Deciding who must pay for injuries when people are involved in Uber accidents is the toughest part. Is the Uber/Lyft driver at fault? Or is the driver’s company responsible? Which party’s insurance would be liable to pay? What if the taxi driver was not on work time when the accident occurred.
Uber Accidents and Responsible Parties
By investigating taxi/rideshare accidents, as well as other automobile accidents, it can be determined who the negligent party was. If another vehicle hits the taxi/rideshare while you are a riding as a passenger, the insurance of the other driver would be liable for paying for your injuries.
But what would happen if you were in an accident and it was your own driver’s fault? Who would be liable then?
Insurance for Uber, Lyft and Other Rideshare Services
Drivers of rideshare services use their own cars. Because of this, it is illegal for the drivers to not have private insurance. If an Uber/Lyft driver is involved in an accident off-duty, then it would be the responsibility of his or her personal insurance to pay for damages.
But, taxi companies are responsible for giving insurance to their drivers too. An example would be if the Uber/Lyft driver is on duty at the time of an accident then he or she would be covered by the employer’s insurance. This is true for taxi drivers too: the insurance coverage would be provided by the taxi company for any injuries occurred while on the job, for both the driver and passengers.
Even though drivers of rideshares are often looked at as independent contractors, a lot of courts have stated that they’re also considered employees. Therefore, if you take legal action against an Uber/Lyft driver, it may be the liability of the company they work for according to the theory of vicarious liability.
If you were in an accident and were either the driver or a passenger of a taxi, contacting an attorney would be your best choice for getting the maximum amount possible of damages back.
For more questions such as why you should have an attorney after an accident, how much your claim might be worth, filing a claim, and more, contact an experienced attorney today.