You’re likely feeling confused, upset and anxious if you have recently been involved in an accident as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft. You might be questioning who will pay for your injuries? Is the taxi company responsible or the driver?
Does the drive technically work for the company? Do you have an idea of the laws surrounding these taxi-hailing companies? You might not think about these questions until something actually goes wrong and it’s alright.
For an average passenger, hailing an Uber or Lyft means you are going somewhere with your friends or simply going back home after a long day out. You have no time to worry about serious injuries. Over time, ridesharing services have become very popular and the accidents involving the vehicles are quite common too. The same goes for the questions relating to what happens if the vehicle is involved in an accident.
Am I Allowed To Sue?
This is logically the first question that comes to your mind when you are involved in an accident with an Uber or Lyft. The companies might have a lot more money to pay for an injury than the driver. Also, the company might share in the responsibility of the crash, especially if they didn’t do proper screening of the driver in question. However, suing the company itself isn’t an option.
You should know that the drivers for these ride-sharing companies are classified as independent contractors and not employees. Therefore, the company isn’t liable for their negligent actions. These companies understand that classifying their drivers as independent contractors will protect them from crash-related lawsuits as well as labor laws. They have actually fought hard in court to operate this way.
Fortunately, this doesn’t mean that the lawsuit after the crash will come down to you , the driver and the insurance company. If you have been injured in a Lyft or Uber, there are a few compensation options available to you thanks to the insurance policies the companies have in place for each vehicle.
What You Need To Know About The Insurance Coverage For Uber And Lyft Crashes
All these companies require the drivers to have their own car insurance covers. Also, the prominent ride-sharing companies have additional insurance policies in place to protect the passenger and driver in the event of an accident. Both companies have 3 layers of insurance coverage in the event of a crash. The 4th layer of coverage is the driver’s personal insurance policy.
Therefore, the layer of coverage mostly depends on the phase of the ride your driver was in when the crash happened. For instance:
1. If the driver had the app off and wasn’t working at the time of the crash, only the personal car insurance policy comes into play.
2. If the app was in driver mode without an active ride at the time, the liability insurance covers up to $50,000 for every person who has sustained bodily injury, $100,000 for every accident that has caused bodily injury, $25,000 for each accident that has caused property damage.
3. When the driver accepts a ride until they drop you off, they are covered by auto liability and underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage all the way to $1 million per accident for property damage, injuries; they will be covered by comprehensive coverage and contingent collision to the value of the repair cost or whatever is less.
Depending on this coverage, if you have been involved in a crash involving any of the ridesharing companies, you are eligible for compensation for your case such as the lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering and much more.
Filing A Lawsuit After An Uber Or Lyft Crash
You can file a claim without necessarily hiring the services of an experienced attorney but there is too much work that goes into it. For instance, you need to keep intricate records of all your medical expenses and bills as well as the proper details pertaining to your crash on top of dealing with the insurance company.
That’s why it’s prudent to hire an experienced attorney to help you navigate these tough waters effortlessly. Meanwhile, you can focus on your emotional and physical recovery. Find a good attorney today to help you handle the claim and compensation process after an accident with an Uber or Lyft.