(Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)SAN FRANCISCO - An appeals court has allowed ride-hailing giants Uber and Lyft to continue treating their drivers as independent contractors while an appeal works its way through the court.This comes hours after Lyft announced it would suspend rideshare operations in California beginning late Thursday night, in a blog post.Uber and Lyft threatened to pull out of California by the end of the week if they were forced to classify their drivers as employees instead of independent contractors.RELATED: Uber, Lyft threatening to pull out of California by week's endWhen announcing the suspension, Lyft shared various alternative transportations options for the state's individual.