Irvine Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer
Irvine Uber and Lyft Accident Attorney
Thousands of people living in the Irvine area and throughout California use rideshare services like Uber and Lyft every day as accessible alternatives to taxis and public transportation. Since its inception, rideshare services have reshaped the transportation industry in many ways, including raising difficult questions concerning liability when accidents happen. An Irvine Uber and Lyft accident lawyer is a valuable resource if you experience such an accident.
Irvine Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer – Rideshare Accidents
The attorneys at Easton & Easton have years of professional experience handling a wide range of car accident cases in Irvine, including those pertaining to rideshare accidents. We know how challenging these cases can be to resolve and the many complex questions they can raise for victims seeking accountability and compensation for their damages. We can provide clarity and peace of mind as you seek compensation for the losses you sustained.
While it is technically possible to pursue your recovery on your own, having legal counsel you can trust on your side makes approaching your legal proceedings much easier in many ways. You will not only be able to rest and focus on recovery with peace of mind, but you will be more likely to maximize the compensation you obtain for your damages. Additionally, you can resolve your case more quickly than you would likely manage on your own.
Our firm takes time to learn as much as we can about each client we represent, addressing their individual needs and concerns as we develop their legal strategies. Recovery from your rideshare accident in Irvine is likely to begin with an auto insurance claim, and then you may need to build a personal injury case as well to secure maximum compensation for your losses. Whatever your case requires, Easton & Easton is ready to assist with your recovery.
Proving Liability for a Rideshare Accident
You must prove fault for any vehicle accident before you can recover compensation for your damages. This applies to rideshare accidents as well, and fault for such an accident may fall on your driver, the driver of another vehicle, or a combination of multiple parties. An Irvine Uber and Lyft accident lawyer can help their client gather the evidence needed to firmly establish fault for their accident.
Rideshare accidents in Irvine, CA happen for the same reasons that all other vehicle accidents happen. Distracted driving, speeding, and moving violations are common examples of negligence that can cause these incidents; it is also possible for illegal acts like intoxicated driving to cause a serious accident. Whatever the cause may be, proving liability will be an essential first step in your legal efforts to recover from the accident.
If you were injured while riding as a rideshare passenger, it is unlikely that you will be found at fault for the accident. However, if you were driving your own vehicle, it is possible for California’s pure comparative fault rule to apply to your case if you were responsible for causing the accident. If this applies, you will lose a percentage of your compensation to reflect your shared liability.
Recovering Compensation for a Rideshare Accident
The standard first step in recovering from any car accident is to file an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver. Proving fault may require a combination of various forms of evidence, and once fault is established, you can proceed with your insurance claim. However, the insurance claim filing process after a rideshare accident is very different from what you could expect after an accident with an individual driver.
Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft are required to have auto insurance that applies beyond what their driver’s individual policy provides. All rideshare drivers must have personal auto insurance, and if they cause an accident, this insurance will come into play first before the rideshare company’s policy applies. Their personal auto insurance also applies if they have an accident while not logged into their driver app and marked as available for a passenger.
Once a driver has logged into their driver app and marked themselves as available for a ride request, the rideshare company’s first tier of insurance coverage will apply if an accident happens. This level of coverage can provide up to $50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for a single person, up to $100,000 for bodily injuries to multiple victims, and up to $25,000 for property damage. There are special terms and conditions for this insurance to apply.
After a rideshare driver has picked up a passenger, the second tier of the rideshare company’s insurance applies until the passenger is delivered to their destination. This level of coverage includes up to $1 million in third-party liability coverage. The at-fault driver’s personal auto insurance applies first, and then any remaining damages this insurance cannot cover can be compensated by the rideshare company’s policy.
What to Expect From Your Irvine Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer
When you are injured in a rideshare accident, it is vital to find an attorney experienced in handling this type of vehicle accident claim. The attorneys at Easton & Easton are ready to help gather the evidence needed to prove fault and to establish the full extent of your claimable damages to help you recover from your recent accident.
The insurance claim filing process is likely to be the most challenging aspect of your recovery. While most insurance companies process claims in good faith, they will generally do everything they can to limit their liability for a claimant’s damages. Our team can help complete your proof of loss forms and gather any supporting documentation you need to file to the insurance company, and we can verify that your claim is handled in good faith.
Depending on the specific details of your accident, you could have grounds for further legal recourse against the party responsible for your accident. California’s personal injury laws allow the plaintiff to seek full compensation for their economic losses along with fair compensation for their pain and suffering. When we handle your personal injury case in Irvine, CA, you can count on us to do everything we can to maximize your case award.
FAQs
Q: How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Rideshare Accident Claim?
A: It is difficult to determine the average time that a rideshare accident case takes to conclude due to the fact that all cases are unique. If you have an experienced Irvine Uber and Lyft accident lawyer on your side and the fault for the accident is perfectly clear, it may only take a few weeks for you to receive compensation for your damages. In more complex or contested cases, litigation may be required, and this can significantly increase your case’s timetable.
Q: How Do You Prove Fault for Rideshare Accidents?
A: Proving fault for a rideshare accident is the same as proving fault for any other type of vehicle accident and may require various forms of evidence. Your attorney can help secure video footage from traffic cameras near the accident site, testimony from witnesses who saw the accident happen firsthand, vehicle computer data, cell phone records, and more to help build your case and identify the party responsible for your damages.
Q: Does California Require Rideshare Insurance?
