LAXit Pick-Up Lot Represents a Significant Risk to Drivers and Pedestrians

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has recently banned taxi and rideshare curbside pick-ups; the airport has redirected travelers looking for a ride out of the airport to a specific pick-up location – LAXit. The designated lot allows travelers to wait for their rides at different locations (there are different locations for Uber, Lyft, and taxi pickups throughout the lot). Travelers have the option to walk or take a shuttle to the pick-up lot. The purpose of this major change at LAX was allegedly to address traffic congestion and to make pick-up easier for all parties involved. However, both rideshare drivers and tired LAX travelers have complained about the new pick-up system. Traffic bottleneck results in longer wait times for drivers and passengers alike. On one particular day, it took taxis more than hour to drive to the pick-up lot (from a nearby waiting location); the drive should take 20 minutes max, and the walk could take as little as 5 minutes. The lines in which passengers were waiting (to get into a rideshare vehicle) after being dropped off by the airport shuttle can get so long that many could find themselves waiting more than an hour. Some people opted for other services when the wait times for their initial requests were too long. Some even exited the lot and walked to other locations off-site to request their rides. Without a doubt, the new system has resulted in confusion and frustration in the LAXit lot. The lot is crowded with vehicles and pedestrians – both waiting in line to finally get on their ways. Pedestrians rush towards designated locations in hopes of quickly getting into vehicles and finally being able to go home. Drivers are stuck in traffic both trying to get into the lot and trying to get out of the lot. Frankly, this could have devastating effects. Specifically, the likelihood of auto accidents and pedestrian accidents rises significantly when so many – flustered – parties are involved. So far, there haven’t been any reports of any incidents within the LAXit pickup lot; however, it is possible for incidents to occur and for many parties to be harmed. If you were involved in an auto or pedestrian accident at the LAXit lot or while you were walking into or being transported into the lot (by a shuttle), you might have grounds to take legal action. If you suffered any sort of harm, you might need the assistance of an attorney to evaluate your claim and provide you with the guidance necessary to understand your right to file a claim.

Learn more about your options for compensation by calling (855) 339-8879.

If you are considering the possibility of filing a claim or just exploring your options, you should contact the experts at Downtown L.A. Law Group. At Downtown L.A. Law Group, our lawyers have many years of experience handling all sorts of claims – always representing the best interests of our clients. Regardless of the specific details of the harm that you or a member of your family suffered, you can be certain that our experts are ready to provide you with the representation that you need to hold all liable parties accountable for their actions.

The Likelihood of Auto Accidents

Auto accidents are unfortunately very common. Throughout the country, approximately 3 million people suffer non-fatal injuries associated with auto accidents every year; many others are killed in auto accidents. It is estimated that as many as 100 people die every day in the U.S. due to auto accidents. Although death is always a possibility, most auto accidents result in injuries ranging in severity.

The Likelihood of Pedestrian Accidents

According to the CDC, almost 6,000 pedestrians were killed in pedestrian vs. auto accidents in 2016. This number averages out to one death every 1.5 hours. In 2015, approximately 129,000 pedestrians suffered injuries and were treated in emergency departments for non-fatal injuries. When directly compared to the occupants of passenger vehicles, pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely to be killed due to a car crash. Pedestrians are no match for vehicles; it is very common for pedestrians to be left with critical injuries if they survive the initial impact.

Understanding Liability in Different Circumstances

Who is liable for the harm that you or a member of your family suffered in a pedestrian accident or auto accident? Liability is generally based on negligence – that is, a party owed a duty of care that was breached, resulting in an incident and harm. In some cases, liability is straightforward; however, in cases in which multiple parties are involved, liability can be more difficult to establish. So, who is liable for the harm that you suffered? The answer to this question depends on the circumstances surrounding the accident. Consider the following examples:

• If you suffered a pedestrian accident while walking to the LAXit pick-up lot, LAX could be liable. Besides the fact that the airport could be liable for any injuries caused by hazards on the premises, like sidewalks and walkways, the airport could be liable for the harm suffered to any dangerous conditions, such as uncontrolled intersections, unmarked crossings, and poorly lit areas, for example. If you were hit by a vehicle unaffiliated with the airport, liability could be shared between the driver that struck you and the airport (given that an unsafe condition contributed to the accident). If you were struck by an airport shuttle while you were simply walking to the lot, the airport could be liable.
• If you suffered a pedestrian accident while walking in or waiting at the LAXit pick-up kit, LAX could also be liable. If any unsafe lot conditions contributed to the incident and to the harm that you suffered, the airport could be liable. Again, if you were struck by an airport shuttle while in the pickup lot, the airport could be liable. If you were struck by an Uber, Lyft, or taxi, the respective company could be liable (liability is usually transferred from the driver to the company in these cases). If you were struck by any vehicle because of a dangerous condition within the pickup lot, liability could be shared between the rideshare/taxi company and the airport.
• If you suffered an auto accident while traveling on an airport shuttle bus, the airport could be liable if the accident was caused by the shuttle driver’s negligent or reckless actions. If the auto accident was caused by any other driver, the driver could be liable (or the company for which the driver is driving).
• If you suffered an auto accident while waiting to pick up your passenger or after picking up your passenger, liability will usually fall onto the company that the at-fault driver is driving for. Considering that there are different lanes for different services (Uber, Lyft, Taxis), it is very possible for vehicles with the same company could be involved in an accident. In these cases, liability almost never falls onto the driver, but the companies for which they work.

