What to Do in an Uber or Lyft Accident
Obviously the first thing to do if you were injured in a wreck anywhere, including in an Uber or Lyft, is to call 911, report the wreck, and seek medical attention. Even if you think your injuries are not that significant, it may be prudent or advisable to get checked out by a medical professional to rule out injuries and protect your interests if injuries manifest themselves later. Injuries from car wrecks often do not manifest themselves until many weeks after the accident. If you do not seek immediate medical attention, insurance companies often attempt to use that fact against you when it is time to settle or try your case. You should also use your phone to take pictures (and maybe even video) of the scene; get your Uber or Lyft driver’s and the other driver’s contact and insurance information and any bystanders contact information who saw the crash. That will allow you and your lawyer to follow up with each party or witness in connection with the investigation and prosecution of your case.
For example, when an Uber driver has the app on and is waiting for a customer to request a ride, he or she is covered for up to $50,000 in liability damage. From the time a customer requests a ride and until he reaches his or her destination, however, the insurance policy increases to $1,000,000, which extends to you as a passenger. Thus, if the Uber driver was at fault, there should hopefully be sufficient amount of insurance to cover any injuries you received because of the fault of a negligent Uber driver. If the other driver was at fault, you will likely have to look to the other negligent driver’s automobile insurance to pay for injuries. If the other driver did not have insurance, Uber also carries a $1,000,000 uninsured/underinsured policy if the accident is caused by an uninsured driver though.
Because Uber and Lyft drivers are not employees, but rather independent contractors, companies like Uber and Lyft may argue that they are not liable for one of their driver’s negligence while driving. However, because there is $1,000,000 of insurance available for a wreck that occurred because of the negligence of an Uber driver, there should be enough insurance available to compensate an injured party for most non-fatal, traumatic injuries.