In recent years, the world has seen the exponential rise of ride-sharing platforms, such as Uber and Lyft. While a passenger in a stranger’s car, some often wonder, “Who’s responsible in an Uber or Lyft accident?”, or “How will I be compensated for my injuries from an Uber or Lyft accident?”. Here’s everything you need to know about liability in an Uber or Lyft accident.
Passengers involved in an Uber or Lyft accident can claim personal injury to receive monetary compensation for their losses. In a ride-sharing accident, financial responsibility is placed on the at-fault driver. This could be either the Uber or Lyft driver, or the other party involved in the collision.
Pride Legal recommends hiring a Personal Injury Attorney to receive the maximum compensation for your losses.
Who’s to Blame?
Fortunately, Uber and Lyft are insured by a liability insurance coverage, guaranteeing up to $1 million for personal injuries and property damage for an accident. This liability insurance coverage will only be used once the ride-sharing driver’s insurance coverage has been fully used.
If the Uber or Lyft driver has a special commercial or personal car insurance policy, the Uber or Lyft driver’s car insurance policy will cover the passenger’s injuries. In most cases, the ride-sharing driver will not have a special commercial or personal car insurance policy that will cover the passenger’s injuries.
So regardless of the ride-sharing driver’s insurance policy, you will be covered if the Uber or Lyft driver is at fault in the accident.
But what happens if your Uber or Lyft driver is not at fault in the accident?
In this circumstance, the passenger would pursue compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance, through either a third party car insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. But if the at-fault driver does not have a sufficient car insurance policy, then how do you claim compensation for your losses as a passenger?
In this situation, the passenger would seek compensation from the ride-sharing company’s liability insurance coverage. If the responsible driver does not have sufficient car insurance coverage, the ride-sharing platform’s carries a $1 million insurance policy per accident to cover your losses. If the ride-sharing company’s insurance won’t cover your losses, then you and your attorney can go after Uber or Lyft themselves.
Filing a Lawsuit Against Uber or Lyft
Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. The ride-sharing companies purposefully placed this classification on their drivers because independent contractors are entitled to substantially fewer rights than employees, and are not legally bound to their companies. This means that Uber and Lyft purposefully classified their drivers as independent contractors in order to not be legally responsible for their negligence.
Going after Uber or Lyft directly should be your last resort. In a situation where the Uber or Lyft driver was at fault for the accident, the injured passenger can argue that the ride-sharing company is partially to blame for the accident. In order to win a personal injury case against Uber or Lyft, it is imperative to consult a Pride Legal Personal Injury Attorney.
Contact Pride Legal
If you or a loved one has been involved in an Uber or Lyft accident, we invite you to contact us at Pride Legal for legal counseling or any further questions. To protect your rights, hire someone who understands them.
