A pilot who was supposed to be at the airport for a 7:30 a.m. departure was delayed due to a Lyft driver prematurely dropping him off in a Trader Joe’s parking lot. The incident happened Thursday, April 5th, from South Bay to Hermosa Beach.
The pilot recorded the end of the incident on his phone; the reason for the sudden end to the trip, according to the driver, was the low fare he would earn to drive to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). He would only make $6 for an hour’s worth of driving, at which point he decided it was not worth it. He had just come from LAX, he said, and did not want to go back.
The pilot was incredulous throughout the drive, especially given that, initially, the driver seemed to be making every effort to get to the airport as quickly as possible. He was allegedly driving recklessly, speeding and running stop signs, but eventually decided to go no further than Hermosa Beach. The money was simply not worth the drive, he said.
The pilot ordered another Lyft after exiting the vehicle and retrieving his bag, which resulted in him being slightly late for his job. No party was injured on the ride.
The driver did not act aggressively; he acknowledged that he was being recorded and was seemingly apologetic, but opted to try and find a fare that would net him more money. In response, the pilot wrote a complaint to Lyft, but he did not receive an apology or a refund; instead, he was assured that the matter was going to be taken very seriously and that he would not be linked with the driver again.
Legal Action
Although Lyft drivers do have the right to refuse service at any time, it is a bad look for the company if drivers can just abandon riders in parking lots with no legal repercussions. They have a duty of care towards all customers, and leaving a rider stranded away from his original destination is a violation of that duty of care. Lyft may be on the receiving end of numerous complaints and petitions to change this practice.
As it stands, Lyft drivers have a penchant for driving recklessly when they are informed that the customer has a deadline – whether it is to catch a flight or make it to work on time. They have been known to run stop signs and drive recklessly, which is a surefire way to increase the rate of accidents and injuries.
In the event of a crash and harm to a customer, legal action can be taken. The driver can be sued for negligence, and Lyft may also be targeted. The company’s $1,000,000 liability coverage on its insurance policy will come into play, but severe damages may warrant further action. You may suffer broken bones, neck and back injuries, nerve damage, and more in car accidents.
Compensation
Individuals who have been harmed in Lyft accidents could earn various types of compensation for their damages. They may be able to receive coverage for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
- Wrongful death expenses
Let Us Help
If you have been mistreated by a Lyft driver or if you were involved in an accident and hurt, call Normandie Law Firm today for more assistance. We will be able to bring you the settlement you deserve to ensure that the responsible party takes care of your expenses. Our aggressive lawyers will strive to bring you the maximum compensation available under the law and won’t stop until you are satisfied. We will fight for your rights in court if we need to.
Call us today to schedule a free legal consultation with an experienced attorney. We will look over your case and tell you what we believe it’s worth. If you hire us for our legal services, we will give you our zero fee guarantee, which states that you will not have to worry about paying any out of pocket expenses throughout the litigation process of your case. We will only get paid if we win, and the money will be taken from the settlement we bring you. If we lose, you’re off the hook and owe us nothing whatsoever.
Contact a skilled lawyer today at Normandie Law Firm in Los Angeles, California, for more help.
