When you get into an Uber or Lyft, you place your safety in the hands of a stranger. More often than not, rideshare drivers exercise due caution and get their passengers where they need to go safely. Sometimes, though, accidents occur. When they do happen, passengers can file a rideshare accident claim. Use this Irvine rideshare crash evidence checklist for Uber and Lyft claims to collect the documentation and testimony required to support your rideshare accident case.

The Importance of Strong Evidence

Unfortunately, the success of rideshare accident claims isn’t based on what happened during the crash. It’s based on whether you can prove what happened. The quality and completeness of your evidence have a strong bearing on whether you can recover full compensation for your injuries and other damages.

Types of Evidence Used in Rideshare Accident Cases

Most of the evidence required to prove a Lyft or Uber accident case is similar to that found in normal car accident claims. Some examples of strong pieces of evidence are below:

  • Photographic or videographic evidence. If you collected evidence in the form of photos or videos after the accident, those can be integral in showing how the crash occurred. Comprehensive photographic evidence from the scene should include pictures of all the vehicles involved from every angle, the road surface, nearby traffic controls, and the surrounding environment, including the weather and lighting conditions. You can also take photographs of your injuries prior to getting medical care and throughout your treatment and recovery to show the progress of your injuries.
  • Documentation. The police report is one of the most important documents in any car accident case. If the Irvine Police Department (IPD) responded to the accident at the scene, they most likely gathered contact information for all of the parties, recorded the specifics of when and where the accident occurred, provided an initial assessment of fault, and listed any citations issued to the at-fault driver. You can request a copy of your police report through the IPD.
  • Surveillance or dashcam footage. If there were any businesses nearby, your attorney may be able to subpoena surveillance videos. The same is true of dashcam footage from any vehicles involved.
  • Medical evidence. Your medical record can establish both a causal connection between the crash and your injuries and the extent of your economic and noneconomic damages. You should provide documentation that shows both the initial assessment of your injuries and how you are responding to ongoing treatment. Imaging and licensed physician referrals can be particularly powerful.
  • Witness statements. Eyewitness statements can help to establish fault for the accident, as can professional, third-party witness testimony. In addition to accident reconstruction professionals, physicians may be asked to testify on the severity or circumstances of your injuries.

The Importance of Digital Evidence

In rideshare accident cases, digital evidence is crucial. Your attorney can obtain internal data through Lyft or Uber, such as various types of data, like those listed below:

  • GPS location data
  • Route logs
  • Telematics data
  • Driver performance history
  • Complaint records
  • In-app distraction data

This information can all help your Irvine rideshare accident attorney build a case for your Uber or Lyft accident.

How Common Are Uber and Lyft Accidents?

Fatal Uber and Lyft accidents are very uncommon, with only 127 fatal accidents occurring on the Uber platform from 2021 through 2022, which resulted in 153 fatalities. 111 motor vehicle fatalities occurred among Lyft passengers from 2020 through 2022.

Non-fatal accidents can still have severe consequences for rideshare passengers, though, and are much more common than fatal crashes. One 2024 report shows that one-third of drivers have had an accident while driving for their respective rideshare companies. In Irvine, frequent accidents involving rideshares occur on I-405 and I-5, mainly due to frequent drop-offs, sudden left turns, and heavy commuter traffic. If you’ve been in a crash, you’re certainly not alone.

Why Choose Us?

You can trust the team at Easton & Easton to provide you with comprehensive legal representation and advice. We regularly take on complex personal injury cases and have a clear understanding of rideshare accident laws and can leverage them to get our clients real results.* Our proven process for obtaining fair compensation comes from more than 100 years of combined experience in personal injury litigation.

FAQs

Q: What Evidence Is Needed to File a Claim Against Lyft?

A: The evidence that is needed to file a claim against Lyft must prove fault in the accident, the driver’s active app status at the time of the crash, and the extent of the accident victim’s damages. Your Irvine rideshare accident attorney can help you gather relevant reports, records, surveillance videos, app updates, and more, using them to build a case to support your claim.

Q: What Is the Average Uber Settlement Payout?

A: It is difficult to estimate an average Uber settlement payout. Every rideshare accident is different. How much money you stand to make from your claim can vary depending on factors such as the severity of the injuries or whether the injuries are permanently disabling or disfiguring.

Other considerations may be how much fault the rideshare driver held for the accident, whether they were active on the app when the accident occurred, or how skilled the attorneys are at negotiating.

Q: Can You Get Compensation if Your Uber Crashes?

A: You may be able to get compensation if your Uber crashes. Whether you’re entitled to compensation through Uber depends on who was at fault and whether you were injured in the crash. If you sustained injuries, Uber’s insurance policy could pay for your medical care and other damages if the driver was found to be at fault for the crash. If a third-party driver was found liable, you may need to file a claim through that person’s insurance company.

Q: Can You File a Claim if Your Lyft Driver Crashes?

A: You can file a claim if your Lyft driver crashes. In most cases, the rideshare company’s insurance should pay for your damages. In rare instances, third parties may be liable for a Lyft driver’s crash. This would be the case if a mechanical malfunction occurred. It would also be true if road signs or conditions caused your Lyft driver to crash their vehicle, in which case, you would file a claim against the City of Irvine Public Works & Sustainability Department.

Hire a Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Irvine

If you were riding in an Uber or Lyft vehicle and got into a crash, you can hire a rideshare accident lawyer to help you determine liability and file a claim against the appropriate party or parties. Contact Easton & Easton to schedule an initial consultation about your case.

*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.