Who is Responsible for an Accident Involving an Uber or Lyft?

In most cases, the party at fault for the accident is responsible. Proving fault can be difficult, but the insurance companies will often investigate the accident and come to a conclusion about the fault. There is almost no way for a passenger to be at fault, so if you were a passenger in an accident, you are likely going to be able to recover damages. Uber and Lyft drivers will have personal insurance policies as well as corporate policies.

What Kind of Compensation Will I Receive?

It can be tricky to determine exactly what kind of damages will be awarded. The details of the case, especially the extent of the injuries, will play a big role in the final compensation.

Generally, the court will award “special damages” for monetary costs associated with the accident. This can include:

• • Medical bills.
• • Lost wages or salary due to missed work or future missed work.
• • Repairs on property damage.
• • Housekeeping or caretaking while recovering.
• • Rehab or physical therapy.
• • Other expenses directly resulting from the damages.

 
General damages are non-monetary damages that have affected your life. This could include:

• • Physical or emotional pain and suffering.
• • Loss of enjoyment of life
• • Permanent physical disfigurement or damage
• • Permanent disability
• • Loss of reputation due to the incident.

Uber or Lyft App Turned “On” or “Off”

If the app is active at the time of the accident, Uber and Lyft’s insurance coverage will be available. This can include up to $100,000 in injury damages and $25,000 in property damages.

If the app is not active or turned “on” Uber and Lyft will not cover any damages because they do not consider the person to be on the clock.

Is There a $1 Million Insurance Policy?

Many people have heard that there is a $1 million dollar insurance policy if there is an accident involving an Uber or Lyft. While this is technically true, that policy will only be applied if all of the following criteria are met:

• • The damages exceed the policies of the personal insurance of the driver
• • Passengers were in the vehicle at the time of the accident
• • A paid trip that was active en route

 
Unless all of those criteria were met, the damages will likely be paid by the insurance company of the party that is determined to be at fault.

It can be difficult to deal with Uber or Lyft as their policies are incredibly intricate and difficult to understand. That is why working with an attorney who specializes in dealing with these companies gives you the best chance of recovering damages from Uber or Lyft.

What is the Timeframe for a Settlement?

Some cases are resolved quickly but others can drag on for months or even years. The complexity of the case, the seriousness of the injuries, and other factors will help determine a timeframe. At the Claiborne Firm, we have often been able to quickly obtain large settlements for our clients, but we also will wait if it will help our clients.

How Much Do Your Services Cost?

At the Claiborne Firm, we do not force our clients to pay a fee out of pocket. Instead, we work with them to get the largest settlement possible and then take a percentage of what is recovered. Our track record of success in recovering damages shows our level of preparation. We only work with clients when we feel confident about the result and will work for you.