With more than 3 billion Uber and Lyft rides taken in the U.S. each year, rideshare vehicles have become part of everyday life. But when one of those routine trips ends in a rideshare accident, the situation quickly becomes confusing.
If you or a loved one was injured in a rideshare accident, you may be wondering how to get a settlement for the injuries. Unlike traditional car accidents, rideshare claims often involve multiple insurance policies and disputed liability. A local car accident attorney will be able to help you determine liability, discuss your options, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Rideshare Accident Statistics
According to data from Insurify, rideshare drivers are 73 percent more likely to be involved in an accident than the general population. While that sounds bad, it turns out the reason is simply because of the high mileage and high-exposure driving environments faced by rideshare drivers.
Interestingly, despite the increased likelihood of being involved in a motor vehicle accident, rideshare accident statistics show that rideshare drivers are less likely than the average driver to be in a fatal crash. This may be because rideshare drivers typically operate newer, safer vehicles and have a strong incentive to drive cautiously in order to maintain good ratings and remain active on ridesharing platforms.
In fact, the greatest risks rideshare drivers face are often outside their control. Uber’s 2021-2022 safety report shows that 99.9 percent of trips ended without a safety report of any kind. Of the accidents that ended in fatalities:
- 33 percent of fatalities involved an alcohol-impaired driver but 100 percent of these fatalities were attributed to third-party drivers.
- 39 percent of fatalities involved a speeding vehicle but 93 percent of these fatalities were attributed to third-party drivers.
- 13 percent of fatalities involved a driver driving the wrong way but 100 percent of these fatalities were attributed to third-party drivers.
Car Accident Claim Options for People Injured in a Rideshare Accident
Here are the general options an injured person has for recovering a settlement after a rideshare accident:
At-fault party insurance
If the accident was caused by another driver then you should be able to make a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance policy to recover damages for your injuries.
Individual coverage of the driver
In rare cases, an injured passenger may be able to go after individual coverage of the Uber or Lyft driver to pay for their injuries. This is a rare option because most ridesharing drivers do not have a commercial insurance policy or a provision in their personal car insurance policy that covers their injured passengers. If the driver only has a personal car insurance policy it is highly likely to have an exclusion for passengers injured during business use of the vehicle.
Third-party liability insurance
If you were severely injured in a car accident caused by your Uber or Lyft driver, it is quite possible that the driver’s individual insurance policy (if they have one) won’t have enough (or any) coverage to compensate you fully. In these situations, you may also need to make a claim against the ridesharing company’s third-party liability insurance. Both Uber and Lyft provide insurance for covered accidents once the claimant has used up the at-fault driver’s individual insurance, if there is any. They also provide insurance for accidents that happen because of an uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist or for a hit and run situation.
What If I Was Hit by an Uber or Lyft Driver?
Drivers or passengers of vehicles that are hit by an Uber or Lyft driver will have different options for filing a claim, depending on the circumstances.
- If they were hit while the rideshare driver had a passenger in their vehicle, the driver’s personal liability coverage will most likely not be an option, as noted above. The injured party will most likely need to make a claim against Uber or Lyft’s insurance policy.
- If the accident happened while the driver was logged into the app but had not accepted a ride, a limited amount of Uber or Lyft coverage may apply.
- If the accident happened while an Uber or Lyft driver was not logged into the app, then their personal insurance policy would apply.
Can Uber and Lyft be Sued for a Car Accident?
Drivers for Uber and Lyft are considered independent contractors, which makes it very difficult to sue the rideshare companies they drive for in most states. Both businesses created business models that absolve their liability for accidents, but thankfully they do provide insurance policies that cover most injuries as explained above.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney
A car accident lawyer can help you recover a full and fair settlement for the injuries you sustained in a car accident with no up-front costs to you. We know the sneaky strategies used by insurance companies to get injured people to agree to settlements far below what they are worth. Our clients typically end up with a settlement or jury award that is five to ten times larger than they could have negotiated on their own. We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County who were injured in Washington State since 1979. Contact the experienced and hard-working personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Mount Vernon, WA today for a FREE consultation!
