SKIP TO CONTENTOklahoma Rideshare Accident Attorney
As more people use rideshare options like Uber and Lyft to get around town, the rate of accidents involving these vehicles has risen. If you’ve been involved in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, there’s an additional complexity when it comes to recovering damages.
With over 15 years of experience, attorney Bryan Garrett has been representing victims involved in rideshare accidents since day one.
How a Rideshare Accident is Different Than a “Regular” Accident
In any accident, whether it involves a car, truck, boat, or bicycle, the victim will seek to recover financial compensation from the at-fault party, typically through their insurance company.
When one of the parties to the accident operations a rideshare vehicle, there are two factors to consider that don’t apply to other accidents:
- Whose insurance company do you recover from? The driver’s insurance? Or Uber or Lyft’s?
- What if you were a passenger? Does it matter which driver is at fault, or is there a blanket policy that protects you?
Each of these questions deserves attention because it can be confusing, especially as the laws have changed fairly recently.
Whose Insurance Company Pays for the Accident?
The short answer here is that it depends. The most influential factor here is what the driver was doing when the accident occurred.
The driver’s insurance is on the hook for damages when:
– The driver is not logged onto the app. This can occur when they’re off-duty, so if you’re involved in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, one of the first steps in determining who pays for the accident is figuring out if the driver was operating the vehicle on behalf of Uber or Lyft or they were conducting personal business.
– The driver is engaged in Uber or Lyft activities but is not logged into the app. This can happen if the driver is transporting passengers and not following company rules, or forgot to log in.
The rideshare company should cover damages when:
– The driver is currently logged into their app, even if they haven’t accepted any rides.
– The driver is on-route for a pickup.
– The driver has a passenger in the car.
– The driver is completing a drop-off.
How Rideshare Accidents Work if You Are a Passenger
The above scenarios assume that you’re driving your own vehicle and an Uber or Lyft driver caused the accident. But what if you are a passenger in a rideshare car and the vehicle was involved in an accident?
You might be wondering if the vehicle you’re in automatically covers the incident, but that’s not the case. Instead, the insurance policy that covers the at-fault vehicle will also be responsible for your damages. This means that if your driver caused the accident, the rideshare company’s insurance provider will pay (assuming that the driver was logged in).
However, if the other driver caused the accident, then you would seek to recover financial compensation from their insurance company. From there, the claims process would proceed like a traditional accident.
Does Insurance Cover an Uber or Lyft Accident?
Again, the answer to this question is that it depends, but the good news is that both Uber and Lyft carry insurance policies on their drivers. The coverage limits may vary by company, and they can be dependent on what activity the driver is doing.
For example, if the driver has logged in to the app but hasn’t accepted a ride, the coverage available in an accident is less than if the driver was actively transporting a passenger. For most activities, however, Uber and Lyft have liability coverage of up to $1 million per accident.
Even if the driver is not on duty (meaning that Uber or Lyft will not pay for the accident), you can still recover from the driver’s personal insurance policy. All drivers are required to have their own insurance policy. The limits are inevitably going to be lower than the Uber or Lyft commercial policy, so your attorney will work to find out what coverage is available when arguing your settlement.
Why Choose Bryan Garrett for a Rideshare Accident
Rideshare accidents introduce several variables to the equation that require the experience and skill of a practiced attorney to unravel. With more than 15 years of experience handling car accidents and other personal injury cases, you can count on Bryan Garrett as a strong and dedicated advocate.
You don’t have to navigate the insurance companies alone. Going up against the big guys can be a daunting task, especially as you’re recovering from injuries. Contact Attorney Bryan Garrett for help.