Ridesharing services like Uberpool and Lyft are a pretty popular way to get around. According to surveys, the ridesharing industry will reportedly have a market value of over $220 by 2025. However, this increasing popularity is no surprise, as ridesharing services are convenient and cheap.
However, while convenient, ridesharing services are not all sunshine and rainbows. Like any other driver, ridesharing drivers can also get into accidents, and when they do, it can be quite confusing for the victim. If you’ve recently been injured in a ridesharing accident, you’re in good company. This article discusses what you need to know about ridesharing accidents to know how to figure out the right approach.
Why Ridesharing Accidents are Unique
When one is involved in an ordinary road accident, the steps to take afterward are usually pretty straightforward. However, determining liability when you are involved in a ridesharing accident as the passenger can be a little complex because;
Rideshare Drivers are Under Contract
In their statements, leading rideshare companies, Uber and Lyft, boldly claim they are not taxi services, but platforms that help match people who need a ride with willing drivers. In respect to that, these companies consider any driver who uses their apps are independent contractors instead of employees. What this means is that they cannot be held fully responsible for the Driver’s actions.
Drivers Use Their Vehicles
What makes ridesharing accidents even more complex is that the drivers use their vehicles to offer rides and not Uber’s or Lyft vehicles. Thanks to this, the Uber driver’s first line of defense when an accident does occur is their personal insurance cover. They could also use a special ridesharing insurance coverage, which, unfortunately, only 23% have purchased.
Who pays for the Crash if the Driver has No Personal or Ridesharing Insurance Cover?
Both Uber and Lyft offer insurance coverage for both passengers and drivers. However, the coverage level varies based on the Driver’s app activity in the event of the crash. Their policies are divided into periods as highlighted below;
Period 0: Offline
If the Driver is a registered Uber or Lyft user, but in the event of the crash they were offline, the company offers no coverage.
Period 1: Waiting Period
If during the crash, the Driver had their app on and actively looking for a passenger, both Uber and Lyft offer a third party liability coverage. If the driver is at fault, the company covers all the damages and losses but will not cover the Driver. Uber usually offers $25,000 in property damage liability, $50,000 in injury, and $100,000 total liability per accident.
Period 2: En-route
Period 2 is when the Driver has been matched with a passenger and is on their way to pick them up. If an accident happens during this time, both companies offer a million in total liability. They also provide contingent collision for the Driver’s vehicle.
Period 3: Picked Passenger
Phase 3 begins after the Driver picks the passenger. During this period, the Driver gets $1million uninsured motorist liability, and if they had collision protection on their personal insurance policy, they’ll also get collision protection. The passenger receives $1million in total liability and $1 million motorist injury liability.
Contact the Experts Today
Being involved in an accident is stressful by itself. Add in having to navigate the complexities of a rideshare accident, and it can be easily overwhelming for you. The good news is that you don’t have to do it all alone.
At RS Law Offices, our team of trusted rideshare attorneys has been helping those injured in such accidents pursue the compensation they deserve. We recognize how overwhelming it can be and the negative impact it can have on your life. Call us today and schedule an obligation free consultation.
blogs
Dealing with Dog Bites
Dog bites, dog attacks and maulings by dogs are a problem the world over. Sometimes these injuries can be fatal. They tend to affect children most (most children have been bitten by a dog they know by age 11), but can happen to anyone. It can be helpful to understand some techniques for avoiding dog […]
Driving Tips for Warm Weather
As winter thaws and we move into spring and summer, the roads will soon begin filling up with road-trippers and people moving cross country. The more cars on the road, and the more freedom we have in that nice, warm weather, the more risk we’re at of some kind of accident. Here are a few […]
Ridesharing Services May Help Lower Drunk Driving Accidents
Research has been done in Chicago showing a correlation between ridesharing and drunk driving incidents. The study looks at the relationship between rideshare participants on the road and accidents over about a year’s time. It is no secret that drunk driving leads to catastrophic damages and injury on a regular basis in America. If you […]
Finding the Right Mechanic
In a state like California, which is full of drivers, it is interesting that finding a trustworthy mechanic is such a difficult task. There are many inscrutable technicians out. It is not uncommon to be informed, months after the supposed installment, that your “brand new brakes” have actually never been changed. And, surprisingly, even in […]
Pedestrian Safety in Cold Weather
When it’s cold outside, people drive worse than they did before. If you’re a pedestrian, you need to take extra precautions during the cold weather and, if you’re driving, you need to keep an extra eye out for pedestrians who are even harder to see, especially if snow is lowering your visibility. Safety is always […]
Bike Maintenence Checklist
For those of us who bike to work, it’s clear that riding around is more than a hobby. Biking is something that can improve your mental and physical health. It can become a way of life, because to do it right takes commitment. You need to learn the best and fastest bike routes, have all […]
Winter Bicycle Riding Tips
With cold winds in your face and slick surfaces to navigate, the winter is not the ideal to ride on your typical bicycle. Many of us use a bike as our regular transportation, and some of us have our bikes tricked out for winter riding, as well. In order to make the most of your […]
Personal Injury Lawsuits: What You Need to Know and how RS Law Office Can Help
Life is pretty unpredictable. One minute you’re healthy and bubbly, the next one you are nursing an injury due to someone else’s negligence. But the fact that life is unpredictable does not in any way reduce the pain and confusion that may arise when you find yourself in harm’s way due to another person’s negligence. […]
Common Land Rover Problems: When to Apply the Lemon Law
Range Rovers have an irresistible allure. One characterized by a sporty appearance, high performance, and luxurious interior. They also have a high safety rating, but it’s not uncommon for them to experience problems that render them as lemon. Some of the issues have led to recalls, and others are yet to be addressed by the […]
Get Personal Injury Help in Southern California and Arizona from RS Law Offices
If you live in Southern California or Arizona, and you’ve been injured in an accident, you may have a right to seek compensation. If you’ve suffered a personal injury, you’re going to have some questions, and navigating those concerns is all but impossible to do on your own. You not only have a right to […]
contact form
