Ride-hailing services, like Uber and Lyft, have become tremendously popular in recent years. In fact, in 2019, almost 40% of Americans said they had taken at least one trip in a ride-hailing vehicle. To meet customer demand, ride-hailing services have more cars on the road than ever before.
Most ride-hailing drivers are not professionals, so a ride-hailing driver may eventually collide with you or with your vehicle. Fortunately, you may have some options for seeking financial compensation for your injuries and other damages.
Liability for accident damages
If the ride-hailing service driver bears responsibility for the accident that caused your injuries, you can probably seek a settlement from his or her insurer. Still, your damages may exceed the driver’s policy limits. If so, you may be able to obtain compensation from the ride-hailing service itself.
When a driver logs into the ride-hailing app but has not yet accepted a ride, the service typically provides insurance coverage up to $50,000 per person for injuries. This coverage may top out at $100,000, though.
If the driver has accepted a ride, the ride-hailing service’s insurance policy goes up to $1 million. Consequently, depending on the severity of your injuries and the extent of your other damages, you may have access to significant financial compensation.
Documentation of the accident
Like with any type of motor vehicle accident, you probably want to gain as much information as possible about your collision with a ride-hailing service vehicle. Calling the police, talking to witnesses and taking photographs may be useful.
Even if you believe you have not suffered an injury, you should also go to the emergency room for a full medical evaluation. After all, the symptoms of even serious injuries may not show up immediately.
Ultimately, by carefully documenting the accident and assigning blame for it, you may boost your chances of receiving the financial compensation you deserve following your collision with a ride-hailing service vehicle.