Uber/Lyft Accidents

As an Atlanta Uber/Lyft driver, the more you are out on the road driving, the more likely it is that you will be involved in a Georgia car accident. As an Uber/Lyft driver, you know that rideshare insurance will cover your car, but what happens if you’re injured?

The Atlanta law firm of Lashonda Council Rogers specializes in protecting your rights if you drive for Uber or Lyft and suffered injuries. Companies such as Uber/Lyft have unique insurance criteria and it may not be apparent whether you, as a driver, are covered for your injuries.

As an Atlanta Uber/Lyft driver, it’s vital that you understand exactly how Uber and Lyft’s insurance works.

Coverage Levels for Uber and Lyft Drivers in Georgia

The business insurance offered by rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft has different levels of coverage, depending on your status at the time of the Atlanta Uber/Lyft car accident.  They are as follows:

1. Not Logged On to The Rideshare App: If you haven’t turned on your Uber/Lyft app and you get into an accident, your personal Atlanta car insurance would apply.  As an Uber or Lyft driver, you must maintain a personal car insurance policy with liability and uninsured/underinsured coverage no less than $25,000 per person and $50,000 for each accident.
2. Logged In Waiting for Passenger Request: If you’ve marked yourself online in the Uber or Lyft app but are waiting for a passenger request and are involved in an Atlanta car accident, both Uber and Lyft will provide you with coverage in the amounts of $50,000 per injury,$100,000 total per accident, and$25,000k for property damage but these amounts are  contingent on your own personal car insurance. This means that first you will have to make a claim with your own Atlanta car insurance company before Uber or Lyft’s insurance policy takes effect.
3. En Route or With Passenger:  If you are on the way to pick up a passenger, or already have a passenger in your car at the time of your Atlanta car accident, both Uber and Lyft provide $1 million in liability coverage as well as a $1 million uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance policy.

Now that we’ve explained the coverage, let’s look at a few examples of Atlanta car accidents involving Uber and Lyft drivers and what type of injury coverage you may receive as a driver.

1. You are logged into the rideshare app and waiting for a ride request. While you are stopped at a red light, you are hit from behind. The impact of the accident causes major property damage and you are injured, but the person that hit you doesn’t have any insurance.  

Under Uber’s insurance, your own personal Atlanta car insurance would come into play. Since the driver who was at fault doesn’t have any insurance, you would be able to use your personal car insurance policy’s uninsured motorist coverage.  However, because most personal car insurance policies don’t cover individuals while operating a rideshare vehicle, your claim would more than likely be denied because you were logged into Uber or Lyft at the time of the Atlanta car accident. If you carry rideshare insurance, your compensation is limited to the amount of uninsured motorist coverage you have on your own personal Atlanta car insurance policy.

2. In this example, the same facts in number 1 are present - a car hit you from behind while you were stopped at a red light.  However, in this example, the car that hit you has a $25,000 injury insurance policy.

Because the driver of the car that hit you was at fault, you could receive the maximum amount under their Atlanta car insurance policy - $25,000.00. Then you may be able to receive additional compensation from your personal underinsured insurance, but only if your policy carries underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage in excess of the $25,000 the driver of the car that hit you had.

3. In this example, you haven’t even opened the rideshare app for Uber or Lyft and you are hit from behind. In this scenario, Uber and/or Lyft’s insurance would not come into play. Your only available compensation would be through the at-fault party’s insurance and/or your own personal Atlanta uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
4. While transporting a passenger, a car crashes into you from behind. In this scenario, you would first have to use all of the at-fault driver’s liability insurance and then the full $1 million insurance policy from Uber or Lyft would apply.

When you are an Uber or Lyft driver and are involved in an Atlanta Uber/Lyft car accident and are injured, the insurance coverage from Uber/Lyft can be complex and difficult to understand.

What to Do If You’re in an Uber/Lyft Car Accident in Atlanta

If you are able, there are certain steps you should take if you’re involved in an automobile accident.

•  Call 911
•  Get contact and insurance information from the other driver(s) involved in the accident
•  Obtain contact information from any witnesses to the accident
•  Let first responders or another emergency medical personnel check you out.   Sometimes adrenaline from the accident can mask potential injuries
•  If possible, take photographs of the accident
•  Cooperate with the police when they arrive on the scene
•  If you’ve been treated by any emergency medical personnel at the scene and have been released but later feel that something is wrong, immediately go to the hospital. Sometimes injuries don’t manifest themselves until hours after a car accident.
•  Call your insurance company to report the accident
•  If necessary, make an appointment to see your own family doctor
•  If your doctor or hospital personnel advise you to take time off work, do so.

If you or a loved one has been injured while driving for Uber/Lyft in Atlanta, you should consult a qualified Atlanta Uber /Lyft Accident attorney like The Council Firm, LLC to handle your accident case.

Her legal team has the experience to handle your Atlanta Uber/Lyft accident and will know what to look for in your individual case.

Choosing the right Atlanta Uber/Lyft accident attorney for you or your loved one is vital in making sure you receive all the monetary damages due to you.