What Happens After An Auto Accident When You’re The Passenger In An Uber or Lyft?

By |2019-09-16T18:17:07+00:00September 16th, 2019|Uncategorized|0 Comments

With the increasing popularity of ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft, there is also a substantial uptick in accidents involving drivers for rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft. While both companies claim to offer huge, comprehensive insurance policies to both drivers and passengers, in practice, their insurers and their coverage can leave a lot to be desired. 

So whether you’re a rideshare driver, a passenger who has been injured in a rideshare vehicle, or another driver who has been involved in an accident, read on to learn more about how to recover the damages you’re owed.

What Types of Accidents Are Associated With Uber and Lyft Drivers?

While normal fender-benders are certainly a part of the problem with rideshare liability, there are actually a variety of circumstances that make liability complicated when Uber and Lyft are involved. For instance: 

  • Uber and Lyft drivers may themselves be denied compensation they deserve.
  • Passengers in an Uber or Lyft ride may be injured in a crash.
  • An Uber or Lyft driver may strike a pedestrian or cyclist while on the clock.
  • Drivers and passengers in other vehicles may suffer injuries in a wreck with an   Uber or Lyft driver.

Where a claim is strictly about property damage, your insurance company can usually resolve the matter satisfactorily. When injuries are part of the claim, you may need to consider working with an injury lawyer to get the compensation you deserve.

Who Pays in an Uber or Lyft Accident?

First, let’s explain the basic outline of insurance coverage in the rideshare world. Both Uber and Lyft boast of having comprehensive, $1 million insurance policies that cover both the driver and the passenger in cars working for them. 

If this sounds like they’ve got everything covered, think again. Insurance companies are notorious for fighting claims, and even this “comprehensive” coverage only applies in limited circumstances.

For both companies, their policies only provide full coverage when a non-employee, independent contractor driver is logged into their dispatch app and actually transporting a passenger via that app. When a driver for Uber or Lyft is simply out and about in their car, their personal auto insurance is responsible for paying damages in the event of an accident.

When a driver for a rideshare company is logged into the dispatch app and awaiting a new pickup, but doesn’t have a passenger in the vehicle, their personal insurance is still expected to provide the majority of coverage for an accident. 

In Uber’s case, the company says it will pay damages that exceed the driver’s personal policy. You will have to be proactive to make this happen, though. In Lyft’s case, the company says only that it will provide coverage if the driver’s auto insurance is not responsive.

In general, if you’ve been in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver who was on the clock, you can expect access to some additional compensation if you’ve suffered injuries or damages in excess of the driver’s personal policy. 

If you’ve been hurt in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver who was transporting a passenger, you may have access to considerably more compensation than a personal policy would usually offer. 

How Do I Get Full Compensation for Injuries?

Car accident liability cases can be very complicated, particularly when there are multiple parties involved. With Uber and Lyft cases, things can often look like this: your insurance company, the Uber or Lyft driver’s personal insurance company, an insurance company for rideshare company, and an insurance company for an injured rideshare passenger will all be fighting for different things, on behalf of different interests.

Your best bet when you’ve been involved in an Uber or Lyft accident, even if you’re an Uber of Lyft driver who’s not getting the results you expect in this interaction, is to contact an experienced Uber and Lyft accident attorney

What Should I Look For In An Uber or Lyft Accident Attorney?

When you’ve experienced an accident or injury involving companies as big as Uber and Lyft, you want to work with lawyers who won’t be intimidated, and who work only for you. Look for an experienced law firm in your area that has the resources to go head to head with a team of corporate lawyers. 

The firm should work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that they only get paid if you collect money in the case. This builds in strong incentives to either win a big award at trial or negotiate a settlement that’s more than fair to you.

Then, be prepared for a lengthy process. Some injury cases can be resolved in a few months, but if the insurer digs in its heels, the timeframe can stretch considerably. Your attorney should keep you up to date on the latest as your Uber or Lyft accident case proceeds.

 

Louis Gertler is a Partner with the Gertler Law Firm in New Orleans, Louisiana. The law

firm represents plaintiffs in personal injury matters and focuses on succession planning as well.  The information above is not legal advice and we urge you to consult with a local attorney for advice regarding your individual situation.


Gertler Law Firm
935 Gravier Street,
Suite 1900
New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 581-6411
https://www.neworleanspersonalinjury.com/

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