Do I Need a Lawyer After a Rideshare Accident in Sherman Oaks?

Arya Firoozmand, Esq. — Founding Partner

Local Sherman Oaks Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Arya Firoozmand is the founding partner at L&F Brown. He grew up in the San Fernando Valley, graduated from El Camino Real High School and UCLA Law School, and has spent his career representing injured clients across the Valley — including Sherman Oaks and the 405 corridor.

Rideshare vehicles are everywhere in Sherman Oaks. Uber and Lyft drivers pick up and drop off passengers along Ventura Blvd, navigate the Van Nuys Blvd corridor, merge onto the US-101 and I-405, and travel through virtually every corner of the neighborhood. When one of these vehicles is involved in a crash, the insurance situation is dramatically more complicated than a standard car accident.

Yes, you almost certainly need a lawyer after a rideshare accident in Sherman Oaks. Here is why.

Why Rideshare Accidents Are Legally Complex

Uber and Lyft do not own the vehicles their drivers use, and they do not employ their drivers in the traditional sense. Instead, they classify drivers as independent contractors. This creates a tiered insurance system that determines who pays depending on what the driver was doing at the time of the crash:

• App off: Only the driver's personal auto insurance applies. The rideshare company provides no coverage.
• App on, waiting for a ride request: Limited coverage from the rideshare company applies, typically $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage.
• En route to pick up or carrying a passenger: Full commercial coverage applies, up to $1 million in liability coverage from Uber or Lyft.

Determining which coverage phase applies requires examining the driver's app status at the moment of the crash, something rideshare companies do not freely disclose. A Sherman Oaks rideshare accident lawyer knows how to compel this information.

What If You Were a Passenger?

If you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft when the crash occurred, you have an especially strong position. You had no control over the vehicle and bear no fault. You can pursue a claim against the at-fault driver's insurance, the rideshare company's commercial policy, and potentially the other driver's insurance if another vehicle caused the crash.

What If You Were in Another Vehicle or a Pedestrian?

If a rideshare vehicle struck your car or hit you as a pedestrian on Ventura Blvd or another Sherman Oaks road, you can pursue the driver and, depending on the app status, Uber or Lyft's commercial insurer. These insurers have legal teams and claims adjusters who handle rideshare cases professionally. You need your own advocate.

Steps to Take Immediately After a Sherman Oaks Rideshare Accident

• Call 911. LAPD Van Nuys Division responds to crashes on local roads; CHP handles freeway incidents on the 101 or 405.
• Take screenshots of your Uber or Lyft app showing the trip details, driver information, and vehicle details
• Photograph all vehicles involved, injuries, and the scene
• Get contact information from all parties and witnesses
• Seek medical care, including at Sherman Oaks Hospital at 4929 Van Nuys Blvd
• Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer before speaking with an attorney

Time Is Important

Uber and Lyft have extensive corporate legal resources and begin protecting their interests immediately after a crash. You should do the same. Contact L&F Brown serving Sherman Oaks for a free consultation so we can identify all available insurance coverage and start building your case today.