Looking to sue Lyft? Small claims court is an option, and you may have others…
At FairShake we’ve helped thousands of people ripped off by big companies like Lyft. And we’ve helped get millions of dollars in settlement offers…
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Tired of hitting dead ends when trying to get a refund from Lyft? Feeling like there’s nowhere to turn?
You’re not alone. It seems like many people have tried all the Lyft customer service options, but still feel unheard.
There are different ways to file a complaint against Lyft, but none have the same power and leverage as taking legal action.
So, if you’re thinking of suing Lyft, where do you even start? You might expect there to be tons of class action lawsuits against them, but it’s often more complicated than that.
What many people don’t know is that hidden clauses buried deep within their contracts frequently allow companies like Lyft to push legal claims into the private realm of consumer arbitration, away from conventional courts.
But here’s the thing: your Lyft contract doesn’t have the power to take away your right to pursue legal action by suing them.
Here’s what you can do…
Learn more about the consumer arbitration process here.
If you’re ready to sue Lyft in Small Claims Court, read on below:
Ready to sue Lyft in small claims court? First, you have to make sure your claim qualifies. Small claims courts are only for certain types of claims and yours will only qualify based on the type of claim and amount of money you want. There are two things you need to pay attention to:
The amount of money: Every small claims court sets a maximum dollar size for the claim you can bring. This means there is a limit to how much money you can ask for when you sue Lyft. In most states it’s either $5000 or $10,000, but it can be as low as $2,500 (in Kentucky and Rhode Island). You can find a list of all 50 states’ monetary limits here.
If your claim doesn’t fall within the limits of your state’s small claims court, you’ll have to arbitrate your claim instead.
Before you can sue Lyft, you have to ask them politely to fix the problem. Most small claims courts require that you ask the person you’re suing (the “defendant”) to fix your problem voluntarily before you file your claim. So if you want to sue Lyft in small claims court, you need to send them a demand letter first.
Your demand letter can be simple and straightforward, just a few sentences telling Lyft who you are (your name, address, phone number and account number), what the problem is, and what you want from them.
When you’re done writing, you need to mail a hard copy of the letter, preferably as certified mail or some other service that allows you to confirm delivery, to their legal address. According to our most recent research, Lyft is legally based in Delaware and receives mail at this address:
LYFT, INC.
C/O THE CORPORATION TRUST COMPANY
CORPORATION TRUST CENTER 1209 ORANGE ST
WILMINGTON, DE 19801
If you would like examples of demand letters or more information about how to write them, you can find an excellent guide here.
In order to sue Lyft in small claims court, you’re going to need to fill out some paper work.
Each state has a set of forms that need to be filled out to file a claim, and sometimes the county in which you live also has forms to include. You can find these for free on the state court website.
Make sure you fill out enough forms too, most states require 3 or 4, because without enough copies, you can’t submit your claim.
When you’re done filling out the court forms, it’s time to give those forms to the court. This process, called “filing” can be a bit tricky.
Many courts will require you to physically come to the courthouse during specific hours and days to hand-deliver the forms to the court’s clerk. Other courts may allow you to file by mail, fax or (for a few courts) online.
All courts will require you to pay a filing fee before they allow your to sue Lyft in small claims. This fee, which will be published on your court’s website, can sometimes be waved if you are a low income plaintiff.
When you file your forms, the court clerk will provide you with a stamped copy of the forms and a court date. Keep it safe and bring it with you on the day of your hearing.
When suing Lyft, you need to officially inform them they are being sued. This is called “serving” them. You have to deliver their copy (yes, that’s why you are required to have so many) of the forms you filled out earlier.
Look at your court’s website for instructions on how to properly deliver your forms to Lyft, or search for “[your state] small claims service of process”. Courts have many strange rules about how to serve a defendant, and your claim will be dropped if you do not follow them perfectly. So be careful!
When the court clerk gives you a court date (after you file your forms), make sure to put it on your calendar because that is the date of your hearing.
Make sure you know which courthouse to go to and show up on time. Bring your copy of your filed forms, and any other evidence that backs up your case against Lyft.
Sometimes, Lyft will not show up to oppose you, meaning they won’t send anyone else. If that happens, take advantage of the situation to focus on your side of what they did and what you want them to do to fix it.
Ready to sue Lyft in small claims court?
If this sounds too hard and expensive, try consumer arbitration instead…
Get justice when a business lets you down:
FairShake’s Ultimate Guide to Consumer Complaints
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