With the rise of ride-sharing services in Las Vegas and across the country, many more people are hopping in an Uber or a Lyft to get from place to place. Unfortunately, however, car accidents in Las Vegas can affect ride-sharing vehicles as well, and the consequences can be significant. Uber and Lyft passengers can suffer severe, catastrophic injuries in a crash. You could also suffer significant injuries if you were hit by and Uber or Lyft driver. If you’ve been hurt in a Lyft or Uber accident, you may not be sure what you can do to protect your rights and seek compensation for your injuries.
Who Is At Fault for the Crash?
While you may be simply a passenger in a ride-sharing vehicle or driving your own vehicle, you may have questions determining whether you should sue Uber, Lyft or the driver for your injuries. After all, you need coverage for your injuries sustained as a passenger or driver of another car including your pain and suffering, lost wages and medical bills. You may be tempted to sue Uber or Lyft directly instead of the driver. There are several logical reasons for this including the fact that these are large corporations with a substantial budget and the ability to pay for the expenses caused by car accidents in Las Vegas.
However, the ride-sharing companies work hard to limit the opportunities to sue the ride-sharing company instead of the driver. For example, Uber and Lyft have tried to make their drivers independent contractors in order to avoid responsibility for car accidents. A skilled Las Vegas personal injury lawyer can provide you with personalized advice about your situation and whether or not it is in your best interests to sue Uber and Lyft directly.
Understanding Ride-Share Crash Insurance Policies
However, Uber and Lyft’s attempts to avoid responsibility does not mean that there’s nowhere to turn for recovery. The Nevada legislature enacted laws that require Uber, Lyft and any other ride-share company to protect individuals hurt in car accidents with ride-share drivers. There are several steps of insurance coverage that ride-sharing drivers have to protect themselves and their passengers in case of an Uber accident.
• If the driver’s ride-sharing app was turned off during the accident, only their car insurance policy applies. This means they were effectively not working for Uber or Lyft at the time.
• If the app was turned on, but the driver was not actively providing a ride, the driver has additional liability coverage for up to $50,000 per person or $100,000 per accident in bodily injury protection and $25,000 per accident in property damage protection.
• If the driver has accepted a ride request, is traveling to pick up a passenger or is driving a passenger, they must be covered by insurance providing up to $1.5 million per accident for bodily injury as well as collision and comprehensive coverage for up to the vehicle cost.
• If you are a passenger in the Uber or Lyft, the ride-share companies may also carry underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage. These coverages protect you if the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance coverage to cover your damages.
Taking Action After an Uber or Lyft Accident
Unfortunately, insurance companies often hesitate to pay out, even when severe injuries and damages are involved. The experienced personal injury lawyers at the Schnitzer Law Firm can help people hurt in Uber or Lyft accidents in Las Vegas to take action and seek the compensation they need. Call our office at 702-960-4050 or use our secure online form to schedule a consultation with our firm.