If you were recently hit by a driver for a ride-sharing service such as Lyft or Uber, then you are likely wondering who exactly is responsible for paying for your damages. Is the rideshare company liable, or is the driver's own insurance going to be paying to make you whole again?
In reality, this is a complicated question because it could end up being either one or both who are ultimately found to be liable. This is because ride-sharing service drivers aren't employees of the companies they work for; instead, they are simply freelance, contracted workers.
Since you need to recover the damages you sustained from your accident, you will likely need to contact a car accident attorney in your area who has experience in this type of case. The following tips will also help:
Tip: Get Both the Business and Personal Auto Insurance Information of the Rideshare Driver
All rideshare drivers should carry both a card for their personal automobile insurance policy and one for their rideshare company's policy. You should take a cell phone picture of both cards.
Even if the driver was working at the time of the accident, there may be a gap between their personal and commercial insurance policies, and having the information for both is vital for figuring it out when the time comes.
Tip: Ensure the Police Report Includes Whether or Not the Driver was Working at the Time of the Accident
When the police take your information at the accident scene, or if you have to file a report online, make sure you mention the fact that the driver works for a rideshare company. Ask the officer to include information as to whether the driver was actively working or not at the time of the accident. This information can help you and your attorney when you are trying to determine which insurance carrier is responsible for your damages, and the report is likely admissible in court if you need to sue later on.
Tip: Know You Can Always File a Personal Injury Lawsuit Against the Rideshare Driver if Necessary
In conclusion, if you find yourself in an accident with a rideshare driver and neither their insurance nor the company's is found to be liable to cover your damages due to a gap in coverage, you can always file a personal injury lawsuit against the rideshare driver who hit you. If they are found to be at fault in court, then you can collect your losses from them or put liens on their valuables to collect at a future date.
Share3 December 2018
After I was in a car accident, I wasn't sure what I was going to do in the future. I had some really significant back and neck pain, so I started talking with a lawyer about how to recover some of my losses. I began working with an attorney to take care of things, but I was nervous about how the process would unfold. I began working with the attorney to evaluate every component of the incident, and help me to decode the problems I was faced with. We worked on learning more about the lawsuit, and it helped me to make sense of the situation. Learn more about accidents on this blog.