Uber & Lyft

INVOLVED IN AN UBER OR LYFT ACCIDENT? HERE ARE SOME USEFUL TIPS WHICH YOU MAY REQUIRE TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

The Advent of Ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft has reformed transportation in numerous areas of the U.S., replacing taxis and other conventional methods of travel. Subsequently, numerous mishaps are accounted for every day brought about by the drivers of these companies. Be that as it may, what occurs assuming you are injured in an impact with a functioning driver for Uber or Lyft, or on the other hand assuming that you are injured while riding as a passenger with drivers of Uber and Lyft, you might be uncertain of who is, at last, liable for covering your injuries. Will it be the Company or the Driver? Let’s understand this in a bit of detail.

LIABILITY OF AN UBER OR LYFT DRIVER IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT?

When an accident involves an Uber or Lyft, the driver usually is the one who assumes liability as the driver was the one who was operating the vehicle. However, the driver’s insurance policy may not be enough to adequately compensate you for the injuries you suffered. That’s why victims have started to hold the rideshare companies accountable for the reckless or negligent actions of their drivers, and lawsuits against the companies have steadily increased.

These Companies have regularly tried to avoid responsibility for accidents caused by their drivers by claiming that they are not actually employees, but “independent contractors.” The companies have also argued that they are merely mobile applications that connect people for services and that they are not employers at all.

Although the ridesharing companies hope that their business model will protect them from liability in the event of accidents, however, often the courts do not agree to this. The California Public Utilities Commission recently ruled that rideshare companies owe a duty to their passengers, and across the country, the companies have been forced to accept stringent regulations and increased scrutiny over safety.

HOW DOES INSURANCE WORK FOR UBER AND LYFT DRIVERS?

The two major rideshare companies, Uber and Lyft, currently provide a $1 million insurance policy that covers drivers and passengers who are hurt in car accidents. These policies provide compensation for injuries, medical costs, and deaths under a three-part plan that includes:

• Rideshare drivers who are hurt in an accident that was caused by another driver. – If it was another driver who was at fault for the accident, you may have access to their policy to cover your injuries. In addition to this policy, Uber requires all drivers to carry state-mandated minimums for their personal insurance coverage.

• Rideshare passengers who are hurt while inside the vehicle. – if you have been involved in a serious accident while you were a passenger of an Uber or Lyft driver, you probably will need to make a claim against the ridesharing company’s third-party liability insurance. Both Uber and Lyft provide up to $1 million for injuries and property damage in an accident, and they provide the same amount through their uninsured/underinsured insurance coverage. Uber and Lyft coverage takes effect only once you have exhausted the ridesharing driver’s individual insurance if any.

If you are making a claim against the ridesharing company’s UM/UIM coverage, you will need to show that the at-fault driver did not have enough insurance, did not have enough insurance to compensate you for your injuries, or was not identified.

• Other drivers or bystanders who are hurt in accidents caused by a rideshare driver. – If an Uber or Lyft driver hit you when you were in another vehicle, you can pursue a claim against the liability coverage of that driver. This will be similar to most ordinary car accident claims. Since the driver’s individual policy probably does not cover accidents when they are driving for profit, you can expect to end up making a claim against the ridesharing company’s insurance policy. The situation is straightforward if the Uber or Lyft driver was carrying a passenger for hire at the time of the crash. When this happens, Uber or Lyft insurance coverage for injured people in other cars extends to $1 million.

The situation can become complicated if the driver was not carrying a passenger who hired them through the app. If a driver happens to drive for Uber and Lyft but is not logged into the app at the time of the crash, Uber or Lyft coverage does not apply. However, the driver’s individual coverage probably applies and would be your main recourse.