Accidents Involving Uber Or Lyft

Rideshare outfits such as Uber and Lyft have become widely popular and a preferred means of travel to taxis for many in Ohio.

Rather than traveling with the employee of a cab company, passengers are transported by an independent contractor in a personal vehicle. The financial transaction occurs electronically and the fact that money isn’t physically exchanged seems to add to the novelty.

But when an unfortunate accident or injury occurs, liability can become a murky issue. Injured parties often wonder whether they can seek damages from Uber or Lyft. Will the driver’s auto insurance cover the loss and what if they don’t have insurance or lack adequate coverage?

Rideshare Drivers Work For Themselves

It can be difficult to wrap your head around the idea that you paid Uber or Lyft for transportation, but the driver doesn’t exactly work for that company. Uber and Lyft are more like middlemen, they broker the transaction without drivers being employees.

Drivers are independent contractors for rideshare corporations. When you get into a vehicle for an Uber or Lyft ride, that driver generally assumes all of the risks and is required to have insurance. That insurance coverage must go beyond casual driving and account for the fact that the person is a “driver for hire.” That’s an important distinction because an insurance company may reject a claim if the higher level of coverage was not secured.

If you are injured, it is highly unlikely you will be able to bring an action against the rideshare outfit unless they knowingly worked with an unfit or underinsured driver.

Uber, Lyft And Insurance Claims

Rideshare companies require subcontractors to maintain liability insurance that meets the standards of commercial driving. Insurance carriers are bound to pay any losses or damages suffered by passengers only if the rideshare driver has commercial coverage.

If they skirted the rideshare company’s requirements, injured parties may need to file a lawsuit against the driver personally and investigate whether the rideshare outfit failed to follow through on its commercial insurance policy. Rideshare companies may have a duty to make sure even independent contractors meet the standards.

If you or a loved one has been injured during an accident involving Uber or Lyft, it’s important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to ensure you get full, fair compensation.

Contact Us For A Free Consultation

Discuss your case with an experienced professional at The Law Offices of Arnold S. Levine, L.P.A., by scheduling a free initial consultation today. Whether you have suffered an accident injury in Cincinnati or are contacting us about a case in northern Kentucky, our accident injury lawyers are here to help.

Reach us online or call us at 513-823-3257.