Long Beach Rideshare Accident Attorneys
What To Do if an Uber or Lyft Driver Causes an Accident
These days, ridesharing companies are becoming increasingly popular, particularly in major cities throughout the U.S. Two of the most popular rideshare companies are Uber and Lyft. And it’s not surprising they are widespread because the convenience of these on-demand services is indisputable: there is little wait time, the cars are clean and they are often less expensive than regular taxi cabs. But what happens when there is an accident?
Unlike taxi companies, with a ride sharing program, drivers operate their own vehicles to transport their passengers around town. The cars are generally not visibly marked in any way to indicate they are part of a ride share program, although Lyft drivers tend to display a pink moustache on the front of their vehicles when they are in service.
What Happens if There’s an Accident?
If you’re involved in a vehicle accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, things can get complicated, legally. This is because of issues such as, who is at fault for the accident, car insurance requirements and compensation, all legal matters that apply to traditional taxi companies. But in that case, both the drivers and the cars are licensed and regulated by state or municipal controls. Taxi drivers and cab owners must adhere to strict insurance standards and laws specifically related to car accident fault, insurance and compensation. Lyft and Uber drivers, on the other hand, generally do not have the same governing regulations. Though ride share drivers hold insurance that is applicable to a driver who accepts passengers via a service, their insurance is usually secondary to their own personal driver’s insurance. Additionally, complications arise when a Lyft or Uber driver is considered to be working, but is not yet transporting a passenger.
Rideshare and Car Insurance
A recent study in association with Sherpashare and Nerdwallet, revealed that the majority of rideshare drivers have insufficient insurance to fully cover themselves. Many of them are also not aware of this, or the risk it entails. This not only raises questions for Uber and Lyft drivers, but also for other drivers who may become involved in an accident with them.
Rideshare car insurance is a complicated matter and is changing all the time. Many rideshare companies offer driver’s insurance for their employees during certain times of their shift, but it doesn’t always cover others. For example, while an Uber or Lyft driver is waiting for a potential passenger to call, they are only fully insured if they have a specific rideshare insurance policy. However, not all states carry these policies, neither do all insurance companies.
California’s Rideshare Bill
When it comes to rideshare insurance, the State of California is different to almost every other state in that it has mandated rideshare insurance in order to protect rideshare drivers and their passengers from dangerous grey areas caused by using personal vehicles for commercial transportation of passengers. California’s rideshare bill helps to close the gaps in insurance that affect companies like Lyft and Uber.
If You Have Been Injured in a Ridesharing Accident, Call Now
Even with California’s legislation in place, if you or a loved one has been involved in an accident that happened while you were a passenger in a ridesharing vehicle, you will need legal representation by a practiced Long Beach car accident lawyer, from the Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV. Call today at (562) 901-0840 or toll-free at (888) 454-5569. We’ll be happy to discuss your case and explain what your rights are and how you may be able to go about claiming compensation.