A: Rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft are required by law to have specific insurance coverage that will apply in addition to or in place of a driver’s insurance under certain conditions. California law requires every driver to have personal auto insurance coverage, and state law also requires that any driver for a transportation company such as Uber or Lyft have additional coverage from their employer beyond their personal policy.
Q: Can You Sue Uber or Lyft for a Rideshare Accident in California?
A: When you use a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft, you must agree to the company’s terms of service, and typically, this includes a release of liability should you experience an accident as a passenger. However, rideshare company auto insurance is still applicable to your situation, and an experienced Irvine Uber and Lyft accident lawyer can help determine the full scope of your options for legal recourse after any such accident.
Q: How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Irvine Uber or Lyft Accident Lawyer?
A: The attorneys at Easton & Easton use a contingency fee policy for billing our personal injury clients. With a contingency fee agreement, we only take a percentage of your final case award as our fee, and only if we win your case. We do not charge upfront or ongoing fees for legal representation, and you owe nothing if we cannot secure compensation for you.
You have a limited time in which to pursue your recovery from a rideshare accident in Irvine, and the sooner you connect with a trustworthy attorney, the more likely you will be to succeed with your efforts. The attorneys at Easton & Easton have helped many past clients recover from rideshare accidents, and we can put this experience to work for you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with an Irvine Uber and Lyft accident lawyer you can trust with your case.
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Easton & Easton has been recognized by TopVerdict.com Top 10 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement in Los Angeles for 2025, for the case Bicyclist v. Inattentive Driver — recognized more than 75 times by TopVerdict.com over the past 5 years — including fifty-eight #1 recognitions, and a recognition that arrives in the firm’s 35th anniversary year.
Easton & Easton holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau — the highest rating available. Trust is earned. We've earned it.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.
Easton & Easton was voted #1 in 2026 (People's Choice Award). This recognition means the most to us — because it comes from the community we serve. Voted #1 in 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026 — four #1 wins, including three years in a row
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton were selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 — an invitation-only organization recognizing the nation's premier trial attorneys. Selection is based on case results, leadership, and reputation. When you need attorneys who are ready for the courtroom, you want a team that's already proven they belong there.
All five partners of Easton & Easton — Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis, and Gabe — were selected to Best Lawyers in America® 2027. This is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Selection is based entirely on peer review, representing the consensus opinion among leading lawyers in the community. When other attorneys are asked who they trust, they name us.
Our $4.5M settlement in Dump Truck Operator v. Equipment Rental Co. has been recognized as #1 in California for 2025 in two categories: • #1 Paraplegia Settlement in California — 2025 • #1 Rollover Accident Settlement in California — 2025
Our $4.5M settlement in Dump Truck Operator v. Equipment Rental Co. has been recognized as #1 in California for 2025 in two categories: • #1 Paraplegia Settlement in California — 2025 • #1 Rollover Accident Settlement in California — 2025
We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as the #1 Bicycle Accident Settlement in California in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
Easton & Easton was named a Tier 1 firm in Southern California by U.S. News & World Report — the highest ranking a law firm can achieve. Selection is based on client feedback, peer reputation, and professional excellence. When independent evaluators rank the best, we're at the top.
Gabe Mendoza, Alexandro Garza, Billy Seidlitz, and Aaron Sinfield were selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars — honoring the top 2.5% of attorneys 40 or younger in California. Three attorneys — John, Billy, and Aaron — were selected for the first time in 2027. The next generation of Easton & Easton is already among the best in the state.
Easton & Easton was voted "Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" by readers of the Los Angeles Times in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Three years in a row — chosen by the people we serve
Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis, and Saul were selected to Super Lawyers — a distinction earned by only 5% of California attorneys. Selection is based on peer nominations, independent research, and professional achievement. Doug Easton has been selected for 19 consecutive years. Matt Easton was also named to the Top 50 Orange County Super Lawyers for 2027. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring attorneys in the top 5%.
Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a Top 10 Personal Injury Settlement in California in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
Easton & Easton received the "People Love Us On Yelp" award in 2016 due to exceptional client satisfaction reviews.Our clients don't just hire us — they recommend us.
Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 20 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
Brian, Matt, and Travis Easton are lifetime members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — a distinction held by less than 1% of U.S. attorneys. Membership requires securing a verdict or settlement of $2 million or more. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring proven results - because Results Matter.
Doug Easton has held the "AV Preeminent" Rating for over 30 years, and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The AV Preeminent rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, based on the legal profession's oldest peer review rating system — dating back to 1887. When your peers have trusted your ability and integrity for over three decades, that says everything.
We were recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a the #1 Personal Injury Settlement in Los Angeles County in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a proven track record of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board. Membership isn't given — it's earned in the courtroom.
Travis Easton, Gabe Mendoza, and Brenda Kocaj were selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 — an invitation-only honor recognizing the nation's top young trial attorneys. At Easton & Easton, experience and ambition work side by side.
Easton & Easton was honored for securing a $20,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2019 by TopVerdict.com.
Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 — based on skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews. A perfect score. No room for higher.
Easton & Easton was honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018-2020 (each year the voting took place).
We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California in 2016 by TopVerdict.com.
20+ prestigious awards and recognitions. Exposed to the harshest scrutiny. Earning the highest honors. Recognized by every major legal organization — year after year.
Awards/recognitions noted are from organizations recognized within the legal profession as bona fide.
No purchase was required for selection. Selection methodologies available upon request.
*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”
Partner W. Douglas Easton
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