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What Happens If I Was Injured In An Uber Accident While Riding As A Passenger?

On Behalf of | Nov 15, 2017 | FAQ

Car accidents occur every day, and more accidents are occurring involving car sharing and ridesharing services because more people are using these services. While you may be familiar with your own insurance coverage in the case of an accident, many people like you who use services like Uber and Lyft
are left wondering if they are covered and who pays for their injuries if they are hurt as a passenger while in a ridesharing vehicle.

Because Uber and Lyft have million-dollar liability insurance policies for their drivers, passengers injured in crashes should receive coverage for their injuries when an Uber driver or Lyft driver was at fault for the accident. In addition, Uber and Lyft have uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance, which means passengers are protected when the car they are riding in is hit by another negligent driver who does not have insurance or who doesn’t have enough insurance to compensate an injured passenger for his or her injuries and losses.

While this coverage sounds like good news—as a $1 million insurance policy seem adequate to cover most accidents—there are some injuries that are so severe that even a million dollars will not be enough to cover all the expenses. For example, when a traumatic injury causes a person to need ongoing medical care all while taking away one’s ability to earn a living, a victim may need more than a million dollars to adequately compensate him or her for their medical bills, lost income, and future lost wages and medical care.

Sadly, Uber or Lyft may resist compensating a passenger for their injuries. It is important to remember that ridesharing companies are businesses and their insurers are also in business to make money. They may look for ways to disqualify a driver in an effort to elude liability for their driver’s actions. For example, they may say the driver was reckless, drunk, or distracted and texting while driving. Or they may try to escape
liability by saying the driver wasn’t an employee but rather an independent contractor. They may do anything and everything they can to avoid paying anyone a dime.

If you aren’t getting adequate coverage from Uber or Lyft, or if the ridesharing company is denying your injury claim altogether, you still have options. Please call us to discuss them. We provide free, no-obligation consultations and will inform you about your rights.

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