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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA PERSONAL INJURY BLOG

Ride-share services such as Uber or Lyft can be a convenient way to get from point A to point B. If you suffer an injury as a passenger in a ride-share vehicle, however, issues involving liability can become complicated. 

Learn more about how to seek damages for debilitating injuries and lost wages after this type of auto accident. 

Gathering evidence 

When injured in an auto accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver, obtaining necessary medical treatment should be your first priority. Once you are able to do so, gather the names, contact information and insurance information of all drivers involved in the collision and witnesses who saw it happen. You may also want to take pictures or video of the accident scene. Call the police to report the collision and be sure to obtain a copy of the accident report. 

Pursuing an insurance claim 

Although your ride-share driver’s auto insurance policy should cover your injuries, he or she may not have the required commercial coverage for passenger injuries. Personal auto policies do not cover accidents that occur when working as a driver for pay. If this applies to your case, you can file a claim through Uber or Lyft’s third-party liability coverage. 

When a driver other than your ride-share driver is at fault for the crash, his or her insurance holds responsibility for covering your injuries. When the driver has insufficient insurance, you may be able to seek damages through Uber or Lyft’s uninsured and underinsured motorist policy. 

Filing a lawsuit 

If the insurance settlement does not cover your full costs from the accident, you may consider suing the ride-share company. However, these services classify drivers as independent contractors and are not legally liable for their actions as they would be for employees. A 2018 Supreme Court decision in California makes it more difficult for ride-share services to misclassify employees, so you may be able to argue that your driver does not fit the independent contractor criteria.