What Uber and Lyft Drivers Need to Know About Auto Accident Claims

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Are you an Uber or Lyft driver? Then it’s important to know what happens if you get into an auto accident with a negligent driver. 

Be aware that getting an attorney early can be very important for rideshare drivers. More and more, drivers are being stigmatized and accidents are assumed to be a result of rideshare driver negligence, even when that is not the case.

Resource: 8 Tips for Staying Safe as an Uber Driver

Uber and Lyft Are Required to Insure You

The extent to which rideshare employers are insuring you do depend on what you are doing at the time of the accident. 

When you’re logged into the app and you’re looking for a passenger their insurance must cover $50,000 of bodily injury or death coverage and $25,000 of property damage coverage.

If you have a passenger than their insurance is required to cover up to $1.5 million in bodily injury, property damage, or death, as well as $10,000 in medical coverage. 

If you are not logged into the app and do not have a passenger then your own insurance policy has to cover the damage. 

New Jersey is a no-fault state which means your own insurance company or Uber’s insurance company is going to be more likely to cover your damages than the other driver’s insurance company. The exception is in cases where there is clear evidence of driver negligence: when the other driver was speeding, distracted, or driving under the influence.

In those instances you’ll want a personal injury attorney to help you pursue your claim, as three different insurance companies are now going to try to pass the buck. 

You’re Entitled to the Same Injury Claims 

As an Uber or Lyft driver you’re entitled to make the same personal injury claims as any other driver.

That means that if you are injured in an accident and you were not acting negligently then you should be compensated for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering.

It also means you should take the same steps at the accident as any driver. Get the insurance information from the other driver. Take lots of photographs, including screen shots of your rideshare app to show your login and fare status. Get the name and number of your fare. Get the names and numbers of any witnesses. Take more photos than you think you’ll need, and then seek medical care. Follow any and all instructions that you receive from doctors. 

You’ll also need to inform Uber or Lyft that the accident has happened.

You are entitled to consult with an attorney just as soon as you feel capable of doing so. It may even be better to do so before you speak to any insurance companies.

See also:

Injured New Jersey Uber or Lyft Passenger?

Do All New Jersey Car Accidents Require Help from a Personal Injury Attorney?

4 Mistakes to Avoid After Your NJ Car Accident

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Are you an Uber or Lyft driver? Then it’s important to know what happens if you get into an auto accident with a negligent driver. 

Be aware that getting an attorney early can be very important for rideshare drivers. More and more, drivers are being stigmatized and accidents are assumed to be a result of rideshare driver negligence, even when that is not the case.

Resource: 8 Tips for Staying Safe as an Uber Driver

Uber and Lyft Are Required to Insure You

The extent to which rideshare employers are insuring you do depend on what you are doing at the time of the accident. 

When you’re logged into the app and you’re looking for a passenger their insurance must cover $50,000 of bodily injury or death coverage and $25,000 of property damage coverage.

If you have a passenger than their insurance is required to cover up to $1.5 million in bodily injury, property damage, or death, as well as $10,000 in medical coverage. 

If you are not logged into the app and do not have a passenger then your own insurance policy has to cover the damage. 

New Jersey is a no-fault state which means your own insurance company or Uber’s insurance company is going to be more likely to cover your damages than the other driver’s insurance company. The exception is in cases where there is clear evidence of driver negligence: when the other driver was speeding, distracted, or driving under the influence.

In those instances you’ll want a personal injury attorney to help you pursue your claim, as three different insurance companies are now going to try to pass the buck. 

You’re Entitled to the Same Injury Claims 

As an Uber or Lyft driver you’re entitled to make the same personal injury claims as any other driver.

That means that if you are injured in an accident and you were not acting negligently then you should be compensated for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering.

It also means you should take the same steps at the accident as any driver. Get the insurance information from the other driver. Take lots of photographs, including screen shots of your rideshare app to show your login and fare status. Get the name and number of your fare. Get the names and numbers of any witnesses. Take more photos than you think you’ll need, and then seek medical care. Follow any and all instructions that you receive from doctors. 

You’ll also need to inform Uber or Lyft that the accident has happened.

You are entitled to consult with an attorney just as soon as you feel capable of doing so. It may even be better to do so before you speak to any insurance companies.

See also:

Injured New Jersey Uber or Lyft Passenger?

Do All New Jersey Car Accidents Require Help from a Personal Injury Attorney?

4 Mistakes to Avoid After Your NJ Car Accident