting rules, liability may fall on the rideshare driver, another at-fault motorist, Uber or Lyft’s insurer, or a combination of them. Insurers frequently dispute which period applied and which policy has to pay — which is exactly why the app records and driver status matter so much. Before speaking in detail with any adjuster, it is worth talking to a lawyer so you understand your rights.

Adjusters often call early, before you know how serious your injuries are or which policy applies. A short conversation with a lawyer first can keep an offhand comment from hurting your claim.

What If You Were Partly at Fault?

California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means an injured person can recover compensation even when partly responsible for the crash. Your recovery is simply reduced by your percentage of fault, so sharing some blame does not bar a claim.

This makes evidence important. In rideshare cases, insurers may try to pin blame on you or on another driver to reduce what they owe. App data, witness statements, and a clear timeline help push back against that.

How Long Do You Have to File an Uber or Lyft Accident Claim in California?

Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, the general deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit is two years from the date of injury. Some situations shorten that window — for example, claims involving a government vehicle or public entity can require a formal claim within six months.

Because deadlines change with the facts, and rideshare claims can involve several insurers, speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after a crash.

How Much Does a Beverly Hills Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer Cost?

Etehad Law offers free consultations and handles rideshare accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no attorney fees unless the firm recovers compensation for you.

Representative Auto Accident Results

The following are examples of results Etehad Law has obtained in auto accident cases. Each case is different, and these amounts depend on the specific facts, injuries, and insurance coverage involved.

Jury verdict in an auto v. auto crash where the client was held at 30% at-fault.

An auto v. auto case where a client’s deposition was never taken. Initial offer of $84,000.

Client was struck by a delivery driver in this auto v. auto case.

Minor impact crash with a driver within the course and scope of work.

An auto v. truck case where a police report claimed the client was at fault for an unsafe lane change.

A disputed liability against a rideshare driver that ended as a confidential settlement against a rideshare company.

Meet Your Beverly Hills Rideshare Accident Legal Team

Simon P. Etehad

Founder & Lead Attorney, Etehad Law

Simon P. Etehad founded Etehad Law and has spent more than 25 years helping injured people in Beverly Hills and across Los Angeles. The firm has closed over 2,000 cases and works to document each client’s injuries, untangle the insurance coverage, and pursue the compensation available under California law.

Associate attorney Erik Harper also represents injured clients at the firm.

• Experience: 25+ years · 2,000+ cases closed
• Recognition: Super Lawyers · FIDF Western Region President
• Verified profile: Avvo

When you work with Etehad Law, you get a team that returns calls, keeps you updated, coordinates your medical care, and handles the insurance companies so you can focus on recovery.

Call for a Free Consultation With a Beverly Hills Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer

A serious rideshare crash can affect your health, income, transportation, and future. Etehad Law can review what happened, sort out which insurance applies, and help you pursue compensation while you focus on recovery.

Call (310) 550-1220 or fill out the form to request a free consultation.

Free consultation. No attorney-client relationship is created unless the firm reviews and accepts your case in writing.

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• Personal Injury
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Uber/Lyft & Taxi Accidents
• Hit and Run Accidents
• Rear-End Accidents
• Head-On Collisions
• Wrongful Death

Frequently Asked Questions About Uber & Lyft Accidents in Beverly Hills

Call 911 and get medical attention, report the crash inside the app so it is logged, take photos, collect the driver’s and any other motorist’s information, save your trip receipt, and avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurer before speaking with a lawyer.

It depends on who was at fault and what the rideshare driver was doing at the time. Coverage can come from the driver’s personal insurance, Uber or Lyft’s liability policy, another at-fault driver’s insurance, or a combination. Uber and Lyft carry up to $1 million in liability coverage while a driver is en route to or transporting a passenger.

No. The full $1 million liability coverage generally applies only when the driver is en route to a pickup or has a passenger in the car (Periods 2 and 3). When the app is on but no ride is accepted, more limited contingent coverage applies, and when the app is off only the driver’s personal policy applies.

In most cases the deadline is two years from the date of injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Claims involving a government vehicle or public entity can require action within six months, so it is best to speak with a lawyer quickly.

Injured passengers are almost never at fault, which often makes their claims more straightforward. You may have a claim against the rideshare driver, another driver, or both, and Uber or Lyft’s coverage is typically available while you are in the vehicle.

Be careful. Adjusters work for the insurance company, not for you. A recorded statement or a quick settlement offer can reduce or undercut your claim. It is wise to speak with a lawyer before giving any detailed statement.

If the at-fault party has no insurance or not enough to cover your injuries, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage — including the coverage Uber and Lyft carry during an active ride — may help make up the difference.

Compensation may include medical expenses, future medical care, lost income, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering. In cases involving a death, family members may pursue wrongful death damages.

Etehad Law brings more than 25 years of experience and 2,000+ cases handled representing injured people in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. We identify every insurer involved, preserve the app and ride data, and pursue full compensation — with no attorney fees unless we win.

Attorney advertising. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Submitting a form or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship is formed only after the firm reviews and accepts your case in writing.

Laws and deadlines vary depending on the facts of your case, and the information here may not reflect the law that applies to your situation. Speak with a licensed attorney about your specific case.

Need Help After an Uber or Lyft Accident?

Talk to a Beverly Hills rideshare accident lawyer before giving a recorded statement, accepting an insurance offer, or missing an important deadline.

Confidential consultation. No fee unless we win.

Credentials & Legal Profiles

Before choosing an Uber and Lyft accident lawyer, many clients want to review credentials, ratings, and professional profiles. Use the links below to learn more about Etehad Law and Simon P. Etehad.

Disclaimer

This information is for general purposes only and is not legal advice. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Attorney advertising. Laws vary by state.