Who Is Liable for an Uber or Lyft Accident in Sun Valley?

Arya Firoozmand, Esq.

Local Sun Valley Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Arya Firoozmand is the founding partner at L&F Brown. A San Fernando Valley native, he graduated from El Camino Real High School and UCLA Law School and represents injured clients from communities across the entire Valley, including Sun Valley.

When an Uber or Lyft is involved in an accident in Sun Valley, the question of who is liable is not as straightforward as in a regular car accident. Rideshare companies have built their business model around the argument that drivers are independent contractors, not employees, which they use to limit their direct liability. But California law and the rideshare companies' own insurance policies create avenues for injured people to recover compensation from multiple sources.

Here is who may be liable after an Uber or Lyft accident in Sun Valley and how liability is determined.

The Rideshare Driver

The rideshare driver is the most obvious potentially liable party. If the Uber or Lyft driver caused the accident through negligence, such as running a red light on Sunland Blvd, tailgating on San Fernando Rd, or making an unsafe lane change on the I-5 Freeway, the driver bears personal liability for the resulting injuries.

The driver's personal auto insurance may cover the claim if the app was off at the time of the accident. However, many personal auto insurance policies specifically exclude coverage when the vehicle is being used for commercial rideshare purposes. When personal insurance denies coverage, the rideshare company's commercial policy steps in, depending on the driver's status.

Common acts of driver negligence in rideshare accidents include:

• Distracted driving while checking the app for ride requests or navigation
• Speeding to minimize ride times and increase the number of trips completed
• Fatigue from driving long hours to maximize earnings
• Unsafe stops in traffic lanes to pick up or drop off passengers
• Unfamiliarity with Sun Valley roads and traffic patterns

Uber and Lyft's Liability

Uber and Lyft argue that they are technology platforms, not transportation companies, and that their drivers are independent contractors. This classification is intended to shield the companies from direct vicarious liability for their drivers' actions.

However, there are several legal theories under which Uber and Lyft can be held liable:

Insurance coverage: Regardless of the employment classification debate, Uber and Lyft provide insurance coverage that applies to accidents during active trips. This $1 million policy functions similarly to employer-provided coverage and is the primary source of compensation for most rideshare accident claims.

Negligent hiring and supervision: If Uber or Lyft failed to properly screen a driver who had a history of dangerous driving, they could be liable for negligent hiring. Similarly, if the company failed to address reports of unsafe driving by a specific driver, negligent supervision may apply.

California AB5 and employment classification: California's Assembly Bill 5 created a presumption that workers are employees unless the hiring entity can demonstrate otherwise. While Proposition 22 later exempted rideshare drivers from AB5, the legal landscape continues to evolve, and employment status arguments remain relevant in some cases.

Other Drivers

In many rideshare accidents, another driver causes or contributes to the crash. If a driver runs a stop sign and hits an Uber carrying a passenger on San Fernando Rd, that driver bears primary liability. The Uber passenger can claim against the at-fault driver's insurance and, if that coverage is insufficient, the rideshare company's uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

When multiple drivers share fault, California's pure comparative negligence system allocates liability based on each driver's percentage of fault. A Sun Valley rideshare accident attorney investigates the accident to determine how fault should be allocated and pursues claims against every responsible party.

Government Entities

If a road defect contributed to the accident, the government entity responsible for maintaining that road may share liability. Poorly maintained roads, malfunctioning traffic signals, inadequate signage, or dangerous road designs can all contribute to accidents. If the accident occurred on a city street in Sun Valley, the City of Los Angeles may bear partial responsibility. If it occurred on the I-5 Freeway, Caltrans could be liable.

Government liability claims require filing a government tort claim within six months of the accident, a significantly shorter deadline than the standard two-year statute of limitations.

Vehicle or Parts Manufacturers

If a vehicle defect caused or contributed to the accident, the vehicle manufacturer or a parts manufacturer may be liable. Brake failures, tire blowouts, steering malfunctions, and other mechanical defects can cause accidents regardless of driver behavior. Product liability claims against manufacturers are separate from negligence claims against drivers and can provide additional sources of compensation.

How Liability Affects Your Compensation

The more parties that share liability, the more insurance coverage is potentially available to compensate you. When a rideshare driver and another driver both contributed to your accident, you can pursue claims against both the rideshare company's commercial policy and the other driver's personal policy.

Your attorney identifies every potentially liable party early in the case and files claims against each one. This maximizes the total pool of available compensation and puts you in the strongest negotiating position.

What to Do After a Rideshare Accident in Sun Valley

Protecting your rights starts at the scene of the accident:

• Call 911 and wait for LAPD or CHP to arrive and document the scene
• Get medical attention at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center or another facility as soon as possible
• Take screenshots of your Uber or Lyft trip details from the app
• Photograph vehicle damage, the accident scene, and your injuries
• Get contact information from all drivers and witnesses
• Do not give recorded statements to any insurance company
• Contact a rideshare accident attorney before speaking with Uber, Lyft, or their insurers

Get Help Determining Liability

The Three Insurance Tiers in Rideshare Cases

Rideshare accident cases in Sun Valley involve a layered insurance system that determines which policy covers your injuries. The coverage depends on what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash on San Fernando Rd, Sunland Blvd, I-5, and Glenoaks Blvd.

When the driver has the app off, their personal auto insurance is the only coverage available. Once the driver turns on the app and is waiting for a ride request, Uber and Lyft provide limited liability coverage, typically $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident. This coverage fills gaps if the driver's personal insurance denies the claim because the driver was using the vehicle for commercial purposes.

Once the driver accepts a ride request and is en route to pick up a passenger, or has a passenger in the vehicle, the full commercial policy activates. This provides up to $1 million in liability coverage. This is the highest tier and applies to the majority of rideshare accidents that cause serious injuries.

Determining which tier applies requires examining the driver's app data at the exact moment of the crash. This data is controlled by Uber or Lyft and must be obtained through legal discovery or a preservation demand from your attorney. Without this data, the insurance companies will dispute which policy covers your claim, and each will try to shift responsibility to the other.

Cases that proceed to litigation are heard at Van Nuys Courthouse West. An attorney who understands the rideshare insurance structure and has experience obtaining app data through discovery can navigate this process efficiently and maximize your available coverage.

Figuring out who is liable for a rideshare accident in Sun Valley requires legal expertise and thorough investigation. Contact L&F Brown in Sun Valley for a free consultation. We identify all liable parties, navigate the complex insurance landscape, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.