UCLA-Trained Attorneys in Westwood
If you've been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Westwood, California, the applicable insurance coverage depends on what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash — a fact rideshare companies make intentionally complex. Westwood Law untangles the coverage tiers and pursues the maximum available compensation from every applicable policy.We Lived Here Before We Practiced Here
Curt and I both went to law school at UCLA, and we lived in Westwood the whole time. We've watched the Village change and transform as businesses came and went. We also know what it's like to make the trek out to Pasadena for a game at the Rose Bowl, and what that drive turns into when everyone leaves at once.
Why Your Case Is Different
The overwhelming majority of recorded collisions here happen at San Diego Freeway interchanges rather than on Village streets. Wilshire, Sunset and Santa Monica Boulevard all cross the 405 inside this neighborhood, and those crossings account for most of the injury crashes on record.
Coverage depends on the driver's app status: (1) App off — driver's personal insurance only; (2) App on, no ride accepted — $50k/$100k/$25k from TNC; (3) Ride accepted or passenger in vehicle — $1 million commercial policy. Identifying the correct tier is the first critical issue in every rideshare case.
Uber and Lyft classify drivers as independent contractors to avoid direct liability. California's AB 5 and Proposition 22 created ongoing uncertainty about this classification. We evaluate all liability theories — including direct negligence by the TNC for negligent driver onboarding — in every case.
What We Know About Westwood
- UCLA and its medical centers: A campus population in the tens of thousands plus two major hospitals means heavy pedestrian, cyclist and rideshare volume concentrated in a small area. Claims here frequently involve institutional defendants and commercial policies rather than individual drivers.
- The Wilshire high-rise corridor: One of the densest concentrations of residential towers in Los Angeles, with the parking structures, driveways and valet operations that come with them. Premises and backing-collision claims in this corridor usually involve professional property management and their insurers.
- Westwood Village: A 1920s planned commercial district built for the campus, with short blocks, heavy foot traffic and constant loading activity. Right-of-way and visibility are the recurring disputes in pedestrian claims here.
Crash Data
Crash Types
Most Dangerous Intersections
Recent Crashes
Compensation Available in Your Case
Medical Expenses
Emergency care, surgery, and ongoing treatment for injuries sustained in a rideshare accident.
Lost Wages
Income lost while recovering from rideshare accident injuries.
Pain & Suffering
Physical pain and emotional distress from the crash.
Property Damage
Vehicle and personal property destroyed in the collision.
Future Medical Costs
Ongoing treatment costs if injuries require long-term care.
Punitive Damages
Available when a TNC's negligent driver-screening led to a preventable assault or serious crash.
Call us Today. No fee until you win!
818-224-7940What to Do After a Rideshare Accident
Rideshare accident claims involve insurance complexity that standard car accident cases do not. These steps protect your claim from the outset.
Screenshot the rideshare app
Immediately capture the trip details, driver information, and map — this documents the app status and links the driver to the TNC at the time of the crash.
Call 911
Request police and medical services. A police report is critical.
Photograph everything
Vehicle damage, the driver's Uber/Lyft sticker, and your injuries.
Get the driver's personal insurance in addition to rideshare information
The personal policy may also be relevant depending on app status.
Do not give a recorded statement to the TNC's insurer
Uber and Lyft's insurance adjusters work to minimize claims. Have counsel before making any statement.
Contact Westwood Law
Rideshare cases require knowing which insurance tier applies and how to build the case against the right defendants.