How much insurance covers a rideshare crash depends on what the driver was doing at that exact moment. Logged out, logged in and waiting, or on the way to a passenger are three different levels of coverage in California, which is why an Uber and Lyft accident attorney starts by pinning down the app.
The companies have their own reason to keep this murky. Uber and Lyft drivers are independent contractors rather than employees, and both companies have used that distinction to limit what they pay injured people. It does not stop you recovering compensation, but it does mean the opposition will be aggressive.
Understanding Uber and Lyft Accident Liability
Uber and Lyft drivers are independent contractors, not employees. They use their own vehicles to drive fares around town. This is a very different scenario from an employee like a taxi driver who uses a company vehicle to transport customers. Whereas companies are liable for accidents that their employees cause on the job, liability for accidents caused by contractors is more of a gray area. In the past, Uber and Lyft have taken advantage of this to attempt to limit their liability for their drivers’ actions and reduce the amount of compensation they have to pay to injured parties.
This does not mean that you cannot get compensation if you were injured by an Uber or Lyft driver. It simply means that you are going to encounter aggressive opposition to your claim and you need an equally aggressive car accident attorney who can help ensure the ride-sharing company treats you fairly.
We Handle All Kinds of Uber and Lyft Accident Claims
No matter what the circumstances of your Uber or Lyft accident may have been, we can help you target the appropriate parties for compensation. For example, we can help you whether you were:
- A pedestrian or bicyclist hit by an Uber driver
- A driver of another vehicle hit by an Uber driver
- An Uber passenger injured in an accident caused by an Uber driver
- An Uber passenger injured in an accident caused by another motorist
- An Uber passenger injured in an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist
Compensation May Come from Uber and Lyft’s Insurance
In the state of California, ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft are required to provide liability insurance for their drivers whenever drivers are logged into the app.
If a driver is logged in but has not accepted a ride request, the company is required to provide $50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $100,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident, and $30,000 in property damage liability insurance.
If a driver has accepted a ride request—even if they have not necessarily picked up a passenger—the company is required to provide $1 million in liability insurance and $1 million in uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance.
Call Now to Talk to an Attorney
If you have been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, don’t leave your compensation and your future well-being up to the ride-sharing company. Instead, get a skilled car accident injury attorney working for your best interests. You can trust The Law Offices of Alejo Lugo & Associates to aggressively defend your right to full and fair compensation for all your injuries and suffering. We will strive to resolve your case out of court whenever possible, but we do have the skills, experience, resources, and tenacity to represent you in court if and when this is needed.
For a initial consultation, contact us at (800) 497-0018. We can assist you in English or Spanish.