You’re driving through town when a car runs a stoplight and t-bones you at the intersection. As you get out, you notice a rideshare sticker on the driver’s dashboard. You’re a little unsure how to handle the situation and wonder how to report this crash to the rideshare company and trade information with the driver. Here’s what you need to know about what happens when you’re injured by a rideshare driver.
Reporting the Crash
After exchanging insurance information, you need to make sure the Uber or Lyft driver reports the crash on their app. To do this, they must select the ride and scroll to “I’ve been in an accident.” If there was a passenger in the vehicle, you should make sure they report the crash as well.
If the driver was working at the time of the crash, the rideshare company will provide their own insurance when the total damages exceed those of the driver’s personal insurance policy. Since the driver’s personal insurance policy will be primarily responsible, it is critical to take down the driver’s information, including their driver’s license number, the vehicle’s license plate, and take a picture of their insurance card.
Periods Matter
A rideshare driver’s time is split into four “periods.” Where the driver was in the rideshare process will determine the amount of liability insurance the company will offer for the crash. The four periods are:
Period 0: Offline
This means the driver has the app installed on their phone but was not actively working for a rideshare company at the time of the crash. This period offers no additional insurance coverage.
Period 1: Looking for Passenger
When a driver has their app on and is actively looking for work, major rideshare companies provide up to $100,000 in third-party liability coverage. Again, this only applies when the damages exceed the driver’s policy limits.
Period 2: Matched with Passenger
As soon as a driver matches with their passenger, the major companies grant $1 million in third-party liability coverage for bodily injury. This coverage is in place until the driver delivers the passenger to their destination.
Period 3: Passenger Onboard
If a passenger is currently in the car, major rideshare companies offer collision protection and uninsured motorist coverage for their drivers in addition to the Period 2 liability coverage.
How An Attorney Can Help
Rideshare crashes can get very complicated, especially when it comes to determining the period and negotiating with the rideshare companies. An experienced car accident attorney can handle the case on your behalf so you can recover from your injuries and focus on getting back to health.