Uber & Lyft Driver Injuries
Common Uber & Lyft Injury Questions
If you drive for a living, even part-time, the chances are you will be involved in a car accident that is not your fault. If you drive in Texas, there’s an even greater chance that you’ll be hit with someone who either has no insurance or has very little insurance.
The good news is that if you drive for a rideshare company, like Uber or Lyft, and are injured by someone who doesn’t have insurance,
you can still make a claim using Uber or Lyft uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
Accidents Are Bound to Occur
Accidents are scary and stressful. The thoughts of medical bills, lost wages and property damage can be overwhelming.
Drivers for rideshare companies like Uber & Lyft have a lot more to worry about then your average driver, especially when it comes to auto accidents. Given that rideshare drivers spend so much of their time behind the wheel of a car, often driving at night and on weekends, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll be involved in a collision. And, while most collisions will be minor, the possibility for catastrophic injuries is always present, especially in today’s environment of distracted driving. You can be the most skilled driver on the road, but there is often little you can do if a distracted driver runs into you. Even worse, in Texas, the chances that a driver without any insurance will hit you are pretty high. What do you do then? Thankfully, if you’re driving for Uber, you get to rely on their insurance.
So What Does Rideshare Insurance Cover for Drivers?
If you are involved in a car accident with a passenger in the car, and the accident was your fault, rideshare companies, like Uber and Lyft, payout liability and collision that covers the other drivers and any passengers you may have had. However, if you were at fault, it generally doesn’t cover things like your medical, lost wages, or rental cars.
However, if the other driver is at fault, you can file a claim against the other driver’s insurance company for your damages, including:
- Property damage to your car and personal belongings that were damaged;
- Lost wages;
- Medical bills;
- Rental car for the time your car is in the shop being repaired.
Another concern for rideshare drivers is what to do if you were hit by another driver who either had too little insurance or no insurance at all. If you drive in Texas for very long, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll be hit by someone without insurance. However, in these cases, Uber or Lyft’s insurance will generally apply to cover your losses.
Don’t risk your health or your financial future by falling victim to these tactics.
Get experienced and aggressive rideshare injury lawyers in your corner today by calling us at (210) 910-4357 right now. We have helped other Uber and Lyft drivers recover for their injuries, property damage, and lost wages, and we can help you too.
Under-Insured Drivers
Even if someone with insurance hits you, Texas minimum liability insurance limits are so low, that your damages can easily exceed the insurance coverage available. This is especially true if you or your passengers are injured in an accident. When there are several injured people making a claim against the insurance policy, a minimum limits policy can exhaust very quickly.
Fortunately, if the at-fault driver’s insurance policy is exhausted, you can rely upon an Uber or Lyft “Under-Insured Policy,” often referred to as UIM. This insurance coverage steps in to cover you and your passengers for damages once the at-fault driver’s insurance is exhausted. The good thing about this is that these insurance policies have a very high coverage limit, generally $1 million.
Uninsured Drivers
If you drive in Texas for any length of time, you are probably aware that Texas has a high number of people who drive without the required liability insurance, or “uninsured drivers.” The good news is that if you are hit by someone without insurance, and the collision was their fault, you and your passengers are covered under Uber or Lyft “Uninsured Motorist” coverage, often referred to as UM. Some of the most common things covered by UM coverage would be:
- Property damage (your vehicle and personal belongings of you and passengers)
- Lost wages (you and your passengers)
- Rental Car
- Medical Bills (you and your passengers).
- Other damage caused by the accident
For more specific information on coverage, you can contact Uber or Lyft and ask for a copy of their insurance policy, and any procedures required for making a claim. As a driver, you should be familiar with what to do after an accident, and how to make a claim against Uber or Lyft insurance before an accident occurs.
Even With Insurance – Expect a Fight From the Insurance Company
A reasonable person would think that if you have insurance coverage available to cover you in an accident, making a claim should be somewhat hassle free. But this is simply not the case.
Anytime you are asking an insurance company to pay money, whether it’s the other driver’s insurance or your own, you will be in for a fight. They are not going to simply pay you what is fair. Period.
Insurance companies make $billions every year by collecting insurance premiums hand over fist, and keeping as much of those premiums as they can by refusing to pay claims in a fair and timely manner – that is their business model. In any other industry, it might be considered criminal, but for insurance companies, it’s all in a day’s work!
Don’t Hurt Twice – Learn to Avoid Deceptive Insurance Company Tactics
When you’re involved in a car accident, it’s bad enough that you’ve been injured, are out of work, and medical bills are piling up, but what’s even worse is that a lot of drivers and passengers get hurt again by deceptive insurance company tricks.
If you’ve been injured while driving for Uber or Lyft, one thing is certain: The insurance companies involved have one goal – pay you as little as possible!
If you’ve been seriously injured in a rideshare accident (as a driver or a passenger), the insurance companies involved will almost certainly try to take you for a ride, and they will do almost anything they can (including deception) to keep from paying you a fair settlement for your injuries.
