Uber/Lyft Accident on the 101 in Calabasas: How to Get Compensated

Arya Firoozmand, Esq. — Founding Partner

Local Calabasas Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Arya Firoozmand is the founding partner at L&F Brown. He grew up in Woodland Hills — minutes from Calabasas — graduated from El Camino Real High School and UCLA Law School, and has spent his career representing injured clients across the West Valley.

The 101 through Calabasas is a regular corridor for Uber and Lyft drivers - heading toward Malibu, coming from the Valley, transiting between the SFV and Thousand Oaks. If you were in an accident involving a rideshare vehicle on this stretch, the path to compensation is different from a standard car accident claim, and more complicated. Here's what you need to know.

Why Rideshare Accidents Are More Complex

In a regular two-car crash, you deal with two insurance policies. In a rideshare accident, there are potentially three layers of coverage, and which layer applies depends on what the driver was doing at the exact moment of the crash. California law and the Uber/Lyft insurance structures have specific rules for each phase.

Phase 1: App off. If the driver had the Uber or Lyft app turned off and was driving as a private individual, only their personal auto insurance applies. You're in the same position as any accident with a regular driver.

Phase 2: App on, no ride accepted. The driver is logged into the platform and waiting for a request, but has not accepted a ride. Uber and Lyft provide contingent liability coverage in this phase - $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident in California. This supplements (but doesn't replace) the driver's personal policy.

Phase 3: Ride accepted or passenger in the vehicle. This is the most protective tier. Once a driver accepts a trip through the app or has a passenger in the car, Uber and Lyft's primary $1 million commercial liability policy is in effect. This is the scenario that applies when you're a passenger in an Uber or Lyft that gets into a crash on the 101 near Calabasas.

If You Were a Passenger in the Rideshare

Good news: the $1 million policy covers you. If your driver caused the crash, that policy covers your injuries. If another driver caused the crash and hit your rideshare vehicle, that driver's policy is primary, and Uber/Lyft's underinsured motorist coverage fills any gap.

The challenge is dealing with two insurance systems - the rideshare company's insurer and potentially another driver's insurer - neither of which is primarily motivated to pay you quickly. Rideshare companies' insurers are experienced at minimizing claims and navigating the complex coverage questions that arise in these accidents.

If Another Vehicle Hit You and the Driver Was in a Rideshare

If you were in your own car and a rideshare driver hit you, the question is which phase the driver was in. A driver who just dropped off a passenger in Calabasas and is actively on the app looking for the next ride is in Phase 2 or transitioning into it. A driver who picked someone up and is en route to the destination is in Phase 3. The determination of which phase applies is something insurers and attorneys dispute - documentation of the driver's app status at the time of the crash is critical evidence.

What to Do After a Rideshare Crash on the 101

Call 911. On US-101, CHP has jurisdiction. The CHP report will establish the basics. While waiting for officers, do the following if you're physically able:

• Take screenshots of your active trip in the Uber or Lyft app - this is time-stamped proof of Phase 3 coverage
• Photograph both vehicles, the scene, and the damage
• Get the driver's name, license number, and the vehicle's license plate
• Get contact information for any witnesses

Get to West Hills Hospital and Medical Center for an evaluation the same day, even if you feel okay. Rideshare accidents on the freeway can involve significant forces, and soft-tissue injuries from those collisions may not present for 24 to 72 hours.

Navigating the Insurance Claims Process

Rideshare accidents involve multiple insurers who each prefer that someone else is responsible. The at-fault driver's personal insurer may argue they weren't actually in rideshare mode. The rideshare company's insurer may dispute the phase. Sorting through these competing claims requires understanding the specific coverage rules and having documentation that clearly establishes what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash.

Cases from rideshare accidents in the Calabasas area are handled at the Chatsworth Courthouse when they result in lawsuits. The high policy limits available in Phase 3 rideshare accidents mean these cases often settle for more than equivalent crashes involving private drivers with minimum limits.

If you were hurt in a rideshare accident on the 101 near Calabasas, a Calabasas rideshare accident lawyer can identify all available coverage and handle the multi-insurer claim process for you.

Don't Accept a Quick Settlement

Rideshare insurers make early settlement offers. Those offers are almost never reflective of the full value of a claim where the $1 million policy is in play. Once you sign a release, all coverage is gone.

Our Calabasas personal injury attorneys handle rideshare accident cases on contingency. Free consultation to discuss what happened and what your options are.