Is Lyft liable for an accident? Given the details of the accident and Lyft’s legal responsibility under Illinois law, holding Lyft liable may be possible if the Lyft driver caused the accident due to distracted driving or violating traffic laws, if the incident happened while Lyft’s insurance was active, or if Lyft’s actions were negligent. This could include insufficient background checks or training. For help with a Lyft accident claim, contact Lloyd Miller Law Group at (773) 838-8100.
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Lyft’s Duty of Care to Passengers
Lyft, like any person or entity in the United States, has a duty of care to prevent harm to others. If they breach this duty of care and cause injury or death, the victims have the right to pursue a legal claim for Negligence. All people in the United States have a duty to act reasonably to avoid injuring others, known as a duty of care. If a person fails to meet this duty, they may be liable for resulting injuries. There may be a distinction between Lyft owing a direct duty of care to passengers and a duty of care to passengers via the actions of its drivers.
Lyft’s Duty of Care as a Common Carrier
Historically, rideshare companies have classified themselves as technology, not transportation, companies. They hired independent contractors to avoid liability for their drivers’ actions. However, Illinois has passed a law treating rideshare companies like Lyft as public transportation providers for liability purposes. The law was enacted on January 1, 2024, and aims to improve passenger safety and hold rideshare companies accountable for their drivers’ behavior. Features of this law include:
Definition of Common Carrier
In Illinois, the designation “common carrier” previously only encompassed establishments like taxicabs and trains, which are mandated to adhere to strict safety standards for their passengers. However, rideshare companies are now categorized as common carriers under the new law.
Liability for Rideshare Companies
Before the new law, rideshare companies were not considered common carriers. There was a clear distinction between the responsibility of individual rideshare drivers and the rideshare companies. Companies were, therefore, often not held liable for any harm caused by their drivers, such as assault or accidents resulting from driver intoxication. However, the new law removes this exemption, allowing the company to be directly held accountable in cases where a Lyft passenger is harmed due to a rideshare driver’s deliberate actions or negligence. Lyft released a safety report in 2021, revealing that from 2017 to 2019, there were over 4,000 reported incidents of sexual assault.
The Duty of Care as a Common Carrier
The Illinois Supreme Court in the 1950s decided that common carriers owed a duty to exercise the highest degree of care to protect the safety of their passengers. This standard sets a higher bar for common carriers compared to personal drivers when it comes to passenger safety. Common carriers have duties to:
- Prevent passengers from getting injured by third parties if they could have foreseen the risk.
- Safeguard passengers from harm caused by other passengers if foreseeable.
- Ensure passengers are safe from intentional harm, abuse, or negligence by employees.
Is Lyft Liable for an Accident?
Multiple factors must be considered when examining Lyft’s liability in an accident. First, it’s crucial to recognize that, as a common carrier, Lyft may be held responsible for its drivers’ actions.
Vicarious Liability
Employers can be liable for an employee’s misconduct during their employment, known as vicarious liability. This applies to car accidents if the employee was negligent while driving for work. It can be challenging to distinguish between an employee and an independent contractor. Rideshare companies can be held vicariously liable for their driver’s actions, since they are considered common carriers in Illinois.
Ridesharing Periods
If you are injured in an accident where the Lyft driver is at fault, the driver’s liability will depend on the phase of the trip they were in. Four different scenarios determine the level of liability a driver may have after causing you injuries in an accident. When the driver is off duty, they are not logged into any ride-hailing app, they are considered “offline.” During Period 1, the driver has logged into the Lyft app but has not yet accepted any ride request, making them “available” to be matched with a rider. In Period 2, the driver has accepted a ride request and is on the way or “en route” to pick up a passenger. Lastly, in Period 3, the driver has already picked up a rider and is officially “on trip” through Lyft.
Understanding the anatomy of a rideshare accident when suing Lyft for your car accident is important because they will determine whose insurance is responsible for your claim. If a rideshare driver is not logged into the app, any accident would be covered by their personal car insurance and not by Lyft. However, most rideshare companies have some coverage available if the driver has the app on or is waiting for a passenger. For example, Lyft has a $1 million commercial insurance policy that covers accidents that occur while carrying a passenger or on the way to pick up a rider.
Liability Due to Company or Driver Negligence
Typical causes of crashes where Lyft may be liable, whether due to its negligence, or that of its drivers include:
Driver Fatigue
Many ride-sharing drivers, who could be students or have full-time jobs, use Lyft to earn extra money due to long driving hours, demanding schedules, or insufficient rest.
Distractions
Ridesharing drivers are significantly distracted by the constant need to check their mobile phones for the Lyft app and navigation screens. Other distractions include texting, emailing, eating, and applying makeup.
Driving Under the Influence
Alcohol intoxication and drug use can impair a driver’s focus, judgment, and their ability to react quickly in an emergency. Additionally, the misuse of opioid and psychotherapeutic medications leads to numerous accidents.
Violations of Traffic Rules
This includes driving above the speed limit, driving aggressively, and disregarding stop signs and traffic lights.
Mechanical Failures
If Lyft drivers ignore vehicle maintenance, it may result in the malfunction of important mechanical parts like brakes.
Negligent Screening of Drivers
Ride-hailing companies conduct driving record reviews and criminal background checks before approving drivers to use their online platforms. However, if a check is not done correctly or not done at all, a dangerous driver with a record of multiple convictions can be approved to transport passengers.
Determining Fault After an Accident
Determining liability hinges on deciding who was at fault, and the critical question is, “Whose actions led to the accident?” To prove negligence, four elements must be demonstrated:
- Lyft owed you a duty of care: Common carriers must exercise the utmost care and caution with their passengers.
- Lyft failed to fulfill its duty: The company or one of its employees did not act with the caution and care they should have.
- Lyft’s failure to fulfill its duty directly caused your injuries. The car accident and your injuries were a predictable outcome of Lyft’s actions.
- You experienced losses: You suffered financial, physical, and emotional harm because of the car accident.
Evidence Used to Prove Fault
When you go to court for a car accident, various evidence is collected to establish fault. Your rideshare accident lawyers will leverage evidence including:
Police Crash Reports
A law enforcement officer documents the details of the collision, including the location, the vehicles, and the officer’s opinion regarding the party at fault.
Witness Statements
Those who saw the accident can provide insight into what occurred.
Traffic Violations
If a driver breaks a traffic law, such as going through a red light, the driver will likely be at fault.
Vehicle Damage
The position of the damage on the vehicles can provide clues about the collision. For instance, if your car has visible damage at the back after getting rear-ended by another driver, that driver is usually at fault. Similarly, if your car is hit broadside at an intersection where the other vehicle had a stop sign, but you didn’t, it’s likely that the other driver ran the stop sign and is at fault.
Photos
Visual evidence from the incident and security footage can clarify the events that transpired.
Skid Marks
The length and visibility of tire marks can provide clues about the speed of a vehicle before a collision.
Road Conditions
A driver could be at fault for not adapting to adverse road conditions, such as rain, snow, or ice.
Determining Lyft’s liability for an accident hinges on factors like the driver’s accountability, the accident’s circumstances, and how the accident aligns with Lyft’s insurance coverage phases. Determining who is liable in a multi-car accident can be especially difficult. It’s crucial to have legal representation when dealing with these kinds of claims. Contact us at Lloyd Miller Law Group for assistance from lawyers for your Lyft accident.