Uber and Lyft Accident Attorneys in Springfield

Cause and Liability in Uber and Lyft Accidents

Anyone injured in a rideshare accident caused by someone else will have access to significant insurance to help cover the cost of their injuries. Accessing these funds may take multiple steps, depending on the details of your accident.

Schedule your free consultation by calling us at (417) 855-2022. Our Uber and Lyft accident attorneys serve clients in Springfield and the surrounding areas.

If You Are Another Driver, Passenger, or Road User Injured by a Rideshare Driver

The car insurance policies required by law do not cover commercial activities like driving for a rideshare company. Therefore, if the driver who hits you is working for Uber or Lyft at the time of the accident, you will not be filing a claim against their personal insurance. You will be filing against Uber or Lyft’s policy.

This means that along with getting their information, you’ll also need proof they were working at the time of the accident. Asking to take a picture of their app for evidence of their activity is sufficient. A driver’s records will also be stored with Uber or Lyft, and they should report the accident as well, so the companies can verify your image to confirm you’re eligible to file a claim against their insurance.

If You Are a Rideshare Passenger and Your Driver Causes an Accident

Passengers do not have to deal with allegations of fault in an accident, which makes filing for compensation easier. However, you will need proof of the accident and your driver’s involvement. Make sure to record your driver’s name and take a screenshot of your app for your records. You should also take pictures of the scene of the accident and the damage to the cars. While you won’t be requesting compensation for any property damage, it can show how serious the accident was and help an attorney reconstruct the scenario to demonstrate how you were injured.

If You Are a Rideshare Passenger and Another Driver Causes an Accident

The driver that causes a collision is responsible for the damages of anyone hurt, including passengers or bystanders. This means you might end up filing a claim against a third-party driver. You’ll need to get this person’s personal and insurance information before leaving the scene.

However, depending on their policy’s maximums, the severity of the accident, and how many people were injured, your claim may not be fully covered by their insurance. In this case, you can file a second claim with the uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage Uber and Lyft carry. To prepare for this possibility, make sure you have records of the ride and the name of your rideshare driver saved in a note or another secure location. You will need this information to prove your claim to Uber or Lyft.

The Details of Uber and Lyft’s Insurance Policies

Even in claims involving rideshare drives who were at fault, the insurance that covers you will vary. Both Uber and Lyft’s insurance come with contingencies meant to decrease the companies’ liability.

Coverage Limits Depend on Driver Activity

Anyone who drives for Uber or Lyft is automatically covered by the company’s insurance, but only when they are actively working. Whether the driver is engaged in a ride request also affects limits.

For drivers who are “available” and looking for a ride request, Uber and Lyft provide:

• Third-party liability insurance
• $50,000 in bodily injury per person/$100,000 per accident
• $25,000 in property injury per accident

For drivers who are either on their way to pick up a rider or have a passenger at the time of the accident, rideshare insurance provides:

• $1,000,000 in third-party liability
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage

Securing evidence of a driver’s status is especially important in severe accidents where $50,000 may not be enough to cover your needs. Without proof of a driver’s activity status, you may face pushback on your claim.

Individual Rideshare Insurance and Order of Claims

Rideshare drivers are not required to carry their own commercial insurance policies, but some choose to. Because both Uber and Lyft specify their policies are secondary, meaning they come in to fill the gaps after any other insurance coverage has been exhausted, you may find yourself filing multiple claims after an accident.

If the rideshare driver who hit you has a commercial policy, you will have to file a claim with their insurer first. Otherwise, Uber or Lyft may turn down your claim entirely. Having to deal with multiple insurers is not ideal for anyone, especially after a serious accident, but it’s better than not being able to recover the amount you need. Our attorneys can help you understand what you need to do for each type of claim and keep the process moving on your behalf.

Strong-Garner-Bauer P.C. offers free consultations from our Springfield office. Call us today at (417) 855-2022 to see how our rideshare accident attorneys can help you.