After a night out drinking, a day out shopping, or even a trip across town where you decided to pay for a ride instead of taking public transportation, ordering a Lyft is a common way to get around St. Louis. This rideshare app uses a light-up emblem that shines a specific color to correspond with your app so that you can more easily identify when the ride is yours. Even though safety is the company’s priority, Lyft rides are not always safe.
If you’ve been in an accident that was caused by your Lyft driver, or you experienced a form of harassment while you were in a Lyft, you could benefit from the support of a St. Louis Lyft accident lawyer from Thomas Law Offices. Our experienced attorneys will be able to answer your questions and guide you through the legal process to ensure that you see justice.
Lyft Accident Liability
Since rideshare apps like Lyft rely on regular people with their own vehicles to provide their service, instead of trained professionals, accidents can still happen because the cause of most accidents is human error. When an accident does happen, who is liable? As with any accident, fault can be complicated to prove, but even after fault is proven, figuring out who covers your accident with a Lyft driver can also be complicated.
If the Lyft driver was not on the app, then the accident would be treated like any other car accident would be. But if the driver was logged into the app and waiting to accept a ride request, then Lyft’s insurance might partially cover the damages. Lyft drivers are required to carry their own auto insurance policy, but Lyft also has insurance to cover their drivers in the event of an accident. On top of the driver’s personal coverage, Lyft carries liability insurance that has a $50,000 limit per person for injury, $25,000 limit per person for property damage, and $100,000 limit per accident.
If the Lyft driver was on their way to pick up a rider or they were driving a passenger to their destination, then the company’s insurance covers the accident. The policy covers $1,000,000 per accident.
This information makes car accidents and liability seem straight-forward, but that isn’t always the case. You might have questions about your accident with a Lyft driver or about being injured while on a Lyft ride. A St. Louis Lyft accident lawyer from Thomas Law Offices will be able to answer your questions and help you decide what the appropriate action would be for you to take.
Requirements for Lyft Drivers
When your Lyft driver gets into an accident that injuries you or damages your property, your St. Louis Lyft accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation to determine what exactly happened. One of the aspects of your accident that we’ll investigate is if your driver met the full requirements of the rideshare company at the time of the accident.
Before 2017, rideshare apps weren’t allowed in Missouri. HB 130 in Missouri made it possible for rideshare apps, like Lyft, to be available in cities like St. Louis, and put extra regulations in place for drivers. Lyft is required to hold a permit to operate in the state and must pay an annual permit fee of $5,000 to the Missouri Department of Revenue. The app must display a picture of the driver picking up their rider as well as their license plate so their identity can be confirmed. The app must issue an electronic receipt to the rider. In terms of hiring drivers, Lyft must process hires by requesting this information from them:
- Name, address, age, and driver’s license
- Vehicle registration and automobile liability insurance
- National criminal background check
- Check of the U.S. Dept. of Justice National Sex Offender website
- Driving history report
If the driver is not at least 25 years old, doesn’t have a valid license, registration, or insurance, or has more than three moving violations in the past three years, then they cannot be a driver for the company. Other disqualifiers include one major violation in the past three years, being on the sex offender list, or, in the last seven years, a conviction of driving under the influence, fraud, sexual offense, theft, or using a motor vehicle to commit a felony.
On top of these regulations, Lyft also has requirements for its St. Louis drivers. Their car must be a 2008 model or newer, have four doors, and seat between five and eight people—including the driver. The Lyft emblem must be displayed on the lower right-hand side of the windshield while on duty. Entering airports requires extra precautions, as Missouri airports are strict about the conduct of rideshares on their property. Mainly, Lyft drivers must stay in the staging area if they have not accepted a ride request.
Thomas Law Offices Will Represent You
When you’ve been in an accident with a Lyft driver in St. Louis, you could use the help of a Lyft accident attorney so that the appropriate person or company is held responsible for your injuries and damages. You shouldn’t have to cover the costs of your damages when you weren’t the one who caused them. Our experienced lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation of the accident, look at all of your documents, and listen to you so that we can piece together a strong case for you.
You don’t have to go through an accident claim alone. Hiring a lawyer might seem like a big step but having them for your case can ensure that the outcome is successful for you. You might feel pressure to settle for less than you deserve, but with our Lyft accident lawyer on your side, you won’t settle until you are offered fair compensation. Reach out to or visit our St. Louis office to speak with a Lyft accident lawyer about your potential case today.
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