Long Beach Rideshare Accidents Lawyer
Fighting For Rideshare Accident Victims in California
Car accidents happen every day, some causing simple property damage and others causing serious injuries and even death. Navigating expenses with insurance companies or negligent drivers is often challenging, but the situation grows more complex when rideshare companies like Uber or Lyft are involved.
Car accidents, especially those involving Uber drivers, can result in:
- Thousands of dollars in property damage
- Extensive medical costs and lost wages
- Severe pain and suffering
- Disputes over liability
At McGee Lerer Ogrin, our husband and wife team of accident attorneys brings decades of combined experience and a track record of service for injury victims. We do not charge any fee unless we achieve results for you.
As former insurance adjusters, we know the strategies that insurance companies use to resolve rideshare accident cases. We use this knowledge to negotiate fair settlements for our clients. By dedicating our entire practice to personal injury law, we stay current with legal changes that affect Uber and Lyft accident claims throughout California. With five offices serving Long Beach and surrounding neighborhoods, we provide prompt, local support after serious accidents.
Were you injured in a rideshare accident? Call our Long Beach Uber & Lyft accident attorneys at McGee Lerer Ogrin today at (310) 775-2491 or contact us online to find out if you're eligible for compensation.
How Much Insurance Coverage Do Uber Drivers Have?
The insurance available for an injury claim depends on whether the Uber driver is on an active trip, waiting for a request, or off the app entirely. If an accident occurs after the Uber driver accepts a trip and is carrying passengers or on the way to pick them up, Uber provides $1 million in liability coverage and $1 million in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Click here for a copy of Uber's insurance declarations page with James River Insurance.
If an Uber driver is at fault during an active ride, there is up to $1 million in liability coverage available for your claim. If another driver causes the crash but you were a passenger in an Uber, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage up to $1 million often applies if the at-fault driver has little or no insurance.
When an Uber driver is logged in but not yet matched with a passenger, Uber provides $50,000 in liability coverage per person and $100,000 per accident. Uber’s cost-saving focus sometimes results in fewer safety measures for passengers or others on the road.
Uber and other rideshare services are very dangerous because:
- They have minimal regulations on driver experience and background
- They do not require vehicles to be routinely inspected
- They do not have any actual safety standards
- They claim drivers are not under their insurance if a passenger isn't in their vehicle
- Their system creates a serious driver distraction
Uber App Distracts Its Drivers
Uber drivers use a smartphone app that connects drivers with passengers, requiring frequent interaction. This use can conflict with California distracted driving laws, which ban using handheld devices behind the wheel. Drivers who glance at or respond to the app put riders, other motorists, and pedestrians at risk.
In Long Beach, dense intersections and one-way streets, especially downtown and along the waterfront, amplify the risk of distracted driving. When major events like the Long Beach Grand Prix bring more rideshare traffic, Uber and Lyft drivers must juggle heavy demand with complex navigation. Frequent app interaction during these busy times makes distraction-related rideshare accidents more likely.
Liability in Dooring Accidents Caused by Ridesharing Vehicles
Passengers exiting Uber or Lyft vehicles must check for nearby cyclists or pedestrians before opening their doors. When a passenger fails to look, and someone is hurt, liability may also fall on the rideshare driver. Drivers are required to ensure that passenger drop-offs occur only when safe to do so.
Downtown Long Beach has a high concentration of cyclists and bike lanes, especially on Pine Avenue, Ocean Boulevard, and near Shoreline Village. Rideshare drivers operating in these busy corridors face greater chances of dooring-related liability claims. Passengers and drivers should remain alert and aware to help prevent these accidents. We help clients understand how local drop-off ordinances or city-specific rules may affect who is responsible when a dooring event causes injury.
If you are an Uber or Lyft driver who wants to reduce your liability for dooring accidents caused by your passengers, be sure to contact our law firm today. We can send you free warning stickers to affix to the inside of your vehicle's rear doors. These stickers instruct passengers to always look for cyclists and close passersby before exiting a vehicle.
Results That Speak for Themselves
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$122,500,000 Global Settlement Sexual Abuse
Represented 14 of 124 childhood sexual abuse victims against the City of Santa Monica.
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$18,000,000 Auto v. Truck
Client rear-ended by trucking company.
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$10,000,000 Auto v. Big Rig
Family struck by a big rig.
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$4,090,000 Auto v. Auto
Family struck by a County of Los Angeles employee.
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$3,500,000 Negligence, Personal Injury
Client who was injured when a piece of machinery fell off a plumbing truck onto his foot.
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$3,500,000 Warehouse Accident
Client whose foot was run over by a forklift driver.