What if an Uninsured Rideshare Driver Causes a Crash?
Rideshare drivers for Uber and Lyft must carry insurance to cover accidents caused while the driver is logged into the app. But some drivers might cancel their coverage during the year. What happens if they get into an accident? At Snyder Heitman, LLC, we advocate for accident victims, including those injured in rideshare collisions. Contact us to dig into your legal options. Your driver’s lack of insurance will not necessarily prevent financial recovery, and we look at some options below.
Uninsured Uber & Lyft Drivers
Each person’s options depend on the facts of their case, but some options for defraying the cost of an accident include:
Use Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Drivers who purchase liability insurance should also have uninsured motorist coverage, called “UM” coverage. You can use this insurance if you are driving and an uninsured Uber or Lyft driver crashes into you. This is still liability insurance, meaning you cannot make a claim if you are at-fault for the accident. But it provides crucial support for those injured when a careless Uber or Lyft driver causes a wreck.
Injured victims would benefit from a lawyer’s help. Although you pay for this insurance, some insurers will still try to deny a claim. They might blame you for the collision as a reason to deny payment.
Use Other Insurance
Some drivers have medical payments coverage, which can pay for medical care to treat accident injuries. If you were driving a car, you might also use collision insurance to pay to get it fixed. Go through your paperwork to see what insurance you have. Some people even have death and dismemberment insurance, which can pay for loss of a body part, like a leg amputation.
Sue the Driver Personally
A driver is liable to anyone they injured negligently or intentionally, even if there is no insurance. An accident victim can sue them in court.
One question is whether the driver has assets to pay compensation should you win the lawsuit. Some drivers have money in a bank account or assets you can seize and sell, but others will not. After all, many people are driving for Uber or Lyft in the evening because they don’t have the money to pay their bills. We might not be able to collect, which undermines bringing a personal injury lawsuit, but it is still a potential option.
Bring a Claim Against the Rideshare Company
One question is whether you can sue Uber or Lyft when their driver is uninsured. Generally, these companies are insulated from liability because the drivers are independent contractors. However, they could have liability if they knew the driver was uninsured but still let them use their app. There is no obvious answer; we need more details.
Call Our Law Firm for Assistance with a Rideshare Claim
Many people are confused after a rideshare accident about their legal rights. Rideshare accidents leave many people with serious injuries, including concussions and bone fractures. Call Snyder Heitman to speak with an experienced Greenville rideshare accident lawyer. Our office also helps those in Spartanburg and Upstate South Carolina.