People today have a multitude of options when it comes to getting around. If someone does not own a car, they can take public transportation or call a cab. Now, Uber and Lyft have helped make ridesharing available almost anywhere in New York. However, accidents in an Uber or Lyft may be complicated.
Car accidents can be very complex and stressful experiences. Uber and Lyft carry insurance that should cover you in case of an accident, but you will have to navigate the process of filing a claim and possibly filing a lawsuit to get your compensation. Large companies like Lyft, Uber, and their insurance companies only care about their bottom line. If covering your accident is expensive, you might have trouble getting damages compensation.
Uber and Lyft should be held accountable when drivers cause accidents that injure passengers, pedestrians, or other drivers. Our Yonkers Uber and Lyft accident lawyers have experience handling cases with ridesharing companies. Reach out to The Martello Law Firm, PLLC for a free legal consultation about your case. Call us at (646) 396-0236 to speak with our legal team.
Who Should I Sue after an Accident in an Uber or Lyft in Yonkers?
After a car accident involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you might have several options for legal action, depending on how your collision happened. Your best choice moving forward may also depend on who was responsible for the accident and whether Uber or Lyft’s insurance will cover you.
A good place to start is with the Lyft or Uber driver. The driver is key to your lawsuit because their behavior may determine whether Uber or Lyft’s insurance will pay for your injuries. Drivers are required to carry their own insurance in addition to the insurance coverage provided by the ridesharing company. So, even if Lyft or Uber refuses to cover your accident, you can still sue the driver, and their insurance should cover the damages
You cannot sue Uber or Lyft after an accident. However, their insurance will typically cover accidents involving their drivers. This is because the people who drive for Uber and Lyft are technically not employees. Since they are independent contractors, Uber and Lyft are not their employers and cannot be sued for their mistakes like a taxi company can for its drivers’ mistakes.
Each company provides insurance covering all accidents involving Uber and Lyft vehicles. Unfortunately, these policies only provide coverage in limited circumstances, and the companies will often try to resist paying you what your case is worth. Our Yonkers, NY Lyft and Uber accident lawyers fight to make these insurance companies pay up.
It is possible that the driver of another car, not the driver of your Uber or Lyft, is the one to blame for the crash. When another driver is at fault, you might have more success suing them. However, as an Uber or Lyft passenger, you should still be entitled to coverage from Uber or Lyft’s insurance policy, which may eliminate the need to sue the at-fault driver.
Who is Covered by Uber and Lyft’s Accident Insurance in Yonkers, NY?
When pursuing a claim through Uber or Lyft’s insurance, it is important to know who is and who is not covered. Typically, anyone involved in the accident should be covered. This includes the driver of the Uber or Lyft vehicle and any passengers. Also included are pedestrians and other drivers who may have been struck by the Uber or Lyft vehicle.
The fact that Uber or Lyft’s insurance policies could cover so many different people means that you do not have to be a passenger to take legal action after an accident with a ridesharing vehicle. If you were hit by an Uber or Lyft car while you were out walking your dog or if you were rear-ended at a stoplight, you may have a claim. Regardless of your relationship to Uber, Lyft, or their drivers, our Yonkers Uber and Lyft car accident attorneys can help you explore your legal options.
When Uber or Lyft’s Insurance Does Not Cover Your Crash in Yonkers, NY
Uber and Lyft’s insurance policies are supposed to protect drivers, passengers, and others in the event of an accident. However, there are some very specific caveats to that promise. Uber and Lyft’s insurance will only cover an accident if the driver is on duty. Off-duty drivers, their passengers, and anyone they might hit with their car are not covered.
This rule is important because people who drive for these ridesharing companies are not using a company-owned vehicle like a standard taxi driver. Instead, they use their own vehicles, which can blur the line between personal and professional. Uber and Lyft drivers often decide when and where they want to work. They can make one ride per day or a hundred. They can even take a break from picking up passengers to run personal errands. The key element to deciding whether they are “on duty” is the app on their phone.
When the app is off, the driver is considered off-duty by the ridesharing company. This seems like a very simple distinction. When the app is on, the driver is on the job. However, it is not uncommon for drivers to forget about the app when accepting rides. A driver might turn the app off in the middle of a ride with a passenger in the vehicle. If an accident happens at that moment, Uber and Lyft will not cover the passenger’s injuries. This places potential plaintiffs at the mercy of the Uber or Lyft driver and the quality of their insurance policy.
Call Our Yonkers, New York Uber and Lyft Accident Attorneys
Companies like Uber and Lyft put thousands of drivers on the road where there is a risk of crashes. Our Yonkers, NY Uber and Lyft car accident attorneys can help you get compensation. Speak with our team in a free legal consultation at The Martello Law Firm, PLLC. Call (646) 396-0236 to get help.