The Complexities of Los Angeles Uber Accidents
While there may be some confusion around whether Uber and Lyft drivers are independent contractors or employees in California (a new law, AB5, has made this distinction somewhat unclear for many employers and workers), generally speaking, ride share companies view their drivers as independent contractors. As such, rideshare drivers are required to carry their own insurance coverage in addition to the coverage provided by Uber.
The insurance coverage provided by Uber only covers drivers and passengers during certain periods of a trip. So what happens if your driver gets in an accident, injuring you, just outside these periods? Do you have legal rights? According to top legal experts, the answer is YES. Read on to learn more and to see how you can best protect your legal and financial rights.
What Rules Must Uber Drivers Follow?
The rules for Uber and Lyft drivers are listed below....
- Offline – When an Uber driver is in their vehicle but not using the app, the driver is considered to be offline. Any auto accidents fall under the driver's personal insurance policy.
- Available – When a driver is in their vehicle, using the app, and ready to accept a ride, the driver is considered “available” and therefore covered by Uber’s liability insurance for a very limited amount ($50k injury/$25k property/$100k total).
- En Route – When a driver has accepted a ride and is on their way to pick you up, the driver is considered “en route” and is covered by Uber’s full insurance coverage ($1M liability/$1M uninsured/underinsured motorist injury/and contingent collision/comprehensive).
- On Trip – When a driver has picked up the passenger and is bringing them to their destination, they’re considered “on trip" and covered by Uber’s full insurance coverage during this time.
As you can begin to see, if you’re injured in an Uber accident, several factors could affect your claimant your ability to recover the financial compensation you need to pay for your injuries, lost wages, emotional distress, etc... Without the assistance of a skilled injury attorney experienced in handling rideshare accident claims, you run the risk of not claiming the full amount of money owed to you.
For a free, no obligation consultation, please contact the experienced Uber accident attorneys at Ghozland Law Firm today.
