If you are involved in a rideshare accident you likely will wonder: Who is responsible for paying those? The driver? The rideshare company? Another involved driver? Of course, the answer depends partially on who was at fault but there are other factors that are relevant too. Read on to learn more about Lyft and Uber accident claims and then contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal case evaluation.
Coverage Offered by Uber and Lyft to Their Drivers
First of all, know that Uber and Lyft both cover their drivers with a liability policy for $1 million. This begins with you enter the vehicle – and possibly before – and ends when you exit the vehicle. This is a very large policy compared to other taxi services or private insurance policies. If you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft when the accident occurred, you should be able to count on that coverage for your case. However, it is not always that simple.
The Three Stages of “Working” for Uber or Lyft
Who covers the damages will depend largely on whether or not the driver was working. It may seem that whether or not they were working is a simple thing to figure out but that is not the case. There are actually three stages of working for Uber/Lyft:
- Not Logged in to the app.
- Logged in and waiting for a ride request.
- Driver in route to pick up passengers or actively has passengers in their vehicle.
If the driver is not logged in then Uber or Lyft is not responsible for paying damages. If the driver is logged in and waiting for a request, then Uber or Lyft’s policies may or may not cover damages. If the driver is actively driving a passenger or has accepted a ride and is in route to pick up a passenger, then Uber or Lyft’s policy would cover them.
If You Were the Passenger You Are in a Win-Win Situation
Of course, you dealt with injuries, lost work, pain and suffering, but when it comes to your personal injury case, you are in a win-win situation if you were the passenger. If the driver of the vehicle you were in is liable for the accident, then Uber or Lyft will be responsible for providing coverage to you.
If another vehicle was at fault, their insurance company is responsible for your injuries. If a driver who was not insured or was uninsured caused the accident, then the rideshare company’s policy will kick in. The short fact is this: If you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft vehicle when an accident occurred, you are almost guaranteed to have your damages covered – assuming you play your cards right. The first card to play is to contact a personal injury attorney who can help: Call The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
