Rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber have changed how we get around when driving ourselves is impossible or inconvenient. Rideshare drivers have no doubt prevented an untold number of drunk driving car accidents by giving people an easy way to get a ride home.
But just like everyone else on the road, a rideshare driver must be sober, focused and careful behind the wheel to help avoid car accidents. Usually, they are. But one bad driver can get you caught up in a terrible crash and leave you seriously hurt. The good news is, if something like that happens to you, you might be able to pursue compensation from the rideshare company the driver works for as well as the driver themselves.
When do rideshare companies insure their drivers?
Uber, Lyft and competing rideshare companies are required to insure their drivers if they get into an auto accident while in the course of their work duties. But unlike many jobs, an Uber or Lyft driver can go in and out of “the course of their work duties” several times per work shift or even in an hour. For example, if the driver has turned off their app and is not delivering a passenger at the time of the crash, the company will argue that it is not liable. But if the driver has the app on and is heading toward a fare or has picked up a passenger, the plaintiff could have a stronger case that the rideshare company must compensate you for your injuries.
The law related to car accidents and rideshare companies is new and complex. Working with a personal injury lawyer can help clarify what kind of compensation you can expect in your case.