It’s been over ten years since Uber was founded, and now the popular ridesharing service claims that you can use its app to find a ride in “more than 600 cities worldwide.” Wherever there’s an Uber, it’s top competitor—Lyft—is often nearby. With so many Uber and Lyft drivers on the road, there are sure to be car accidents—and where there are car accidents, there are often injuries.
Who pays for your medical bills if you’re riding in an Uber or Lyft accident? Do you have to use your insurance, the driver’s, or the rideshare company’s? Let’s find out.
What is ridesharing?
In case you’re unfamiliar with the term, “ridesharing” is the act of hailing a private vehicle (driven by its owner) for free or a fee—although in our modern day and age, you will almost definitely be paying a fee for each ride and possibly even a “surge” fee for high-demand times—which will then take you to a predetermined destination.
Unlike hailing a cab, using a ridesharing service like Uber or Lyft can only be done through the rideshare company’s app or website.
Who pays for my medical bills if I’m injured in an Uber or Lyft accident?
If you’re injured as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft, you will not be covered by the driver’s insurance policy unless they have a commercial policy or ridesharing endorsement on their personal policy. However, you might be covered by your personal PIP insurance.
For more serious injuries, Uber and Lyft both offer liability insurance to their drivers, which may cover you for additional medical expenses after your rideshare driver’s insurance has denied the claim—provided the rideshare driver was at-fault for the accident.
If you’re looking to hold Uber or Lyft financially responsible, we recommend contacting a personal injury lawyer to help you navigate the claims process and battle any corporate lawyers you may encounter along the way.
What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident
As with any accident, there are a few things you should do immediately after an accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver before you leave the scene.
1. Collect Information
You’ll want to collect the names, contact information, and insurance details of everyone involved in the accident, as well as the names and contact information of any witnesses.
2. Document the Scene
Take photos of the accident scene, vehicles involved, and anything else relevant to the accident—including any visible injuries you may have sustained.
3. Call the Police
If they are not already on their way, call the police so they can create an official police report of the accident. The police report may be helpful for your injury claim later on.
4. See an Auto Injury Doctor
Even if you think you’re okay after the accident, you should see an experienced auto injury doctor to make sure you don’t have any underlying neck injuries, back injuries, or other serious injuries.
Check out our car accident injury timeline to find out how long you may need to see a doctor for your injuries.
Florida Auto Injury Doctors
After an accident, you have a limited amount of time to seek medical treatment if you want to have the treatment—and any subsequent visits related to your auto accident injuries—covered by insurance. With certain injuries—which are known to cause neck pain after a car accident and/or back pain after a car accident—you may not feel any pain for hours, days, or even weeks after the accident occurred.
Don’t let your injuries go untreated. If you’ve been injured in an auto accident involving an Uber or Lyft, contact your local auto injury doctors immediately to schedule an initial consultation. Your doctor will assess the extent of your injuries and create a treatment plan that will help you start your road to recovery.