Who Is Legally Responsible for an Uber or Lyft Accident in Stockton?
The potential victims in an Uber or Lyft accident include both the passengers who call for a rideshare as well as other persons on the road, including drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Sorting out civil liability–who must pay for the victims’ injuries–is a complicated question that depends on a number of factors involved in the car accident.
Most Uber and Lyft drivers are individual contractors who provide rides using their personal vehicles. This means that when these drivers are not logged into the Uber or Lyft app, and thus available to accept paying customers, they are not considered “commercial” drivers. So if they get into an accident, they are covered by the same auto insurance as any other individual driver in California.
After a driver logs in to a rideshare app, however, they are then using their vehicles for a commercial purpose. If they get into an accident while for a customer to order a ride–say the driver hits a pedestrian–the victim must still seek compensation first from the individual driver’s personal auto insurance policy. But they may also have a claim against Uber or Lyft’s insurer. By law, rideshare companies must offer at least $50,000 for personal injury or death per person (or $100,000 per accident) during these “waiting” periods.
Once an Uber or Lyft driver accepts a ride, or while a paying customer is actually in the vehicle, at that point Uber or Lyft must provide up to $1 million in commercial liability coverage for an accident, as well as $1 million in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Keep in mind, these rules only apply to Uber or Lyft’s civil liability for an accident. If you are injured while riding in an Uber and the accident was caused by another driver or third party, you can still pursue a personal injury claim against them the same as any other negligent driver.
Contact Our Stockton Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers Today
The process of recovering from a car accident is often long and difficult. Obtaining financial compensation can assist you during this difficult period. Our Stockton Uber and Lyft accident attorneys are here to offer legal advice, guidance, and support. Call Venardi Zurada LLP today at (833) VZ FOR ME to schedule a free confidential consultation.
