Ridesharing is becoming increasingly popular in the US, but what happens if you are involved in an Uber accident? Or hit by a Lyft driver?
If you have been injured in a rideshare accident, whether as a driver or a passenger, you may be entitled to compensation. At personal injury law firm Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers, our dedicated Boston car accident lawyers work energetically to seek justice for our clients who have claims involving ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft. Our Uber accident attorneys have experience handling claims involving rideshare driver liability.
The rideshare accident attorney at Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers offers a free car accident evaluation to help you understand your legal options and what your personal injury claim may be worth. Call today to speak directly to a knowledgeable uber accident lawyer in Boston, MA.
- Steps to Take After an Uber or Lyft Accident
- Can I Sue Uber for an Accident?
- 30-Day, Risk-Free Guarantee
- Uber Insurance Policy
- Lyft Insurance Policy
- Our Recent Case Settlements
- Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Boston
- Meet our team!
- Contact Our Uber Accident Lawyers
- Client Reviews
- Related resources
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Steps to Take After an Uber or Lyft Accident
After a rideshare accident, there are certain steps that you should take to protect your legal rights.
Contact Law Enforcement
Report the accident to the police. Do not let the other driver talk you out of calling the police. It is important to have a police accident report documenting the incident. A police report describing the factors in the accident will carry weight if you pursue a personal injury lawsuit. Without an accident report, it may just be your word against that of the other driver as to who caused the crash and should be held liable.
Get Insurance Information
Exchange insurance and license information with the rideshare driver and others involved in the accident. If the driver refuses to cooperate, wait for the police to arrive and gather the information.
Take Pictures
Find a safe place to stand and use your phone camera to snap photos of the accident scene showing vehicle damage before the cars are moved. Take photos of your injuries and the injuries of your passengers. After motor vehicle accidents, you cannot take too many photos, so try to capture as many details as possible. Your photos may be useful as evidence if you file an accident claim.
Seek Medical Assistance If Injured
After a car accident, it is important to have a doctor examine you and document your injuries. If you do not require emergency medical care, you should still have a medical examination. Some injuries are not apparent immediately after a crash. Having a doctor’s report describing your accident-related injuries is crucial to a successful Uber or Lyft accident claim.
Can I Sue Uber for an Accident?
If you are involved in an accident caused by an Uber driver, you may have a claim against the driver’s personal auto liability insurance or the company’s insurance coverage provided to Uber drivers while they are on the clock. An experienced Uber accident attorney can review the specific details of your accident and determine the appropriate legal steps to take.
When you work with a knowledgeable Boston rideshare accident lawyer at Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers, our legal team identifies all the insurance policies that may provide compensation for your losses after Uber and Lyft accidents. There may be applicable insurance policies that you are not aware of. The insurance companies providing coverage to the ridesharing companies may try to dismiss your claim or minimize your claim if you do not have a determined injury attorney representing and advocating on your behalf.
As an Uber driver
Uber provides auto insurance that covers you as a driver whether you are driving to pick up a rider, transporting a rider, or have just signed onto the app and are waiting for a ride request.
As an Uber passenger
If you are injured in an accident as a passenger, you may have several options. You may be covered by the $1 million in liability insurance and bodily injury coverage the company provides its drivers if the driver was at fault in the accident.
However, in some cases, Uber accidents may be caused by other drivers. If you were injured in such an accident as a passenger, you may need to make a claim against the other driver’s insurance or sue the at-fault driver to recover compensation.
In some situations, it may be appropriate to make claims against both the Uber insurance and the other driver’s insurance policies. Let the Uber accident lawyers at Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers review your accident and develop a legal strategy to help you seek maximum compensation for your injuries.
Can I sue an Uber driver?
You may have a legal right to file a personal injury claim against an Uber driver if the driver caused a crash and you were injured. You may be entitled to seek compensation whether you were a passenger in the Uber vehicle or driving in another car.
Can I sue Uber for an accident as a passenger?
Yes, as a ridesharing passenger, you may have a right to sue the company if you were injured in an accident due to an Uber driver’s carelessness. If you were injured while riding in an Uber and another driver was at fault, you might have a claim against the other driver’s insurance. It is important to have an Uber accident lawyer review the details of the accident and advise you.
An Uber car crashed into me. Can I sue Uber?
