What happens when you are injured in a car accident and you were riding in an Uber or Lyft car? That is the very question that Miley Cyrus and friend Cody Simpson are wondering after being involved in a recent fender bender in an Uber SUV outside a Los Angeles nightclub.
Uber and Lyft are two examples of taxi-like businesses that capitalize on today’s smartphone culture to offer on-demand for-hire rides around town. Unlike conventional cab companies, Uber and Lyft employ amateur drivers using their own personal vehicles to transport passengers from location to location. The cars are generally not obviously marked, although some Lyft drivers place a pink mustache on the front of vehicles.
What if you’re a passenger in an Uber or Lyft car, and your driver causes the accident?
If your driver causes an auto accident, you will have a claim against your driver. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the agency that governs Uber and Lyft, requires that these drivers have at least $50,000/$100,000 in coverage for death and injuries. $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident. In addition to the coverage for bodily injury, they must also carry $30,000 in coverage for property damage. Both drivers must carry at least $1 million in coverage for death or bodily injury caused by them. They must also carry $1 million in uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Learn more about coverage for uninsured and underinsured motorists in California here.
What if a Lyft or Uber driver injures me in a car accident?
If you were riding in or driving another vehicle, and an Uber or Lyft driver caused an auto accident in which you were hurt, then the case is quite similar to that of a normal car accident, with a few exceptions that your personal injury attorney can discuss with you.
For more information on auto accidents caused by Uber or Lyft drivers, and to discuss your potential for financial recovery against the driver, contact San Fernando Valley personal injury attorney Barry P. Goldberg today.
