Are You Insured with Uber and Lyft?
Uber can be a safe and reliable way to get from place to place, but what happens when you are involved in an accident while ridesharing? According to the Uber US Safety Report, “in the 2017-2018 time frame, there were 107 individual motor vehicle fatalities across 97 fatal Uber-related crashes.” Uber takes responsibility for its drivers, which is why the company maintains insurance on behalf of drivers. The Uber Driver-Partner Insurance page explains that drivers are protected in accidents occurring when the driver is available or waiting for a ride request on the Uber app, or during a drive to pick up and drop off passengers. When accidents occur while a driver is listed as available or waiting for a ride on the Uber app, “Uber maintains the following auto insurance on your behalf in case of a covered accident: Third-party liability if your personal auto insurance doesn’t apply, $50,000 in bodily injury per person, $100,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 in property damage per accident.” During a ride drivers and passengers may be entitled to, “the following auto insurance on your behalf in case of a covered accident: $1,000,000 third-party liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury, contingent comprehensive and collision and up to the actual cash value of the car ($1,000 deductible).” Uber defines third-party liability insurance as, “insurance for bodily injury and property damage caused to a third party and arising from a covered accident. (A third party is someone or something other than yourself or your vehicle);” uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury insurance as, “insurance for injuries to you and your riders if a covered accident occurs during an Uber trip and another driver is at fault and doesn’t have sufficient insurance. (This insurance also may apply in the case of a hit and run).” Uber’s contingent collision and comprehensive insurance policy states that, “as long as you maintain comprehensive and collision coverage on your personal auto insurance, Uber maintains insurance on your behalf that will kick in to provide protection for physical damage to your car up to its actual cash value, regardless of who is at fault. There is a $1,000 deductible that you must pay first before this coverage applies.” When an accident occurs, Uber requests that involved parties file accident reports on the app, website, or over the phone after filing an accident report with first responders. This applies to riders, drivers, and third-parties involved in accidents. Uber collects this information and then launches an investigation into the matter.
Although Lyft carries similar insurance as Uber, the coverages are different and in some cases drastically different, such as, with uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage which was lowered recently by Lyft.
In the past, our law firm represented a doctor who was injured while ridesharing with another doctor using Uber on Bay Shore Boulevard in Tampa. The Uber driver negligently turned in front of another vehicle causing a crash. The two doctors were both injured and taken to Tampa General Hospital by ambulance for care and treatment. A lawsuit was filed and one doctor’s claim was resolved without a trial and the other doctor’s claim resulted in a trial. We have experience at Moody Law litigating against ride sharing companies and representing injured passengers.
Though Uber offers exemplary insurance coverage for passengers, in many instances the company may try to deny you or your loved one compensation. It is important to make sure you are well represented in these cases and retain legal representation early. Please call us if you would like to speak to an attorney. There is no attorney fee or costs unless you retain our law firm and we obtain a recovery in your case. Moody Law P.A. offers over 30 years of experience in representing clients that have been wrongfully injured. We are dedicated to ensuring that our clients receive the maximum compensation possible after an accident.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an automobile accident, please feel free to contact us at (863) 733-9090, or online to schedule a free consultation. Our attorneys will look into the details of your case and tell you the most appropriate way to move forward. Hospital and home arrangements may be made to help accommodate your needs.