You may have a lawsuit against Uber and its driver if the driver was driving for Uber when he or she crashed into you. The driver was acting as a representative of the company when carrying passengers or going to pick up a rider. You may be entitled to make a claim against Uber’s insurance policy, which the company provides for drivers while they are on the clock.
On the other hand, if the Uber driver was not signed onto the Uber app and was simply running an errand when the accident occurred, then the Uber driver’s insurance company should cover your damages. Personal auto insurance policies typically will not provide coverage when the driver is using his or her personal vehicle to transport ridesharing passengers.
Can I sue Lyft for an accident?
You may be entitled to sue Lyft if you were injured by the carelessness or disregard for the safety of a Lyft driver. A professional rideshare accident attorney can help you build a strong case and get fair compensation.
Can I sue Lyft for an accident as a passenger?
Yes, you may be entitled to make an injury claim against Lyft if you were injured as a passenger. The auto liability and bodily injury insurance provided to Lyft drivers covers injuries to ridesharing passengers caused by the drivers up to the limits of the policy.
The driver also may have his or her own commercial auto liability insurance that provides compensation for injuries. A Lyft accident lawyer at Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers can review the details of your accident and determine the appropriate party to hold accountable for your injuries.
A Lyft car crashed into me. Can I sue Lyft?
You may be able to sue Lyft if one of their drivers causes a traffic accident involving you. It is important to have a police officer investigate who was at fault.
Who insures Uber and Lyft drivers?
It depends on whether or not the ridesharing driver is on the clock. Uber and Lyft provide insurance coverage for liability, uninsured motorists, collisions, and comprehensive and personal injury protection to their on-the-clock drivers and the passengers the drivers are carrying. Drivers who are carrying passengers or who have accepted a ride request should be covered by Lyft’s or Uber’s insurance company.
When ridesharing drivers are not logged into the rideshare app, they are technically off the clock. As independent contractors, ridesharing drivers also have to pay for their personal car insurance policy. Our rideshare accident lawyer can help you understand the applicable insurance policies — contact us for a free consultation!
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Uber Insurance Policy
Uber requires that its drivers have personal auto insurance in accordance with Massachusetts law. Drivers may also have commercial auto liability coverage on their vehicles.
In addition, the rideshare company maintains auto liability insurance. While an Uber driver is online with Uber before accepting a ride request, the driver is covered by Uber’s insurance if they cause an accident with another motorist. Uber’s coverage is at least $50,000 in injury liability per person, with $100,000 in total liability per accident and $25,000 in property damage liability per accident.
Uber’s insurance covers three things for its drivers if they are involved in car accidents while driving to pick up a rider or carrying a passenger:
- Liability to another party (such as the rider in the car) if they crash into another motorist, a pedestrian, a bicyclist, or another property. The Uber policy provides at least $1,000,000 of total liability coverage.
- Any injuries sustained due to an uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist, or hit-and-run driver. The policy provides $1,000,000 of total coverage for bodily injury.
- Contingent collision and comprehensive coverage to pay for damage to the vehicle as long as the driver maintains collision coverage for the vehicle while not on an Uber trip.
Lyft Insurance Policy
Lyft provides its drivers with commercial auto liability insurance of up to $1,000,000 per accident and coverage for bodily injury caused by uninsured and underinsured motorists when drivers are engaged in a ride. The Lyft insurance policy will provide coverage in excess of the Lyft driver’s own commercial auto liability policy. Lyft also provides contingent collision insurance for drivers who carry collision coverage on their personal auto policy.
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Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Boston
Rideshare companies provide alternative taxi-like transportation by connecting passengers to drivers. Uber and Lyft, which are the two largest transportation network companies, contract with drivers who use their personal vehicles to ferry riders to their destinations. Riders use smartphone apps to hail a ride with an Uber or Lyft driver.
Ridesharing services are generally less expensive than taxi cabs, but there have been concerns about the safety of the passengers and other drivers. That’s why these companies conduct a screening process for applicants seeking to drive for them.
The background check reviews the applicant’s driving history and looks for any record of crimes that affect passenger safety, such as convictions for driving under the influence, reckless driving, sexual assault, or violence. Despite company precautions, some drivers are not careful and get involved in traffic accidents that result in passenger injuries.
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Contact Our Uber Accident Lawyers
Call us at Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers to review your Uber accident in Boston and discuss your legal options.
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Related resources
- Massachusetts Rideshare Accidents Statistics
- Massachusetts Rideshare Company Regulations
- Rideshare Company Laws
- What to do after Uber accident
