Is Lyft Liable for Accidents in Arizona?

Liability in a Lyft or other rideshare accident is like other motor vehicle accidents: liability follows the at-fault driver. If you were injured in a Lyft accident while riding as a passenger, your rideshare driver, the other involved driver, or both drivers could be liable. If a Lyft vehicle hits you or your car, either you or the Lyft driver might be at fault, or you may share responsibility. 

If a Lyft driver is involved in a collision while logged in as active on the Lyft app, any damage the driver causes may be covered by a combination of the driver’s auto insurance policy and Lyft’s insurance coverage. Lyft maintains its own insurance in case the driver does not have the right kind of coverage or in case the damages exceed the driver’s policy limits.

Determining Liability in Arizona Lyft Collisions

Because multiple parties could be responsible for a rideshare accident, determining liability is a crucial first step in recovering compensation after a Lyft accident. Our Arizona car accident lawyers exhaustively investigate these kinds of accidents to pinpoint what happened. 

In some cases, it is necessary to work with accident reconstructionists to identify all contributing parties. Our law firm has the resources needed to do this. If the accident turns out to be the Lyft driver’s fault, the good news is that Lyft carries higher liability coverage than what the state requires people to have for their personal vehicles.  

A Lyft driver in Arizona is considered an independent contractor who must maintain insurance coverage to cover claims made by rideshare customers. However, some drivers do not carry the kind of coverage for their vehicles that covers accidents that happen while driving for a rideshare company. That’s where Lyft’s insurance coverage kicks in.

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Lyft’s Insurance Coverage

As a rideshare company, Lyft has its own insurance that covers injuries and property damage in cases where the driver’s policy does not cover or fully cover the accident. If the Lyft driver is involved in a collision while the app is “on,” the damages may be covered by a combination of the driver’s personal auto insurance and Lyft’s insurance policy. 

While Arizona drivers must carry mandatory insurance that meets the state coverage requirements, most personal auto insurance policies will not cover a driver while they are driving for a rideshare company such as Lyft. Lyft drivers need to purchase either a rideshare insurance policy or a rideshare endorsement.

Suppose the Lyft driver is involved in a collision while the Lyft app is turned off, meaning the driver is not logged in as an active rideshare driver. In that case, an at-fault accident should be covered by the driver’s personal auto insurance policy. Lyft is not liable for such accidents.

Other Liable Parties

In some situations, other parties might also share fault. For example, if a defective vehicle component contributed to the crash, the part manufacturer might also be responsible for paying for damages resulting from the collision. If the defective part only partially caused the crash, the part manufacturer might also share liability. 

If the negligence of a Lyft passenger causes an accident, then the passenger’s personal insurance policy may be liable for the damages. 

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Comparative Negligence in Arizona

Arizona is a comparative fault state, which is good news for those who may be partly to blame for an accident. The state follows a pure comparative negligence rule, and under this rule, if you are partially at fault for causing your accident, you are still allowed to seek compensation for damages. In fact, you can be up to 99% at fault and still recover damages.

That said, if you are partially to blame, your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If the Lyft driver and the driver of the other vehicle share fault in an accident, they will be “jointly and severally liable” for injuries to a passenger as outlined in ARS §12-2501.

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Liable Parties if Someone Else Causes Injuries to a Lyft Driver

If you are a Lyft driver and were injured in a collision with another vehicle, you can seek compensation for your injuries by filing a claim against the other driver who caused your injuries.

If you were on your way to pick up a Lyft passenger or had a passenger in your car at the time of the wreck. In that case, you might also recover compensation through Lyft’s uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage if the other driver was driving without insurance or their liability limits are not high enough to cover your injuries and other losses stemming from the accident.

Contact an Arizona Personal Injury Attorney

Rideshare companies like Lyft make getting a ride to and from your desired destination as easy as a few taps on your phone. However, the aftermath of a disastrous rideshare accident is never easy. Our team at Zanes Law is dedicated to getting justice for those injured in car accidents, and we have the results to prove it.

If you sustained injuries in a rideshare vehicle collision, whether as a driver, a passenger, or a third party, one of our experienced personal injury lawyers can review your case. Typically, Lyft covers damages in excess of the Lyft driver’s personal coverage if their driver is determined at fault, so you may have a valid claim against Lyft. Reach out today for a free consultation.

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