Uber and Lyft drivers should have insurance to cover any injuries incurred in an accident they caused. Rideshare companies require their drivers to carry a personal auto liability policy, while also providing additional coverage under certain circumstances.
Both Uber and Lyft provide at least $1 million in liability coverage for drivers when they are picking up a rider or have a rider in the vehicle with them. However, navigating these types of accident cases can be challenging. Our team can help.
There Should Be Insurance to Cover Your Accident Losses
While sorting out insurance coverage following a rideshare accident is notoriously complex in some cases, there should always be a liability policy in place that provides for your covered losses.
There are large liability policies, contingency policies, and personal insurance policies that could cover your injuries and expenses, but which one applies depends on what the driver was doing when the crash occurred.
When you work with a personal injury lawyer from our law firm, we can help you determine the best way to proceed with an insurance claim after an injury crash. Our team regularly deals with rideshare accident cases and can guide you through the nuances of your case.
What if the Driver Was Not on the App?
If the rideshare driver who caused your accident was not logged in on the app at the time, their personal car insurance policy is your only option for coverage. This type of case should proceed like a typical car accident claim.
Contingent Coverage Is Available When the Driver Was on the App But Not Matched
If the driver was working at the time of the accident but not currently matched with a rider, their personal insurance carrier will provide the primary coverage for your claim. However, under some circumstances, a contingency policy provided by the rideshare company may be in effect. For example, this could occur if:
- The driver’s policy denies the claim.
- The driver is uninsured.
- The driver does not have adequate insurance coverage.
When the Rideshare Company’s Liability Policy Applies
As soon as a driver agrees to pick up a rider and heads their way, the rideshare company’s liability policy becomes the primary coverage. It remains the primary insurance coverage until the driver drops off the rider. This policy generally covers up to $1 million in damages.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 537-8185
Past Concerns Still Cause Confusion for Rideshare Accident Victims
In the early days of Uber and Lyft, accident victims often struggled to recover compensation following rideshare collisions. Many drivers learned the hard way that their insurance carriers would not cover damages that occurred when they were using their car for ridesharing. Moreover, rideshare companies did not provide the coverage available now.
These difficulties and the issues they caused for accident victims are why many municipalities, counties, and states changed their rules for rideshare companies. These changes led to the companies providing the minimum $1 million in liability coverage and the contingent policy during other parts of the rideshare cycle.
However, the accident must still meet the circumstances outlined above to qualify for coverage from the rideshare company’s insurer. Depending on the specifics of your accident, you may have to deal with multiple insurance companies to recover compensation.
Can I Sue the Rideshare Company for Compensation?
Rideshare drivers are not employees. Instead, they are independent contractors. Though this may not seem like a big difference, it makes it difficult to sue Uber or Lyft for injuries from an accident that one of their drivers caused. These companies are generally not vicariously responsible for these collisions.
You may be able to sue the rideshare driver if necessary. However, this does not happen in most cases. Because the liability insurance coverage limits are so high, negotiating an out-of-court settlement is often possible. Working with a Birmingham personal injury attorney from our firm who knows how to navigate this process can make it easier.
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Speak with Our Team About Your Accident as Soon as Possible
When you hire a lawyer from our team, we will fight to protect your rights and gather evidence to prove your case. We want to help you recover a payout for your injuries and losses.
To begin, our firm offers every caller a free consultation, so you can discuss your legal options with someone right away. This is important because you only have a short time to get started. Evidence begins to disappear quickly. The rideshare driver will be in a hurry to get their car repaired, witnesses may forget what they saw, and local businesses could record over video of the collision.
There are also deadlines to filing a lawsuit that could range anywhere from one to four years after the collision. Our team can identify these deadlines to preserve your right to file.
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Morris Bart, LLC, Will Review Your Case for Free
You can speak with an attorney from the Morris Bart law firm today for free. We represent victims of rideshare accidents in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Call (800) 537-8185 now to get started with your complimentary consultation. We will assess your case, determine how we may be able to help, and explain how our contingency fee agreement works.
Questions?Call (800) 537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
