Rideshare services are becoming more popular and this puts a risk for injury and accidents on the road. What happens if you’re injured in a crash involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle as a passenger, another driver, or a bystander? Who pays for your injuries, the driver or the company? Should I hire a rideshare accident attorney? Does the driver work for Uber or Lyft? How do the laws surrounding these services work? What happens when a rider or another driver gets hurt and needs to file a lawsuit?
These questions can be overwhelming and most people don’t think about these questions until something goes wrong.
Can You Sue Uber Or Lyft Directly After A Crash?
After an accident, if the rideshare company did not properly screen the driver in question then the rideshare company may be partially responsible for the crash.
However, directly sue a rideshare company is not an option since drivers for Lyft, Uber and other similar ridesharing companies are almost always classified as independent contractors rather than employees. This means that the company is not liable for the negligent actions of its drivers.
Ridesharing companies classify their drivers as independent contractors to protect themselves from crash-related lawsuits and labor laws. However, this does not mean that you will be the only one liable for the accident.
If you have been hurt in an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you have options for compensation. Rideshare companies have insurance policies for each vehicle.
Insurance Coverage For Uber And Lyft Crashes
All ridesharing companies require their drivers to have their own auto insurance coverage, and the most important companies like Uber and Lyft also have additional insurance policies in place to protect the driver and passengers in case of a crash.
Both Uber and Lyft maintain three layers of insurance coverage in case of a crash. The layers of coverage apply depending on which phase of the ride your driver was in at the time of the crash:
- If the driver has their Uber/ Lyft app off and wasn’t working at the time of the crash, they are covered only by their personal auto insurance policy.
- If the driver has their app on in driver mode but didn’t have an active ride at the time, they are covered by liability insurance up to:
- $50,000 per person for bodily injury
- $100,000 per accident total for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
- From the time the driver accepts a ride request until they drop the passenger off, they are covered by auto liability and uninsured/ underinsured motorist coverage up to $1 million per accident for injuries; for property damage, they’re covered by contingent collision and comprehensive coverage up to the cash value of the vehicle or the repair cost, whichever is less.
Based on the coverage available for these rideshare companies, you may be eligible to get compensation for your injuries, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
How To File A Lawsuit After An Uber Or Lyft Crash
After an accident, you can file a personal injury claim related to an Uber or Lyft crash without the help of an experienced attorney. However, you may be feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by the massive amount of work that goes into filling one of these claims.
Besides keeping all of your records of medical bills and expenses, as well as details related to your crash, you’ll also need to deal with your insurance company, who will try to minimize your claim and pay you as little as possible.
It is not impossible to deal with your case without hiring a lawyer. However, the more complex your case is, like for example, if it involves multiple injured parties who are filing claims against the same insurance policy, the lower your chances will be at being able to succeed without any help.
It is recommended that your case is handled by an experienced injury attorney to ensure your case is in good hands, while you focus on your physical and emotional recovery.
Contact The Lawyers At Adley Law Firm
If you have been injured in an Uber, Lyft or any rideshare company then the lawyers at Adley Law Firm can help. Our Uber accident lawyers are experienced and have dealt with many rideshare related cases. We’re here to make sure that your rights are protected and that your losses, pain, and suffering are addressed. We will fight aggressively in court if necessary to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
Contact us at (713) 999-8669, or schedule a free consultation today. Our contingent fee policy guarantees that you won’t pay any fees unless we are able to get you compensated.
