While the ability to easily hail a ride through a smartphone app has undoubtedly increased convenience for people seeking transportation and flexible employment, a recent study from the University of Chicago shows that rideshares in metropolitan areas led to an increase in overall motor vehicle fatalities.
Ridesharing may appear as a safer, more easily accessible alternative to taxis. However, accidents still happen. If they happen at the fault of the rideshare company, they may be held liable.
For a free consultation with our experienced Washington rideshare accident attorneys, please call (509) 866-4166 or send us an online message today.
Common Accidents Involving Rideshare Companies
Ridesharing accidents can lead to injuries for pedestrians, passengers, and occupants of other vehicles. Two ridesharing companies, Uber and Lyft, began operations in 2010 and 2012, respectively. In Washington, Uber and Lyft drivers are held to the same standard as any other driver on the road.
Common rideshare accidents are motor vehicle accidents that involve speeding, alcohol-impaired driving, and distracted driving.
Accidents may also involve vulnerable road users like pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicyclists, or scooter riders. The majority of fatal rideshare accidents occur on busier roadways, such as interstates and principal arterial roads, not at crosswalks or intersections.
Rideshare accidents have different factors to consider than conventional motor vehicle accidents, so it’s important to speak with a Washington Lyft injury lawyer who can help determine liability. Likewise, a Washington Uber injury lawyer can help explain how you can maximize your claim for damages and what those damages might be.
Steps to Take When You Are in a Rideshare Accident
If you sustained injuries in a rideshare accident, immediately seek medical treatment. An exam will document the extent of your injuries, which may be essential to your ability to receive compensation.
Confirm whether the police were contacted after the accident and file a report. It’s also helpful to take photographs and videos, write down vehicle information, and get contact details from witnesses while you’re at the scene.
Most importantly, be sure to contact the rideshare company. Both Uber and Lyft allow you to report the accident in the app. You have three years from the accident date to file a claim.
If you need help with these steps, take the burden off your shoulders and contact a Washington rideshare accident law firm, like the attorneys at Kapuza Lighty Accident Injury Lawyers.
Does Insurance Cover Rideshare Companies?
Under Washington law, Uber and Lyft are not “for hire” vehicles, like a taxi, and therefore do not have the same liability coverage requirements. However, both companies provide commercial insurance policies that activate once a driver uses their app.
Uber Rideshare Insurance
Uber maintains separate insurance policies for drivers and delivery people. For drivers and delivery people, if the app is offline and the driver is not working, the Uber insurance policy doesn’t apply. However, suppose the driver is in an accident available or waiting for a ride request. In that case, Uber maintains third-party liability coverage, but only if the driver’s personal auto insurance doesn’t apply.
If a driver is in an accident en route to pick up rides or during trips, Uber maintains the following auto insurance:
- $1,000,000 third-party liability,
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury and first-party injury insurance, and
- Contingent comprehensive and collision (with exceptions).
The same coverages apply for delivery people, except for uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury and first-party injury insurance.
There is a lot of fine print regarding insurance policies, and coverage differs by state, so it is important to reach out to an Uber accident lawyer to determine the extent of policy coverage and whether you are entitled to damages for your accident.
Lyft Rideshare Insurance
Since Lyft does not have a delivery service, its policy applies only to drivers. Lyft drivers in Washington must have a personal liability policy with limits of no less than $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $10,000 for property damage.
Coverage available from Lyft when the app is on and receiving ride requests is:
- $50,000 per person for bodily injury,
- $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and
- $25,000 per accident for property damage.
If a driver obtains comprehensive and collision on their personal auto policy, Lyft then maintains contingent comprehensive and collision coverage up to the actual cash value of the car ($2,500 deductible). The coverage available from Lyft when a driver is en route to pick up passengers or during rides is at least $1,000,000 for third-party auto liability. To find out if coverage applies to your rideshare accident, contact a Lyft accident lawyer in Washington.
We Can Help
At Kapuza Lighty Accident Injury Lawyers, we are premier Washington rideshare accident lawyers with over 50 years of combined legal experience. We serve anyone needing a personal injury attorney in Yakima and Yakima County. Contact our office for a free consultation by calling (509) 866-4166 or filling out our online form.
