Rideshare services are convenient, as they allow people to use an app to obtain local transportation regardless of where they travel. They also make it easy for those with good driving records and modern, well-maintained vehicles to parley their skills and possessions into a viable income stream. Services like Lyft and Uber allow tourists, those traveling for work and people who don’t have a vehicle to arrange for convenient transportation whenever they need it with only a few taps on their mobile devices.
Most rideshare rides are uneventful, but a tiny percentage of them result in collisions. Given that there is a contractor and an app company involved, there can be a bit of confusion about who should cover the costs after a rideshare crash in Oklahoma.
There should be insurance coverage
When an employee or contractor for a company causes injury to members of the public, the business often has liability for the results. Companies involved in the transportation industry could be responsible for lifelong medical expenses if their drivers hurt someone. Both Lyft and Uber have large commercial liability policies that protect app users during a ride.
If the contractor driving the vehicle makes a mistake or ends up in a crash where there isn’t other insurance coverage, like a hit-and-run collision, the rideshare company will typically have a large corporate policy that applies. Individual drivers should also have specialized liability coverage on their policies because they use their personal vehicles as part of their work.
If the rideshare driver is not the one at fault for the crash, then the insurance coverage of the motorist who is to blame for the wreck may apply to some of the crash costs. It may even be possible for the passenger to apply some of their own insurance coverage if they have supplemental protection like uninsured motorist coverage on their policy.
Generally speaking, those involved in a rideshare collision as a passenger should not have to absorb the cost generated by the wreck. Either the driver at fault for the crash and/or the rideshare company will incur liability for the passenger’s losses, including their medical expenses and lost wages.
Understanding how insurance works can help those who have recently been involved in a car crash in a rideshare vehicle address their personal losses. Speaking with an experienced Oklahoma City car accident attorney may be necessary if insurance won’t fully cover someone’s losses, as filing a lawsuit may be necessary.