LAX brings in a vast amount of traffic every day, including local drivers, taxis, buses, and rideshare vehicles. During the busiest times of the day, surge pricing goes into effect for rideshare drivers. Most people who use apps like Uber and Lyft know why surge pricing is necessary, but fewer understand why Sepulveda & Lincoln are hotspots for rideshare crashes during these times.

What Makes Sepulveda and Lincoln so Dangerous?

The intersection of Sepulveda and Lincoln in Westchester is a known bottleneck for travelers who are attempting to bypass airport congestion. As a result, many cars pass through this area each day, and accidents are relatively common.

One recent study shows that Sepulveda and Lincoln is the second-worst intersection in the city of Los Angeles. The study defines the “worst” intersections as those that feature high traffic volume and frequent crashes, which create both persistent safety risks and major delays.

Why Surge Pricing Accidents Are Most Common

Uber and Lyft implement surge pricing when demand is at its heaviest, which often coincides with times of extreme traffic congestion. It should thus come as no surprise that surge pricing accidents at Sepulveda and Lincoln are quite common. More cars passing through the intersection mean more chances for an accident to occur, and a higher percentage of rideshare drivers places rideshare passengers at an increased risk.

Who Pays if You Get in a Rideshare Accident

There is some good news for rideshare accident victims. Both Uber and Lyft carry substantial insurance policies to cover riders. If you were in the middle of receiving a ride when your accident occurred, these rideshare platforms offer up to $1,000,000 worth of coverage for personal injuries and property damage.

While these policies can cover up to $1 million in damages, your actual settlement amount could vary depending on factors such as:

  • The severity of your injuries
  • How long it is expected to take for you to heal
  • Whether you were permanently disabled or disfigured
  • Whether you suffered property damage in addition to injuries
  • How much liability the rideshare driver has for the accident

If a third-party driver contributed to causing the accident, that could impact how you file your claim. In most cases, drivers share liability for crashes. You may need to file claims against both the rideshare driver and another person who contributed to causing the crash. A Lincoln rideshare accident attorney can help you determine liability and how much your claim might be worth.

Damages Available in Rideshare Accident Cases

There are two primary forms of damages available in rideshare accident cases:

  • Economic damages. Economic damages cover quantifiable losses. These can include things like current hospital bills, future medical care, and out-of-pocket expenses like gas to and from doctor’s appointments. They also cover lost wages, loss of future earning potential, and property damage.
  • Non-economic damages. Non-economic damages are harder to quantify. They’re usually calculated according to the value of your economic damages or the amount of time you spend recovering from your injuries. Non-economic damages can include pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment.

In addition to these two common forms of compensatory damages, courts can also award punitive damages in cases where a driver’s intentional actions or egregious negligence led to injuries. It’s rare for these kinds of damages to be awarded in rideshare accident cases unless one or more of the drivers were driving while intoxicated or intentionally caused an accident.

How a Lawyer Can Help

Hiring a rideshare accident lawyer is the most effective way to make sure you get paid for 100% of the damages you sustain in a car crash involving an Uber or Lyft driver. Your lawyer can:

  • Collect evidence
  • File paperwork
  • Determine liability
  • Negotiate with insurance companies
  • Litigate your case should it go to trial
  • Protect your rights and interests throughout the legal process

FAQs

What Is the Most Common Reason for Car Crashes in California?

The most common reason for car crashes in California is driver error. Driver error can take all kinds of forms, from distracted driving to driving while impaired. If human error plays a role in causing an accident, the responsible driver can usually be held liable for any injuries or other damages that occur as a result of the crash.

What Is the Leading Cause of Intersection Accidents?

The leading cause of intersection accidents is a failure to yield the right-of-way. Most instances of this issue occur when drivers ignore traffic signals, misjudge gaps in oncoming traffic, or make improper left turns in front of other cars. Additional factors that can contribute to intersection accidents include distracted driving, speeding, and disobeying traffic lights.

What Is the Leading Cause of Injuries in Traffic Collisions in California?

The leading cause of injuries in traffic collisions in California is speeding. Driving at excessive speeds doesn’t just reduce a driver’s reaction time, thus contributing to more accidents; it also significantly increases the severity of the impact, which, in turn, increases the number of injuries that occur in car crashes.

What Is the Three-Second Rule in California?

The three-second rule in California is a recommendation made by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. This defensive driving guideline helps to prevent rear-end collisions by requiring drivers to maintain safe following distances of at least three seconds. To use the three-second rule, pick a stationary object ahead, then count the seconds between when the car ahead of you passes it and when you do. If you count to less than three, you’re following too closely.

Hire a Rideshare Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been involved in an Uber or Lyft accident on Sepulveda or Lincoln, you can hire a rideshare accident lawyer to help you determine liability and hold the responsible party accountable, seeking compensation for any damages you suffered as a result of the crash.

You can trust the team here at Easton & Easton to provide you with support throughout the process of filing your rideshare accident claim. We’re intimately familiar with Sepulveda car accident laws and know how to leverage them to get you a high settlement. One out of three of our cases settles for over $100,000, and we’re ready to litigate any case in the event that the insurance company does not offer a fair settlement. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation.