Do Uber and Lyft Drivers Have Insurance?

Uber and Lyft drivers have insurance, including large liability policies provided by the rideshare companies that are in effect any time a rider is in their vehicle. If you were injured in a rideshare accident as a passenger, it will likely be possible to file a claim based on this policy. When a rideshare accident occurs in another way, it is more complicated to determine which insurance policy applies and where you will need to file your claim. Both Uber and Lyft provide information online and on the app about reporting accidents and how insurance coverage works, but many victims still find it frustrating and stressful. To simplify the process, enlist the help of a car accident attorney from our firm. We regularly handle these claims and our team is familiar with how the process works. This will allow you to focus on other things while we take care of your claims.

Uber and Lyft Drivers Must Have Personal Auto Insurance

Like other motorists, rideshare drivers must carry the required car insurance as outlined under New York law. According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), this includes auto liability insurance coverage of at least:

• $10,000 for property damage in an accident
• $25,000 for bodily injury for one victim
• $50,000 for the death of one victim
• $50,000 for bodily injury of all victims
• $100,000 for the death of multiple victims

If the driver who hits you is signed off of the rideshare app when the collision occurs, this is the liability insurance coverage in effect. This is also the primary liability policy if they are logged in but not matched with a rider.

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Rideshare Companies Also Provide Contingency Coverage

In some cases, a driver’s liability insurance provider will deny a claim if an accident occurred while their policyholder was working as a rideshare driver. If this happens, the rideshare companies provide a contingent liability policy to cover the accident victims’ damages. This contingent policy also comes into effect when the driver’s insurer denies the claim for another reason or when the driver’s policy fails to cover all the victim’s damages.

Additional Coverage from Rideshare Companies

Uber and Lyft, as well as other rideshare companies, provide coverage under a large liability policy that goes into effect when the driver matches with a rider. This is the policy that will cover you if:

• You were a rider (passenger,) in the Uber or Lyft when the accident occurred.
• A rideshare driver hit you while they were going to pick up a rider.
• A rideshare driver hit you while they had a rider (passenger,) in their vehicle.

This policy helps protect the rideshare companies, ensuring riders have a place to turn to for compensation if they suffered injuries due to a careless or reckless rideshare driver. Of course, it also benefits riders and other victims of rideshare collisions. The minimum limits of this policy vary by location and the state and local laws in place. Nationwide, Uber and Lyft drivers have insurance policies from these ridesharing companies of at least $1 million in liability coverage during this time. In New York State, outside of New York City, these limits are $1.25 million.

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Handling a Legal Claim After a Rideshare Accident

If you were a victim in a rideshare accident, you do not have to try to identify the insurance policy in effect, build support for your claim, and file it yourself. Rideshare accident attorneys from our firm work based on contingency and understand how these insurance claims work. We will:

• Protect your rights
• Gather evidence
• Communicate with the rideshare company and other parties
• Put an appropriate settlement value on your case
• Identify the right insurance policy
• File your claim
• Negotiate with the insurer for a just payout
• Fight relentlessly to win the best possible outcome for you

Throughout this process, we will ensure you know what to expect and are up-to-date about what is happening in your case. You will not have to worry about any of it. A Lyft car accident attorney with our firm will ensure your rights and needs are fully met when dealing with the at-fault party’s insurers and lawyers. Going alone in such type of legal endeavor is risky. If you don’t build your case right, you offer them the chance to deny your claim, offer a low settlement amount, or avoid paying you for whatever reason they find. The presence of an attorney at the table or in the courtroom can make a huge difference. If a rideshare accident also generates a personal injury case or a wrongful death one, legal representation becomes mandatory if you want to succeed.

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Get Your Free Case Consultation Today by Calling Our Team

The insurance company often tries to get victims to agree to a quick payout for much less than they deserve. There are also deadlines that apply in these cases, including deadlines for filing a claim based on your own no-fault coverage and deadlines for taking the case to trial under New York Civil Practice Laws & Rules § 214. At Friedman & Simon, L.L.P., our rideshare accident team knows how frustrating and confusing the insurance claims process is after an Uber or Lyft collision. We provide complimentary consultations about these crashes and will meet you anywhere on Long Island or the New York City metropolitan area. Call (516) 932-0400 to get started.

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