Uber and Lyft are common household names and most people have either used these rideshare programs or at least heard of them. Ridesharing is a popular form of transportation, especially in cities like Sacramento. They are easy, convenient, and reliable. But what happens if your rideshare driver gets in a car accident?
Ridesharing is a fairly new practice so policies seem to change or update often. In most cases, if you’re injured in an Uber or Lyft, and the driver is at fault, your personal injuries will be covered by insurance. If the ride sharing driver has a commercial insurance policy or a personal car insurance policy with a special provision that provides coverage while engaged as a ride sharing driver, this should cover your injuries. Unfortunately, most drivers do not carry this type of insurance. Thankfully, Uber and Lyft both carry third party liability insurance coverage that covers up to $1 million for personal injuries and property damage per accident.
If you’re in a car accident and the rideshare driver is not at fault, you’ll have to seek to recover from the at-fault driver. This can happen through a third-party car insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. If you discover the at-fault driver does not have insurance or doesn’t have enough to pay for your injuries, Uber and Lyft have uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) insurance coverage. This may be more difficult to attain and you will have to prove the at-fault driver cannot pay.
As with any type of personal injury accident, it’s important to seek medical attention first. Not only does this ensure you don’t have serious injuries, it legally protects you if injuries arise later. If you can, take photos or videos at the crash scene and of the damaged car. Get the names, contact information, and insurance information of your driver and other parties involved. If there were bystanders who saw the crash, record their information as well.
Determining who’s at fault and which insurance will ultimately pay for the damages can be challenging.
If you have questions about your rights or would like to speak to a car accident attorney, give Eason & Tambornini a call today.
