I Was Hit By an Uber or Lyft Driver What to Do Now?

Uber and Lyft are both popular transportation options for people looking for a convenient way to get around town. But while many people use those apps every day, there are still some risks involved. And according to a recent report from Consumer Reports, one of those risks could come from the drivers themselves. In fact, it turns out that getting into an accident with a ridesharing driver isn't always as easy as calling an ambulance.

The publication recently surveyed 200 people about their experiences with ridesharing drivers. While most respondents had positive things to say about the companies, there were some concerns raised. One of the biggest ones was that the drivers weren't properly insured. This meant that if someone got injured in an accident, they might not be able to file a claim because the person driving wasn't covered under the same policy as the vehicle itself.

Another issue that came up was the lack of information shared by the drivers. Some drivers didn't even know how to handle certain situations like broken-down cars or medical emergencies. And since passengers don't usually talk to each other, sometimes they aren't aware of what happened during the ride.

Of course, if you do end up in an accident with a driver, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll lose access to your money. You just have to make sure you take steps to protect yourself.

If you're involved in a car accident while riding in a ridesharing app like Uber or Lyft, it helps to know what to do next. Here are some tips:

• Call 911 if you or anyone else involved in the accident needs immediate medical attention.
• Call the local police department's Non-Emergency Number if you don't require emergency assistance.
• An officer will likely arrive shortly to take statements and collect evidence.
• Take photos of the crash site and the vehicles involved.
• You can also contact the rideshare companies directly to file a claim.

If you've been hit by one of Uber or Lyft's drivers, you can report it on the respective app's safety page. Both apps offer similar reporting options. In both cases, you'll see a button labeled "Third Party Incident." When you tap it, you'll be asked to provide a few pieces of information about the incident. This includes where it happened, how long ago it occurred, and whether anyone else was injured. After providing that info, you'll be prompted to give your contact information. Then you'll be given a phone number to call.

When you're done, you'll receive a text message confirming that someone from the company's third-party incident team has called you. They'll ask you some questions and let you know whether there are any follow-up actions required. These include things such as getting a police report, filing a claim with the car rental agency, or contacting the parties involved.

If someone gets injured while riding in a rideshare vehicle, it's usually up to the person who owns the vehicle to pay for the injuries. But what happens if the driver doesn't have enough coverage on his/her personal auto insurance policy to cover the incident? What about if the driver isn't covered under his/her employer's health plan? Or maybe the driver has no insurance whatsoever?

The problem is that most personal auto insurance policies don’t cover accidents that happen when the vehicle is being used for commercial purposes. This is because most companies don’t want to assume responsibility for injuries sustained by people who aren’t insured by the company. Therefore, even though rideshare vehicles are considered commercial vehicles, most personal auto insurance policies do not cover rideshare accidents.

Fortunately, Uber and Lyft offer liability insurance to their drivers. Drivers can purchase this coverage directly from the app, and it costs $1 per trip. However, this insurance covers the driver and not the passenger. As such, passengers still need to purchase additional insurance to protect themselves.

In September 2018, Uber and Lyft announced that beginning January 1, 2019, they'd adopt a common policy regarding how much liability insurance they'll cover for their drivers. This change affects both companies' drivers and passengers. For example, if you're riding with someone else and your car breaks down, you could call out to another rider in the carpool lane to see if he or she wants to help pay for repairs. If there are multiple riders in the car, however, it's possible that none of them will want to chip in. In that case, neither Uber nor Lyft will pick up the tab. But if one of those riders had their own insurance policy, that policy would still apply.

The same goes for drivers. If they're involved in an accident while their app is turned off, they won't be able to collect on their personal auto insurance, even though their rideshare app might be providing liability coverage. However, if the driver is logged into their app and is ready to accept a ride request, they'll be covered under their rideshare app's liability insurance.

Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft have become increasingly popular over the past few years. But while there are many benefits associated with the technology, it doesn't come without risks. One of those risks is being involved in a car crash involving one of these ride-share drivers. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3 million Americans got into crashes involving a rideshare vehicle in 2016 alone. And that number continues to grow each year.

If you're hurt during a collision with a rideshare driver, you'll want to know what options you have. For example, does your state require the driver to carry auto liability coverage? Does the driver have personal auto insurance? Do you qualify for underinsured motorist coverage? These are just some of the questions you might ask yourself.

But don't worry—you aren't alone. There are lawyers out there who specialize in helping clients navigate the ins and outs of filing a lawsuit against these companies. They can explain the different types of injuries you could sustain in a collision and tell you whether you have legal recourse. They can even help you determine whether you qualify for financial compensation.

In short, having a lawyer on your side can make a big difference in your ability to recover damages following a rideshare accident.

An experienced accident lawyer in Harris County, Galveston County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, Brazoria County, Houston, Sugar Land, Missouri City, and Stafford, Texas at Thornton Esquire Law Group, PLLC, can help you with your rideshare accident case. Contact us today at  www.thorntonesquirelawgroup.com  for a free consultation.