With ride-share services like Uber and Lyft becoming more popular, wrecks involving ride-share vehicles are also more common. While the insurance claims process is similar to a regular car wreck, there are a few differences in the way you should handle claims with Uber and Lyft. In this article, we explain how ride-share claims are different and provide a few tips for protecting yourself.
Who Is Liable For A Wreck Involving A Ride-Share Vehicle?
Like any accident, responsibility for damage and injuries resulting from a wreck belongs to the driver who caused the wreck. Normally, the at-fault driver’s personal auto insurance would be liable for the insurance claim. However, for wrecks involving ride-share vehicles, the driver’s personal insurance will probably not apply. That’s because personal auto insurance typically excludes drivers who are in the course and scope of a business mission or specifically, participating in a ride-share or “for-hire” service at the time of the wreck.
Thus, for wrecks involving a ride-share vehicle, insurance claims will usually be filed through the service itself, such as Uber or Lyft.
The Amount Of Coverage May Depend On The Driver’s Status At The Time Of The Wreck:
Ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft usually provide insurance coverage for wrecks involving their drivers. However, the amount of available insurance may depend on the “status” of the Uber driver at the time of the wreck.
For instance, at the time of this writing, if the Uber driver was “available or waiting for a ride request” at the time of the accident, Uber provided liability coverage of $50,000 per person, up to $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage (50/100/25). If the Uber driver was “en route to pick up riders” or in the middle of a trip, Uber provides up to $1 Million in liability coverage.
This means, it is important for you to take note of things at the scene of the accident, such as whether the driver had passengers in his vehicle, or if the driver said he was on his way to a pick up.
How The Insurance Claim Process Works:
With ride-share accidents, the insurance claims process is very similar to a regular car accident, with the exception that the initial claim is usually filed directly with the ride-share service. Some of the bigger services, like Lyft and Uber have online claims processing options. Once a claim is filed, the ride-share company sends it to their insurance company for further handling.
Other Tips (Take Photos and Video!):
For a wreck involving a ride-share vehicle, it is very important to collect information at the accident scene about the at-fault driver and their vehicle. If possible, take photos of important evidence including:
- The other driver’s license.
- The other vehicle’s registration.
- The other vehicle’s license plate.
- Stickers/decals identifying the other driver’s vehicle as a ride-share (ie. Uber sticker).
- Photos and/or videos of the accident scene.
Getting this evidence will help get your claim processed more quickly and will support your insurance claim moving forward.
Have You Been Injuried In An Accident With A Ride-Share Vehicle?
If you have been injured in an accident with a ride-share vehicle and have questions as to how the process works, contact us online or call our Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. Flattmann Law serves clients on the Northshore, including Covington, Mandeville, Abita Springs, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Folsom, Madisonville, Goodbee, Hammond, Lacombe, Pearl River, and Slidell.
