There is no denying that ridesharing services helped make our lives a little better. Nowadays, you don’t have to hail a taxi in the street and fight off a stranger who decided their transportation needs are more pressing than yours.
If you don’t have a car and don’t feel like riding the bus or paying the price of a taxi, you can whip out your phone, summon a driver, and enjoy the ride. However, did you ever wonder what happens if your driver gets in an accident and you sustain injuries?
In all fairness, it’s not something anyone would want to think about, but it is a topic worthy of your attention if you’re using these services (like most other people). So, whose insurance will cover your costs if you’re injured in a Uber/Lyft driver’s car? Will Lyft or Uber pony up the money for your medical bills and other costs?
While the laws are changing and ridesharing companies will be made to take on more responsibility, for now, Uber and Lyft drivers are not employees. This complicates things in the case of an accident followed by an injury claim.
Here are a few legal aspects you should be aware of as a user:
1. Multiple Different Insurers Are Usually Involved
Since the drivers who offer their personal vehicles for ridesharing are not employees of Uber or Lyft, an injury claim may go to several different insurers, depending on whether or not the driver had the app turned ON and whether or not they had accepted a passenger.
These situations are quite complex, which is why it’s best to ask a local rideshare accident lawyer to follow up with the claim and make sure insurers don’t start pointing fingers at each other, shifting blame from one to the other and leaving you in the dust.
2. Who is Liable?
While there may be a connection between the popularity of ridesharing services and the rise of vehicle accidents in the US, the results of the existing studies are not conclusive enough to know for sure.
Still, given that the service exists and that Uber or Lyft drivers get involved in accidents, lawyers need to have all the details in order to know who is liable. Ridesharing companies tend to hide behind their app, and drivers (and their insurance providers) don’t like using their personal insurance to pay for injuries.
3. You Will Need a Lawyer
Because ridesharing accidents involve multiple parties (the passenger, the driver, the person sustaining injuries, the ridesharing company, several insurance providers, and more), each case is different and has unique specifications.
Plus, Uber and Lyft have strong legal teams and tight-knit insurance policies designed to protect their revenue. So, if you are in the unfortunate situation of having sustained an injury while in a ridesharing vehicle or by a ridesharing vehicle (as another traffic participant), a lawyer with experience in this type of claim is a must-have.
How to Handle the Situation
If you are involved in an accident while using a ridesharing service or you are a pedestrian/cyclist/driver who got hit by a driver working for a ridesharing company, it’s essential to keep your calm, check yourself for injuries, and contact the law enforcement authority.
If you can, gather as much evidence and documentation as possible, and then go get yourself checked out at the nearest hospital (even if you feel ok). Once you are sure you haven’t sustained any life-threatening injuries, draft a written statement of the accident and call your lawyer (or find one).
Keep in mind that you have to report the situation to the ridesharing company as well. The driver has to submit their own report, and you have to submit yours. Ask your lawyer for advice on what to write in the report and how to proceed from this point forward.
Vehicle accidents are scary and confusing, which is why you should always work with a specialized lawyer who has proper experience in cases like yours.