Transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft have certainly made life easier for people who don’t own a car, or who prefer to not drive in certain situations. While walking around Fort Collins can be enjoyable, a ridesharing service makes getting to where you’re going a lot simpler. However, rideshare drivers must obey the same traffic laws as everyone else on the road.
When Uber or Lyft drivers fail to act in a responsible way and endanger others with reckless behavior, accidents can occur. Unlike collisions between two private drivers, rideshare crashes have more complicated insurance issues.
Insurance companies are often difficult to work with, and are rarely willing to pay all that a victim needs to truly recover. That is why you need an experienced Fort Collins car accident lawyer to represent you after suffering serious injuries. Contact the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, at (970) 212-4777 to set up a free consultation today.
Insurance Requirements for Uber and Lyft Drivers
Insurance requirements for rideshare drivers vary from one state to another. In Colorado, rideshare drivers are covered by insurance policies held by Uber or Lyft, but only when the driver is actively driving for that company – while logged into the app and on the way to pick someone up or actually transporting them.
Minimum coverage for Uber and Lyft drivers at work includes:
- $50,000 per injured person, per accident
- $100,000 for all injuries, per accident
Otherwise, the driver’s personal auto insurance will have to do in the event of a crash.
Of course, just because an Uber or Lyft driver is covered by an insurance policy does not mean you will easily get a payout. You will have to file a claim with the insurance company, and they can always try to deny or lowball your claim. At that point, you may need to appeal the decision, and go back and forth with the insurance adjuster at great length. That is why a local car crash attorney is so valuable – we can represent you and fight with stubborn insurance companies for the compensation you deserve.
Taking Civil Action Against Negligent Drivers and Companies
Sometimes, an insurance claim is not enough. Even if Uber or Lyft’s insurer honors its responsibility and accepts your claim, the payment can fall short of covering all of your expenses. If the accident was caused by the personal carelessness of the driver, it is important to hold that driver accountable. On top of that, the transportation network company may have acted in a negligent way in accepting that driver as part of its service. In Colorado, these companies have to do background checks on their drivers and vehicles.
For example, what if a rideshare driver has a criminal record of assaulting people, but was hired anyway, and attacked a passenger? The passenger could not only hold the attacker liable in civil court, but might be able to file a lawsuit against the ridesharing company for its negligent hiring practices.
Dealing with insurance companies and filing lawsuits is no small task, which is why it is so important to have a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to represent you. Call us today at the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, (970) 212-4777, to discuss what happened and talk about your options.