In today’s society, many people utilize ride-sharing services as a dependable means of transportation. Research has shown that 25% of the country’s population uses Uber or Lyft at least once a month. However, by choosing to use a ridesharing service such as Uber or Lyft, you entrust both the rideshare company and the driver with your safety. Unfortunately, ridesharing services are not accident-proof. Therefore, you could be injured in an accident due to negligence. That being said, many people wonder how common Uber accidents are as Uber is the most popular ridesharing service. If you are someone who has recently been injured in an Uber accident, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Keep reading and contact a dedicated Westchester County Uber Accident Lawyer to discover how we can help you secure the fair compensation you deserve.
WHO IS LIABLE FOR AN UBER ACCIDENT IN NEW YORK?
In New York, Uber accidents, like other types of auto accidents are almost always caused by motorists’ negligence. Ridesharing services such as Uber do not usually disclose accident statistics to the public. However, some information revealed by the companies shows that 90% of Uber accidents occur in urban areas. Uber accidents most commonly happen in larger cities likely due to congested traffic. This is likely the result of Uber drivers spending more time on the road than other drivers. This increases their chances of being involved in an accident. Uber drivers are also more at risk of collisions as they become distracted looking for their passengers.
If you have been injured in an Uber accident, you may be unsure of who is liable for the collision. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, Uber may provide you with a certain amount of compensation through their liability coverage. However, the amount of compensation they will provide depends largely on when the accident took place. The ridesharing services Uber and Lyft share liability coverage that stipulates:
- Period 0: This liability coverage is for when the Uber driver wasn’t logged into the app and caused the collision. Liability coverage is not offered as the driver was not logged in or using the app. Therefore, you will have to take legal action against the driver’s insurance company.
- Period 1: This type of coverage is for when the driver is logged into Uber and en route to pick up the passenger and was responsible for the cause of a collision. In this case, liability coverage can be offered. They will provide coverage for up to $50,000 per person injured in the collision, $100,000 total injury liability per accident, and $25,000 for property damage liability.
- Period 2: This type of coverage is for when the driver causes an accident following accepting a ride and is en route to the passenger. Uber will provide you with $1 million in liability coverage and property damage coverage.
- Period 3: This type of coverage is for when the driver picks up the passenger and caused an accident. In this case, Uber will provide $1 million in liability coverage, property damage coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage.
If you have recently been injured in an Uber accident, please contact one of our trusted and skilled team members. Our firm is prepared to help you seek reasonable compensation for your damages.