Can You Sue if You Have Been Injured as an Uber or Lyft Passenger in Arizona?

Ridesharing apps such as Lyft, Uber and others continue to grow in popularity in large cities because they offer a convenient, cost-effective alternative to traditional taxis. Whether you request a ride from your home or from the airport or train station, the vehicle that you are riding is the driver’s personal vehicle. Have you ever wondered what happens when an Uber, Lyft or other rideshare driver gets involved in a car accident when they have a passenger inside their vehicle? Who will be held liable for the injuries and property damage from the crash?

Auto insurance complexities for Phoenix ridesharing services, Uber, Lyft and others.

Ridesharing drivers are using their personal vehicles to shuttle passengers around the city, and they must have car insurance for their personal use of their vehicle. When they are in professional mode, and they have a passenger on board, their auto insurance is not likely to cover the accident if the driver is using their private vehicle for commercial purposes. Rideshare drivers can purchase car insurance policies from the company they drive for, which would cover them if they get into a crash while they are driving to meet a passenger with the app on, or driving the passenger to a destination with the app on. Both Uber and Lyft offer $1 million liability per incident and $1 million for underinsured/uninsured motorist per incident and $50,000 collision coverage only when passengers are in the vehicle. These policies also offer $50,000 liability per person and $100,000 per incident and up to $25,000 in property damage.

If you the vehicle you are ridesharing in gets into an accident, call the police and report the accident, and request an ambulance if you or anyone at the scene requires emergency medical attention. Be sure to request a copy of the police report later. If you have suffered an injury in the crash, you may be able to recover compensation from the driver’s car insurance and from the insurance company for the ridesharing service that they are driving for.

Also, be sure to get the driver’s first and last name (the app often only provides the first name), as well as the driver’s license plate number and insurance information. Additionally, ask the driver if he/she is driving for Uber, Lyft, or both (as they often do) at that time.

Examples of damages from car accident injury claim

If you are injured in a car crash while you are a passenger of a ridesharing app driver, you may be able to recover compensation for the following:

• Medical expenses (current and future)
• Lost income (current and future)
• Disability
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress

It is vital that you talk to an experienced car accident attorney soon after the accident and before you speak to the insurance company for the rideshare driver.  Understand that things can get complicated if the accident was your ridesharing driver’s fault, if they were drunk, drugged or distracted at the time of the crash. If the crash was your driver’s fault, the company may deny the claim. There are other complications that can occur, but when you are working with a dependable Phoenix car accident attorney from Plattner Verderame, you can feel confident that your interests are being protected.

At Plattner Verderame, P.C., we strive to make sure that our clients feel informed and comfortable while we represent their interests. You are invited to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation by contacting our experienced Phoenix car accident lawyers by calling 602-266-2002 or filling out our contact form.

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