Nearly two years after the death of Shane Holland, Lyft Inc. still has not compensated his family. Holland, 24, hired a Lyft driver with his boyfriend, Brady Lawrence, to take them home from a Halloween party on November 1st, 2014.
The driver, Shanti Adhikari, lost control of his Toyota when trying to avoid a stopped car. Their vehicle crashed into a tree and Holland was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
California Highway Patrol concluded the fault falls onto the driver, further stating Adhikari did not have proof of insurance at the time.
Lyft boldly lauds their safety procedures, touting a $1,000,000 liability insurance that covers both drivers and passengers.
After Lyft’s first fatal crash, this policy is now being put to the test, but failing to hold up to its promises. As one of nearly two dozen defenses put forth by Lyft’s legal team, they state they should not be held liable as the driver was an independent contractor and not an employee.
Yet, all of Lyft’s drivers are independent contractors.
Donna Dinapoli, Holland’s mother, and Lawrence have now filed a wrongful death lawsuit, and their personal injury attorney hopes for a trial date this year.
Don’t Rely On Insurance Companies
When the accident occurred, Lyft stated their insurance company would cover the claims. However, this doesn’t appear to be the case. If your loved one succumbed to an auto accident, seeking immediate legal representation for wrongful death can help you avoid pitfalls like insurers dragging their feet in settlement of car accident claims.