If you cannot establish liability, you will be unable to take any legal action against the party or entity that contributed to the harm that you suffered. To ensure that you have a thorough understanding about liability surrounding your incident, do not hesitate to contact our firm immediately.

Your Right to Pursue a Claim

Whenever a party suffers any sort of harm as a result of the negligent or reckless actions of another party or entity, the affected party will likely have grounds to pursue a claim. If you suffered any sort of harm through no fault of your own, another party or entity could have contributed to your incident and the harm hat you suffered. If there was a clear duty of care that was breached in any way, causing an incident, liability could be established. For more information about your right to pursue a claim for the harm that you suffered in an LAXit accident, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance at your earliest convenience. If you file a successful lawsuit, you might even be eligible to recover compensation. For more information about your right to file a claim, do not hesitate to contact our firm immediately.

You Could Be Compensated

Depending on the details of the harm that you suffered, you might have grounds to recover compensation for your damages. The type and amount of compensation that you could receive upon reaching a successful claim outcome will always be based on the harm that you suffered. Did you suffer severe injuries? Have your injuries affected different aspects of your life – including your ability to work? Victims and their families could be compensated for the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Property damages
• Loss of consortium
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Punitive damages

Although the types of compensation listed above are commonly recovered, there is no guarantee that you could recover any specific type of compensation. Instead of making any assumptions surrounding your claim, you should always seek the expertise of an attorney. When you allow the injury lawyers at our firm to evaluate and handle your claim, you can be certain that our lawyers will fight for your right to recover the compensation that you are rightfully owed. Our lawyers will aggressively negotiate for a settlement and even take your claim to trial if necessary. Regardless of the circumstance, you can trust that our knowledgeable attorneys are ready to fight for your right to be compensated. For more information regarding the possible value of your claim and your right to receive any compensation, do not hesitate to contact our firm at your earliest convenience.

Get started today by calling (855) 339-8879.

What Should You Do?

If you were involved in an auto or pedestrian accident, the most important thing to do is to stay calm. If you suffered possibly life-threatening injuries, seek medical assistance immediately. If your injuries were only mild to moderate, you should still seek medical attention. You should also take photos of all injuries suffered and of any of the damages sustained in the accident. If there were any witnesses to the accident, you should gather their information. The most important thing to do is to never admit fault – even if you are unsure of what exactly happened; a proper investigation will determine the at-fault party. You should also seek legal assistance immediately to ensure that you have the appropriate legal representation in case you have grounds to file a claim. For more information about what you should do after suffering any harm, do not hesitate to contact our law firm immediately.

How Long Do You Have to File?

All claims are subject to a statute of limitations, which is essentially a deadline to file a claim. If claims are not filed within the appropriate statute of limitations, you will lose your right to sue and receive any form of compensation for the harm that you suffered. Typically, injury claims (in California) are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. This means that affected parties will only have two years to file a claim. Does this deadline apply to claims against LAX? If you are pursuing a claim against LAX, a different deadline would apply – specifically because the airport is owned and operated by a government agency. Because of this, claims against LAX must be filed within a short six months. To ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the statute of limitations that applies to your claim, do not hesitate to contact our firm at your earliest convenience.

Contact Downtown L.A. Law Group Today

If you suffered any sort of harm as a result of the recent changes at LAX, you might have grounds to take legal action. Depending on the specific details surrounding your accident, you might have grounds to pursue a claim against different parties/entities – you might even have grounds to pursue a claim against LAX. Without a doubt, you could benefit from the legal expertise of a lawyer. If you are in need of a lawyer to evaluate your current situation and provide you with the guidance necessary to file a claim and recover compensation, do not hesitate to contact our firm at your earliest convenience. At Downtown L.A. Law Group, our experts have many years of experience successfully handling claims and always ensuring that our clients have the representation that they need to reach successful claim outcomes. If you are ready to discuss your claim with our experts, do not hesitate to contact our firm immediately. You will have access to our free legal services – specifically, to our free consultations and free second opinions. During our free consultations and free second opinions, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions, address all your concerns, and ensure that you have access to all the information that you need to file your claim and reach a successful claim outcome. To benefit from our free legal services, do not hesitate to contact our firm. Our free consultations and free second opinions are available as part of our Zero-Fee guarantee. Our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that our clients will never have to worry about paying any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. Our firm is also based on a contingency structure, which establishes that our clients will never be financially responsible for any legal fees until after winning their claims and being compensated. To ensure that you have appropriate legal representation, contact our law firm at your earliest convenience. Our experts are ready to represent you.