For the past four years, we’ve seen an ongoing debate about whether or not ridesharing apps are leading to an increase in fatal car accidents.
Proponents of the argument claim that when ridesharing apps took off in major cities, so did accident rates. Opponents, however, say that this data, alone, doesn’t prove that ridesharing accidents are the biggest risk.
What this debate doesn’t change, however, is that ridesharing accidents do occur. Drivers who are completing Uber or Lyft drives do get into collisions that lead to injuries, property damage, and fatalities.
The question is, what do you do when you’re involved in a ridesharing accident? Who is responsible and who do you turn to for compensation?
Read on to learn more about ridesharing accidents and what to do when they impact you.
What Is a Ridesharing Accident?
The term “ridesharing” refers to the relatively new app-based program that allows passengers to sync up with drivers around their city or town. The most popular American apps are Uber and Lyft, which both consider their drivers to be contractors, rather than employees. (Note that California is the exception after passing a law that largely eliminates this “gig work”-style model of employment.)
Unlike taxi drivers, truck drivers, and other professional drivers, ridesharing drivers don’t have the same training or protection. They’re driving their own vehicles and relying on non-commercial driver’s licenses. While they have to provide certain information (like a clean driving record), they’re not held to the same standards as professional drivers.
It is understandable that this would cause concern for other drivers and pedestrians. While it’s still unclear whether or not ridesharing leads to more accidents, those accidents do occur.
A ridesharing accident is any accident that involves a driver actively driving for a rideshare app. In other words, if you get into an accident with someone who is, at that moment, driving for Uber or Lyft, this is a rideshare accident.
What Do We Know About Uber Accidents?
Uber, the most popular ridesharing app to date, did release some information about the rate of fatal accidents their drivers are involved in.
This report, however, does raise some questions. For example, the report seems to include data about fatal accidents while neglecting accidents that result in non-fatal injuries. It claims that for every 100,000 miles driven by active Uber drivers, an average of one fatality occurs.
It is worth noting that Uber does provide liability insurance to its drivers when they’re actively driving for Uber. That means that if they’ve got the app open and they’re heading to a passenger or transporting a passenger, this insurance is valid.
What Do We Know About Lyft Accidents?
Has Lyft reported similar findings? Has Lyft reported anything at all?
While Uber’s safety report does leave us asking questions about non-fatal injuries, the company at least gives us something to work with. Lyft, on the other hand, does not appear to have released any accident-related data, at all.
The good news is that both companies do provide similar solutions to ridesharing accidents. Although we may not know everything about Lyft driver safety, we do know that like Uber, they’ll provide compensation when necessary.
Who Do You Sue After a Ridesharing Accident?
This is perhaps the most pressing question the average citizen may have. If you are the victim of a ridesharing accident, where is the compensation coming from?
There was a time when the answer was, “Who knows?” Most “gig work” drivers aren’t taking out commercial driver’s insurance policies that would cover work-related liabilities. However, personal driver’s insurance policies don’t cover work-related liabilities.
What does that mean for you?
Uber and Lyft came up with their own solutions. When their drivers don’t have coverage from their own insurance, the companies will step in. Depending on the nature of the accident and damages, they’ll provide up to $1 million of compensation.
Before you get excited by that big number, remember that they also have fantastic lawyers standing guard over their liability insurance. Without a car accident lawyer, you’ll struggle to get anything from them, at all.
If you were another driver who was hit by a rideshare driver, proceed as normal. Call the police, seek medical help, and exchange information with the driver responsible.
Then, report the accident to the rideshare company, your insurance company, and a lawyer. Make sure that the lawyer understands that you’re dealing with a ridesharing accident.
With a good lawyer, you’ll receive compensation for:
- damage to your car
- medical bills related to the accident
- lost income related to the accident
- additional property damage
Most likely, this compensation will come from Uber or Lyft.
What Should You Do as a Passenger in a Ridesharing Accident?
What if you were in an Uber or Lyft when an accident occurred? Once again, someone needs to call the police and you’ll need to seek medical attention. Then, it’s time to find a lawyer.
If the accident was caused by another driver, you’re most likely going to seek compensation through that driver’s insurance. However, what happens if the other driver doesn’t have insurance?
In these instances, you will seek compensation through Uber or Lyft. It is their duty to protect you as a consumer of their product, and they will do so.
We know that ridesharing apps are here to stay. We also know that ridesharing accidents, while their amounts are often disputed, do occur. Make sure that you know what to do when a ridesharing accident affects you.
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