Uber/Lyft/Rideshare Accidents in Victorville

Every year, there are thousands of car accidents in San Bernardino County. As if going through the accident wasn’t bad enough, car crash victims often become overwhelmed dealing with the aftermath of a collision—including medical appointments, insurance claims, legal problems, and more. These problems may become even more complicated if a rideshare vehicle is involved in the wreck.

Multiple parties are involved in a rideshare accident, including the drivers, the victims, and the rideshare companies. There may be disagreements about whose insurance should pay or whether or not the driver was officially on duty at the time of the crash. Because of these complications, if you or someone you care about was in an Uber/Lyft/rideshare accident in Victorville, you may need to discuss your situation with an experienced attorney.

Types of Rideshares

Ridesharing businesses allow passengers to use a mobile app or a website to request a ride from a driver who has a vehicle for hire. Unlike taxi drivers, rideshare drivers may only hire out their vehicle part of the time. Many California residents and tourists prefer using rideshare services because of the convenience and flexibility of being picked up from anywhere without having to worry about driving in traffic or finding parking. 

There are many different rideshare services. Some of the most well-known are Uber and Lyft, both of which started in California and are very common on Victorville roads. However, other rideshare services operate in the area, including Blacklane, Carmel, and SuperShuttle.

Rideshare Insurance Coverage

Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft carry insurance coverage on their drivers and vehicles, but the insurance will only apply if certain conditions are met. Rideshare drivers are usually only independent contractors and should carry their own insurance coverage as well. To assist a victim of an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare accident in Victorville, an attorney would ask specific questions to find out who was at fault and what insurance company should pay for damages. 

When determining whose insurance is responsible, accidents involving rideshare drivers typically fit into three main scenarios. First, if a rideshare driver gets into an accident but has not turned on their app indicating that they are available to pick up passengers, the rideshare insurance will not pay. The driver’s personal auto insurance policy is the only one that applies. 

In the second scenario, a driver has turned on the app but has not yet accepted a ride request. If the driver gets into an accident at that point, typically only the rideshare insurance liability policy will apply. For companies like Uber and Lyft, this policy will cover up to $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident for bodily injury and up to $25,000 per accident for property damage. In many accidents, this will not be enough to cover all of the damages. 

In the third scenario, a driver has accepted a ride request, picked up the passenger, and is headed to the passenger’s destination. If there is a crash, this would be covered under the rideshare company’s auto liability insurance and the uninsured/underinsured policy, which pays out up to $1 million for injuries. Uber and Lyft also have comprehensive collision insurance, which would cover the replacement value of the vehicle or the cost of repairs, whichever was less.

Contact a Victorville Rideshare Accident Attorney For Help 

It is easy to see how there may be gray areas that make it less clear which insurance company should pay for damages during a rideshare accident. For example, if the driver has accepted a ride request but has not yet picked up the passenger, the insurance company may argue that they are only responsible for paying out at the lower level. A driver may make an unexpected detour or may have multiple passengers going to different destinations. 

In these situations, Uber or Lyft accident victims need a lawyer to advocate for the best coverage levels for them.  If you or a loved one was involved in an Uber/Lyft/rideshare accident in Victorville, reach out to a lawyer at Walter Clark Legal Group who could negotiate with the insurance companies and help ensure you get a fair result.