When looking for a ridesharing service, two names come to mind: Uber and Lyft. The way it works is that potential passengers can log onto Uber or Lyft’s app and book a driver to come pick them up. Drivers who work for these companies are also able to log into the app and see any potential passengers in their area who they can choose to pick up. When there is an accident involving a rideshare driver, the liability issue can come into question.
Uber and Lyft Insurance Policies
Each company’s insurance policy is different, but they are both meant to cover their drivers in some way. One of the most significant differences between Uber and Lyft’s insurance policies is that Lyft covers their drivers even when they are off-duty, but only if the driver does not have a personal insurance policy. Considering they have $1 million policies, one would think that their drivers would be completely worry-free, but this is not always the case.
Drivers must be careful when becoming a rideshare driver. Thanks to the issues above, most insurance companies now refuse to provide policies to rideshare drivers, and if they have this policy, they are not required to pay and cannot be held liable even if a driver was off duty during an accident.
Why Rideshare Accident Claims are Denied
Although they have insurance that covers the company, Uber and Lyft have been able to find loopholes. This is thanks to the fact that they do not consider their drivers as employees, but rather individual contractors. Therefore, they can legally say that they’re not liable for accidents that their drivers are apart of, and due to the lack of laws surrounding these issues, they have gotten away with it in the past.
What Rideshare Accident Victims Should Do
Due to this, those injured in Uber or Lyft accidents in Toledo should seek legal counsel as soon as possible after their accident. This can help their case because Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can assist their clients to receive compensation for all accident-related damages.An experienced attorney can also identify all of the claims present in your particular case. Contact Ohio Accident Attorneys for a free consultation to get connected with a lawyer near you.