Oxford Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer

Does Uber or Lyft Pay for Your Damages?

After being in an Uber or Lyft accident caused by the rideshare driver, you might understandably assume that Uber or Lyft will pay for all of your damages. After all, each company is huge and has plenty of resources to spare to take care of you. Unfortunately, you might be in for a surprise because not all rideshare accidents are covered by the insurance policies carried by rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft.

Uber’s insurance policy – which is strikingly similar to Lyft’s – is detailed as such:

• No coverage: When an Uber driver causes an accident, Uber offers no coverage if that driver was not using the app at the time or had marked themselves as unavailable. You would need to file your claim against the driver’s auto insurance policy like you would in any car accident. Trouble can arise if the driver says they were using the app but the rideshare company says they were not.
• Limited coverage: Uber will offer limited coverage if one of its drivers gets into a crash while using the app and while waiting for a new ride request. Up to $50,000 for bodily injuries per person, $100,000 for bodily injuries per accident, and $25,000 for property damage can be covered by Uber’s policy. The catch is that the policy only applies if the Uber driver’s privately held policy does not apply or does not cover all the damages.
• Advanced coverage: If an Uber driver gets into an accident while a passenger is in their vehicle or while they are en route to pick up a new passenger, then the rideshare company offers the most coverage. The policy’s coverage expands to a third-party liability coverage policy of at least $1,000,000 for bodily injuries per accident, uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) bodily injury coverage, and contingent comprehensive and collision coverage with a $2,500 deductible.

Do You Have to Sue Uber or Lyft for Coverage?

Of course, the existence of an applicable insurance policy does not automatically mean you will get its coverage after an Uber or Lyft accident. As with any motor vehicle accident claim, it is usually correct to assume that the insurance company won’t want to give you much compensation if any at all. If a rideshare company wants to question or deny your claim, then you might have to go up against them in or out of court to prove that you are deserving of compensation. More specifically, you would be pitted against the large insurance companies that sell policies to Uber and Lyft, which could be even more difficult than fighting with the rideshare company.

With everything considered, you probably can’t sue Uber or Lyft directly for your damages. Rideshare drivers are independent contractors, not employees, which is a definition rideshare companies have fought to keep standing in courtrooms. For the most part, employers can’t be held liable for the wrongdoing of independent contractors they hire.

Starting Your Claim Can Be Easy – Call Mama Justice!

Although every Uber or Lyft accident claim is unique, there is one thing that remains the same throughout them all: Mama Justice fights for her family! When you’re a client here, you’re also a family member – and we mean it. Our Oxford rideshare accident lawyers have come so far in their careers not just because they are great attorneys and litigators, but also because they’re great people who genuinely care about their communities.