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A traffic collision involving Uber or Lyft can leave you with serious injury, mounting bills, and confusing insurance questions. A local rideshare accident lawyer helps protect your rights, coordinate care, and pursue full compensation under California law. Our law firm serves the Inland Empire—San Bernardino and Riverside—guiding passenger, driver, pedestrian, bicycle, and motor vehicle victims from first call to settlement or verdict. Rideshare claims are different: multiple insurance policy layers, evolving regulations (CPUC rules and California Assembly Bill 5), app‑status questions, and vicarious liability issues with the ridesharing company. Before you talk to an adjuster or sign any policy forms, get clear legal advice about fault, liability insurance, timelines, and documentation. Prefer phone, SMS, or email? Use the telephone number below or send a quick message—a local attorney or paralegal will respond fast.
What To Do After an Uber or Lyft Crash in the Inland Empire (First 48 Hours)
Get medical help immediately. Use emergency care if needed. Follow physician instructions, take medication, and attend physical therapy. Save every bill and receipt for expense reimbursement.
Call law enforcement. Ask the responding police/California Highway Patrol/highway patrol for the report number. Note traffic light, stop sign, and speed limit details at the intersection or road segment.
Document the scene. Photograph both vehicles, skid mark patterns, vehicle damage, traffic conditions, traffic congestion, and nearby hazards (construction, road debris).
Capture app data. Take a screenshot of the trip receipt in the app on your smartphone/mobile phone; save texts and in‑app message threads “during the ride.”
Exchange information. Record the driver’s license, vehicle insurance and liability insurance details; collect witness names and email/email address.
Don’t give a recorded statement or broad medical consent to the other carrier before speaking with a lawyer.
Follow up with our office. Early legal advice helps preserve evidence and surveillance data from nearby cameras.
How Rideshare Insurance & Coverage Tiers Work
Rideshare claims often involve several policies: the driver’s personal vehicle insurance/liability insurance and the ridesharing company’s commercial coverage (which can change by app status—offline, app on, accepted request, with a passenger). Coverage may include UM/UIM for underinsured drivers and a deductible for certain components. California Public Utilities Commission rules and California Assembly Bill 5 influence classification (e.g., gig worker questions) and required background check standards; the law keeps evolving. We identify available insurance, compare policy limits, and coordinate negotiation with each insurance company.
Fault, Negligence & Vicarious Liability in California
California uses comparative negligence. Each party owes a duty of care; if a reasonable person would have acted differently, liability is assigned by percentage. Common causes include distracted driving/texting while driving, unsafe driving in traffic congestion, drowsy driving, drunk driving/driving under the influence, tailgating, speeding, and missed traffic light phases. In some situations, vicarious liability may reach the corporation behind the platform; in others, the driver’s coverage applies. Our team builds the plaintiff case, obtains expert analysis, and is prepared to file a lawsuit in court if needed.
Injuries We See in Rideshare Collisions Throughout the Inland Empire
Rideshare accidents can cause orthopedic injuries (neck, knee, and spinal cord trauma), soft tissue harm, concussion/brain injury, internal bleeding, burns, lacerations, and disfiguring scars (disfigurement). Pain can affect mental health, sleep, and overall quality of life. We coordinate health and health insurance benefits, organize medical record requests, and document wage income loss. Treatment may involve therapy, injections, or surgery.
Damages You Can Pursue (Economic & Non‑Economic)
Recoverable damages often include medical bills, future care, property damage (your phone/gear and the vehicle if you were driving), lost income, and out‑of‑pocket costs. Non‑economic harms include pain and suffering, emotional distress, reduced activities, and loss of consortium. In extreme recklessness, punitive damages may be available. Families may also bring a wrongful death claim after a fatal crash.
Evidence to Save & How We Prove Your Case
Trip/app records: ride details, route map, and in‑app message threads “during the ride.”
Phone media: photos/video, camera footage, and any dash‑cam surveillance.
Scene facts: skid mark measurements, signal timing, traffic light phases, and intersection diagrams.
Medical proof: prompt treatment, consistent follow‑up, and clean medical record documentation.
Background check & compliance: CPUC‑required checks, driver safety training, accessibility issues (wheelchair pick‑ups), and complaint history. We also use NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) statistics and safety research to explain collision dynamics to an adjuster—or a jury at trial.
Our Process: From Claim to Court
Free evaluation with a local attorney—timeline, options, and questions.
Investigation: collect evidence, obtain app and internet records when available, and contact law enforcement for reports.
Liability analysis: compare policy limits, app status, and vicarious liability issues; consult expert reconstruction if needed.
Demand & negotiation: present damages and fault with references to California law and CPUC standards.
Lawsuit if necessary: file the complaint against each defendant; proceed through discovery and, if needed, trial.
Resolution: settlement or verdict—we explain liens so your net recovery is clear. Contingency fee; no upfront payment.
Timelines, Statutes & Reporting Duties
The statute of limitations and notice statute rules apply in California. Call promptly so we can secure app logs, data, and nearby video before it’s overwritten. After a traffic collision, we can request the CHP report (some portals use a simple CAPTCHA). Keep seat‑belt statistics in mind—while many rideshare riders sit in the back, seat belt use still matters to injury outcomes and insurer arguments about behavior and risk.
Local Patterns & Safety Resources for the Inland Empire
IE corridors (I‑10, I‑215, SR‑60, SR‑210, SR‑91) see heavy traffic and frequent riverside car accident reports during rush hour. Law enforcement and California Highway Patrol publish safety updates; the California Public Utilities Commission regulates platform operations statewide. While media often focus on Los Angeles, Southern California trends affect the IE too—visibility issues from wildfire smoke, complex pick‑ups near event venues, and crowded curb space shared with bus, taxi, cyclists (cycling), and scooters.
We also handle personal injury matters that may overlap: motorcycle crashes, truck collisions, premises liability (unsafe pick‑up zones), product liability (seat‑belt or restraint failures), and dog bite injuries separate from rideshare claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a rideshare accident lawyer or can I deal with the carrier myself?
A lawyer handles insurance layers, liability questions, and negotiation—and helps you avoid statements that harm your case.
Whose insurance applies—Uber/Lyft or the driver’s?
It depends on app status and vehicle insurance terms. We sort through policy layers, underinsured scenarios, and UM/UIM coverage.
What if the driver was drunk, drowsy, or texting? Drunk driving, drowsy driving, and distracted driving/texting while driving can support fault and sometimes punitive damages.
I was a passenger during the ride—what should I save?
Trip screenshot, in‑app message, telephone call logs, photos/video, and your treatment bills/medical record entries.
How long do I have to file?
The statute of limitations varies by claim. Call for legal advice so we can protect deadlines under California law.
How much does it cost to hire you?
Contingency fee—no upfront payment. We only collect a fee if we obtain financial compensation at settlement or verdict.
Do you help drivers too?
Yes—we represent passengers and drivers. If you’re searching “rideshare lawyer near me,” “lawyer for Uber accident,” “Lyft car accident attorneys,” or “rideshare accident lawyer near me,” we can help.
Talk With an Inland Empire Rideshare Accident Lawyer Today
If an Uber or Lyft traffic collision caused injuries, property loss, or death in your family, get answers now. We’ll explain coverage, liability, and next steps—then handle the legal work while you focus on recovery. Start by telephone at 909‑915‑0181 (Redlands) or 760‑835‑9353 (Palm Springs). Prefer text or email? Send an SMS or email to our law offices with your telephone number and we’ll reply with next steps.
Attorney advertising. This page provides general information, not legal advice. Deadlines vary; contact a lawyer promptly.
