Ridesharing companies such as Lyft have revolutionized the transportation industry and have largely replaced taxis and other modes of transportation in many markets. Similar to taxi drivers, however, Lyft drivers are independent contractors and not employees of the company they work for. Because of this, Lyft auto accidents, specifically seeking compensation from the liable party, can be confusing. If you have yet to consult with our trusted car accident attorneys for your case, find out below how seeking compensation from a Lyft accident in South Windsor usually works.
Lyft does provide insurance for their drivers, which includes the following coverage for covered accidents:
If you get into an accident with a Lyft driver in South Windsor, who was at fault for the accident, you can seek a claim against the driver’s liability coverage. The situation is simple if the driver was completing a ride request for Lyft when the accident occurred. In this case, Lyft’s insurance policy for injured individuals in other vehicles is up to $1 million. On the other hand, complications usually arise if the Lyft driver wasn’t transporting a passenger who requested a ride from the Lyft app.
If the Lyft driver wasn’t logged into the Lyft app during the accident, Lyft coverage will not apply. Your only recourse is the driver’s personal liability insurance coverage, provided that the driver has one. But if the driver hasn’t accepted a ride request and is logged into the Lyft app, limited coverage from Lyft may apply. However, keep in mind that in this instance, you would have to make your claim against the Lyft driver’s personal insurance, if available, and can only use the limited coverage provided by Lyft if the driver’s coverage isn’t enough.
It is very important to note that even if a Lyft driver is insured and is covered by Lyft’s insurance policy, this doesn’t necessarily mean that recovering compensation for the accident will be easy. Remember that Lyft’s insurance provider administers its insurance, which means that the insurer will try to do everything that they can to question fault for the accident and your injuries to try and get you to settle for the least possible compensation amount.
If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a Lyft driver in South Windsor, Berman & Russo is ready to help out. You can make an appointment for your free case consultation with our experienced team by calling or contacting us online.