Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly after an accident in Agoura Hills?

You generally cannot sue Uber or Lyft directly as employers because drivers are classified as independent contractors. However, you can make claims against Uber or Lyft's commercial liability policies. An attorney can explain how this works in your specific case.

What if the rideshare driver's personal insurance denies my claim?

If the driver's personal insurer denies the claim because a commercial use exclusion applies, Uber or Lyft's contingent coverage or full commercial coverage may take over, depending on the driver's status at the time. An attorney will navigate these coverage layers.

Does it matter if I was the rideshare passenger or in another car?

Yes. Passengers in the rideshare vehicle during an active trip have access to Uber or Lyft's $1 million liability policy. Victims in other vehicles may face a more complicated coverage determination based on the driver's status at the time of the crash.

Do I Need a Lawyer After a Rideshare Accident in Agoura Hills?

Curt Brown, Esq. — Founding Partner

Local Agoura Hills Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Curt Brown is a founding partner at L&F Brown. He grew up in Thousand Oaks, just east of Agoura Hills along the 101, attended Thousand Oaks High School, graduated from UCLA Law School, and has spent his career representing injured residents throughout the Conejo Valley.

Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are used constantly in Agoura Hills, whether for trips to the US-101 corridor, rides to local restaurants near Agoura Road, or pickups from Whizin's Market Square. When a rideshare vehicle is involved in an accident, the insurance and liability picture is far more complicated than a standard car crash, and the answer to whether you need a lawyer is almost always yes.

Why Rideshare Accident Claims Are More Complex

In a typical car accident, there are two drivers and two insurance companies. In a rideshare accident, the potential layers of coverage and liability include the Uber or Lyft driver's personal auto insurance, the rideshare company's own commercial liability policy (which can be up to $1 million per occurrence), and sometimes a third-party driver's insurance if another vehicle caused the crash.

Which policy applies depends on what the driver was doing at the moment of the accident: waiting for a ride request (app on, no passenger), en route to pick up a passenger, or actively transporting a passenger. The applicable coverage changes significantly depending on which phase applies, and the companies are aggressive about disputing which phase covers a given crash.

Common Rideshare Accident Scenarios in Agoura Hills

Rideshare accidents in Agoura Hills happen frequently in the following situations:

Pickups and drop-offs on Agoura Road near restaurants and shopping centers
Crashes on US-101 while transporting passengers through or past Agoura Hills
Accidents at the US-101/Kanan Road interchange during peak traffic hours
Collisions on Las Virgenes Road or Kanan Road while carrying passengers

When You Are a Passenger in the Rideshare

If you were a passenger in the Uber or Lyft vehicle when the accident happened, Uber and Lyft each provide up to $1 million in third-party liability coverage during the period you were in the car. This is the most favorable coverage scenario for injured passengers, though the companies still fight hard to minimize payouts.

When You Are in Another Vehicle Hit by a Rideshare

If a rideshare driver hit your vehicle, determining which coverage applies requires establishing the driver's status at the time of the crash. An attorney can obtain Uber or Lyft's trip records to confirm the driver's status and identify the correct insurance layer.

Why You Need a Lawyer

Uber and Lyft have experienced legal and claims teams whose job is to minimize payouts. A rideshare accident lawyer in Agoura Hills knows how these companies operate, how to establish which coverage applies, and how to negotiate aggressively for full compensation.

If you needed emergency care at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks after the accident, your medical costs alone may justify significant legal action. Cases are handled in LA County through the Chatsworth Courthouse.

Visit our Agoura Hills personal injury page to contact L&F Brown for a free consultation about your rideshare accident.

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