Rideshare Automobile Accidents: Knowing Where You Stand
Personal Injury Lawyer
Over the last decade, ridesharing apps have become synonymous with taxis. People have even started using Uber as a verb to describe their trips. While these new business models are helpful in busy cities, they also present concerns for drivers and passengers when it comes to accident claims. Who is responsible if an accident occurs when a driver is transporting a passenger? Will you be blackballed from using the apps in the future if you chose to file a personal injury claim against the company? Thankfully, there are simple answers to each of these questions, for both the driver and the passenger.
Source of Recovery
The main difference between a regular car accident and an accident involving a ridesharing passenger or driver is the source of recovery. When you are involved in an ordinary traffic accident, you will file a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver’s insurance. However, rideshare drivers, when transporting a passenger, are covered under a commercial insurance policy. Therefore, when a Lyft or Uber driver gets in an accident and you, the passenger, is injured, you do not sue or file a claim against the driver. Instead, you file a claim against the company’s commercial insurance policy. Although, in order to make a claim against the commercial policy, you will probably have to prove you were using the service when the accident occurred. Therefore, you will need to take a screenshot of the ride receipt.
Claims and Rideshare Access
Many people are afraid of making a claim against a rideshare service because they fear that they will be denied access in the future. This fear is understandable because many people depend on such services to get around, especially in large metropolis areas. Fortunately, if you are making a valid claim, then there is little to be worried about. Rideshare companies invest in commercial insurance policies because they know that accidents are inevitable. The only time that you may be disallowed from service use is if you are filing a negligent or false claim against the company, in which case the business may pursue legal action.
Uber and Lyft accidents are likely covered under commercial insurance policies, as long as you were using the app at the time of the crash. Therefore, you can file a claim against the company’s commercial policy without fear of repercussion. If you were in such an accident and would like some more advice, contact a personal injury lawyer in Charlottesville, VA.
Thanks to MartinWren, P.C. for their insight into personal injury claims and car accidents involving a rideshare.