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Chicago Uber Lyft Accident Attorneys
RIDE SHARE INJURIES
The transportation industry has significantly changed over the last few years. Nowadays when people need a ride, instead of calling a taxi cab, friend, neighbor, or family member, they are utilizing what are called “ride share” companies such as Uber and Lyft. People can sign up to drive for these ride share companies in as little as 4 minutes (per Uber’s website).
This changing industry has opened the door to new questions and problems when somebody is injured or an accident occurs. Ride share incidents can be quite tricky to navigate and the legal process surrounding these claims is still evolving. Drivers for major ride share companies are not employees but rather “independent contractors”. As such, Uber and Lyft require drivers to carry their own insurance and there is no worker’s compensation benefits.
Ride share injuries can apply to people that are passengers, drivers for these companies, or somebody that was struck by a vehicle driving for a ride share company. As you can see there are many different scenarios and situations involving multiple parties and insurance companies. It can be very easy to get confused by these claims which is why it’s best to speak with a skilled ride share attorney. Contact our office for a free consultation with one of our experienced ride share attorneys. We can help to go over the process and review any potential claim(s).
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE
Typically, injuries or accidents that stem from ride sharing trips involve multiple insurance companies. It is important to know which parties could be responsible. It is also important to know how some of these insurance policies work.
If you are a passenger in somebody’s vehicle, chances are they have a personal auto insurance policy. Some personal insurance policies have provisions that won’t cover ride share passenger injuries and damages. This is because the ride share driver, or the person insured by personal policy, is acting as a for-profit driver. In other cases, the amount of the personal auto insurance policy is the legal minimum required and doesn’t cover all the expenses or injuries sustained.
That is why, in addition to a personal policy, drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft also carry something called 3rd party liability insurance. The 3rd party liability insurance will not apply to a claim unless the driver’s personal insurance policy is either not valid or the complete policy limit is paid out. The 3rd party liability insurance should cover you if you were a passenger in a ride share vehicle that was responsible for the accident/incident.
Companies such as Uber and Lyft require drivers to carry their own personal insurance policy, but they do not require any commercial liability insurance. This is why we typically see a lot of Uber and Lyft drivers carrying substandard insurance with the legal minimum policy limit.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I WAS INVOLVED IN A RIDE SHARE ACCIDENT?
As with any accident, it is always a good idea to make sure that you have the driver’s information. This includes their name, company they work for, their insurance information, and their contact information. If there were multiple vehicles involved, be sure to get both drivers’ information.
Unfortunately, there is still a lot of grey area when it comes to the law and ride sharing accidents. Since there can be numerous parties involved, the process can get complicated and dragged on as one party points at another for who is responsible.
It is highly recommended that you contact an attorney to help guide you through this process. Our ride share injury attorneys have the experience and knowledge to navigate your claim. It is important to contact our office sooner than later. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. will provide a free consultation to discuss your accident.