Been injured while riding Uber or Lyft?

Have you been injured while riding Uber or Lyft?

Ridesharing companies like Lyft and Uber are aggressively expanding to new markets throughout the United States.

These companies are directly competing with traditional taxi companies. The taxi companies, however, are fighting back with a strong public relations campaign painting the ride-sharing companies as a danger to the community as a whole, and the passenger in particular.

Incredibly, the taxi companies claim that a passenger injured in a Lyft or Uber car during a car accident may very well find himself or herself without insurance coverage to pay medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. This claim is usually accompanied by a stern “buyer beware” warning to those thinking about trying the ride-sharing services.

However, the reality is that Lyft and Uber provide massive amounts of insurance coverage for passengers; significantly more than the coverage provided by taxi companies.

Lyft and Uber’s Liability Policy Covers When the Driver’s Insurance Denies a Claim

What is unique about Lyft and Uber’s coverage is that it is “excess coverage” above what the actual driver carries.

The critics have correctly pointed out that almost all insurance companies will deny a claim made against the ridesharing driver’s policy— why? The driver will almost certainly have a personal insurance policy and not a commercial insurance policy. And, personal insurance policies almost always exclude coverage if the driver was acting “for profit” when driving.

That means if you are a passenger injured while riding in the back seat of a Lyft car, you will almost assuredly have your claim with the driver’s insurance company denied.

However, Lyft and Uber’s Liability will pick up and cover damages even if the driver’s policy rejected your claim. So, if you are riding in a Lyft vehicle, the argument that the driver’s insurance company will not cover your injuries is immaterial: Lyft has you covered from the first penny.

Lyft and Uber provide $1 Million Dollars In Liability Coverage

So, how much coverage does Lyft or Uber provide those injured due to taxi driver negligence? According to the Lyft’s certificate of liability policy, up to $1,000,000.00.

Lyft and Uber Also Provide Coverage If You Are Hurt by an Uninsured Motorist Striking Your Cab

Perhaps even more noteworthy, Lyft and Uber will provide excess uninsured motorist coverage if you are injured by another vehicle and through no fault of your driver.

Let that sink in.

If you are hurt and Lyft’s driver drove absolutely perfectly, Lyft will also pick up the tab for you if the driver’s insurance (or your own insurance) does not pay or cannot pay for all of your damages.

And like Liability insurance, Lyft and Uber provide $1 million in Uninsured Motorist coverage.

What is Uninsured Motorist coverage? This is coverage you buy that protects you from getting injured by another person who does not carry insurance, or carries a small amount of insurance that cannot cover your bills.