Ridesharing services have come a long way. With the advent of Uber and Lyft, which started in 2011 and 2012 respectively, millions of people are able to get to where they need to go. In larger metropolitan areas in which there is little room for parking one’s own vehicle, these billion-dollar companies are happy to help.
Even though Uber and Lyft are two of the most successful start-ups of all time, they are not without their own issues. Utilizing real drivers on real roads in real vehicles, accidents are bound to occasionally occur.
Injured in a Ridesharing Accident
While many areas of law are still evolving to fit our ever-changing society, one legal question that many have had to deal with is what to do if their ridesharing vehicle is involved in an accident that also injures them. Usually, the at-fault driver (either your driver or a third party) is responsible for the damages. But in certain situations, the ridesharing company has its own car insurance that is triggered.
The car insurance of the ridesharing vehicle’s driver is supposed to apply to any passenger’s injuries, but this only holds true if he or she also has either a commercial policy or a personal car insurance policy that has a provision regarding insurance when they are not driving as a ridesharing driver. Unfortunately, most of these drivers do not have this type of policy.
Ridesharing Liability Insurance
In a situation where the driver’s commercial policy or personal car insurance does not provide adequate coverage, the next step would be to look to the ridesharing company’s liability insurance coverage, generally paying up to $1 million per accident for personal injuries and property damage.
If your ridesharing driver was not at fault, but rather a third-party driver, you would look to recover from the third party driver through their car insurance policy or by bringing a personal injury claim.
UI/UIM Insurance
If you are still not fully compensated, then the ridesharing company’s uninsured/underinsured (UI/UIM) insurance coverage would apply. Similar to the ridesharing company’s liability insurance, this coverage generally also provides $1 million in coverage per accident.
Ordinarily, when an employee of a company injures someone, that individual’s normal response would be to go after that company for damages. However, it is much more difficult to go after a company such as Uber and Lyft for damages. This is because both companies treat drivers as independent contractors, something that has been met with disapproval. It is because of this that they tend to go through the company’s UIM coverage.
As ridesharing is still a relatively new service, there are still many unknowns and complicated legal issues surrounding it. That’s why it is so important to consult with a knowledgeable and experienced Michigan car accident attorney who can help to explain your rights and achieve the best outcome.
The Attorneys at Miller, Tischler & Vislosky, P.C. Can Help
If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto vehicle accident, you should not have to pay for someone else’s mistakes.
The Michigan car accident attorneys at Miller, Tischler & Vislosky, P.C. can help you to fight for the compensation that you deserve. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, contact us today!
