Uber and Lyft are growing quickly, because people are now using them for transportation instead of driving, instead of DUIs, which is great. However, with more Ubers and Lyfts or ride-sharing on the streets it’s opening up liability in a lot of these Uber and Lyft drivers or these ride-sharing providers are involved in car accidents. A lot of times, sometimes it’s their fault as well. The liability is a little bit different when dealing with these ride-sharing programs because it all depends on what happens at what time.
If that driver, that works for the ride-sharing program is not on the call, even though they may have the sign on their car that they provide services for the ride-sharing program if they’re not on the call, or they’re not on the clock per say that person’s personal insurance for their car will cover, not Uber or Lyft, or any other ride-sharing program because they were not on the clock. Now, once that person picks up the call or schedules the call to pick somebody up and is en route to pick somebody up that ride-sharing company, either Uber or Lyft, will provide X amount of dollars for coverages while they’re in transit to pick somebody up.
Let’s say that they pick that person up and then they’re involved in a car accident at that point the liability changes because now they have somebody in the car as well. So it all depends on timing when you’re dealing with ride-sharing. If they’re not on the call, it does not cover. Only their personal insurance would cover, which is typically higher, because these ride-sharing programs insure, well it should ensure that the drivers of the ride-sharing programs have higher personal limits regardless. So that part is a plus and the fact that if they’re providing these ride-sharing programs and services that they have insurance, because many drivers in Florida do not carry insurance. If they’re en route to pick somebody up the liability is higher than their personal coverages for the most part. And once they pick a person up the liability changes to be even greater.
So it’s very important, to make the differences in what that person’s doing, at what point, whenever they’re involved in some sort of incident, car accident, or collision. If you have any questions on this feel free to give us a call. We help a lot of our clients with these issues and we can help you as well. Our number is 813-421-3411.
(Transcript from the video, transcribed but not reviewed)
