Ridesharing services such as Lyft and Uber have become more mainstream modes of transportation for many people in recent years. Users view ridesharing as a convenient and cost-effective way to get around.
Most people who use Uber and Lyft also believe that it is a relatively safe way to travel. Early safety concerns focused on potential risks posed by strangers sharing a vehicle. Despite some reports of violence – both by drivers and passengers – perhaps the bigger safety issue is one that’s common to everyone on the road: car accidents.
Here are some issues you should be aware of if you use Uber or Lyft, or if you are involved in a car crash caused by an Uber or Lyft driver.
What Makes Ridesharing Accidents Unique Among Car Accident Cases?
Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft operate much differently from traditional taxicabs or car services:
• Individuals use their own vehicles to provide transportation to riders who hail them through the ridesharing service’s online app.
• Drivers typically don’t have commercial driver’s licenses or their own commercial auto insurance as would be required for cabbies and other professional drivers.
The ridesharing companies maintain that their role is simply to match drivers with riders so they can share a trip. They maintain that the drivers are not their employees. Some municipalities have contended that they actually function more like a traditional taxi or limousine service.
Uber and Lyft do take steps to screen drivers who offer rides through the app, including criminal background checks and records of any prior accidents or traffic infractions (speeding tickets, DUI, etc.).
Uber drivers, for example, must also meet these criteria:
• They must be at least 21.
• They must have at least one year of driving experience in the United States if age 23 or older, or at least three years of driving experienced in the United States if younger than 23.
• They must have a valid U.S. driver’s license.
• They must have an eligible four-door vehicle.
• They need to have both proof of registration and proof of vehicle insurance.
What Happens If I Am in an Accident as an Uber Passenger?
Uber provides commercial insurance coverage that applies from the time an Uber driver accepts a call until the time the rider is dropped off at their destination. This insurance typically has a $1 million policy limit – significantly higher than what’s available from most individuals’ auto coverage.
• If you are injured in a single-vehicle accident involving only the Uber vehicle, or if you are injured in an accident that was the Uber driver’s fault, the Uber insurance coverage should be available to pay for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and other losses. You would generally not be able to seek compensation from the driver’s personal auto policy, though there are some legal arguments that coverage could be available.
• If the crash was caused by another driver’s negligence, you should be able to recover compensation from that at-fault driver in the same way you would if you were a passenger in a friend or family member’s car, for example.
Whatever the situation, it is important to report the crash to Uber as soon as possible through Uber’s app.
What Happens If My Lyft Driver Gets Into an Accident?
Accidents involving Lyft drivers are handled much like Uber accidents. Lyft also provides insurance coverage to its drivers while they are en route to pick up a rider and while the driver is transporting the rider to their destination.
This insurance would apply in a single-vehicle accident involving a Lyft driver, as well as a multi-vehicle crash caused by a negligent Lyft driver.
Be certain to notify Lyft about the incident as soon as you can. You can do this through the app you used to hail the ride.
What If I Am a Driver Hit by a Ridesharing Vehicle?
Even if you have never taken a ride with Lyft or Uber, you could still find yourself in a situation where you must deal with the issues raised by insurance coverage for ridesharing services. With so many Uber and Lyft drivers on the road these days, there is a significant risk of being involved in a crash with one of them.
Several factors about your crash could affect your entitlement to compensation and the source of that compensation:
• If the Uber or Lyft driver was en route to pick up a rider or was transporting a rider at the time of the crash, the ridesharing service’s liability insurance would come into play. If the ridesharing driver was at fault for the crash, you may be able to recover compensation from Uber or Lyft’s commercial coverage.
• As in any accident, if you were at fault for the crash, you would have to turn to your own policy for coverage – and the individuals in the ridesharing vehicle would likely pursue claims against your insurance.
• If the Uber or Lyft driver was “deadheading” without a fare (for example, awaiting a hail, running an errand, driving to a popular area in hopes of getting a hail), the ridesharing service’s commercial policy would likely not apply. If the Uber or Lyft driver was responsible for the crash that injured you, you would most likely need to pursue compensation from the driver’s private auto policy.
In any event, you should notify the ridesharing service that you were involved in a crash with one of their drivers, and ask the police to include this information on the accident report.
Get Help From a Ridesharing Accident Lawyer Now
One thing is clear: crashes involving Lyft, Uber or other ridesharing services have a level of complexity that goes beyond the typical crash. That’s why it’s important to work with an experienced attorney who has the skills and resources to investigate and pursue compensation in a complicated scenario.
Contact Ben Bronston & Associates today and experience the difference. See what it’s like to work with an attorney who gives you personal attention. Engage an attorney who is interested in your health and welfare, and who is intent on finding money to cover your car accident losses.
Start our work for you with a free, no-obligation review of your case. If we see money for you in a ridesharing car accident claim, we’ll fight for you on a contingency fee basis. We won’t charge you unless we settle or win your case with a payment made to you. Call us today.