Who is covered
If you are a passenger
In theory, all passengers are covered by the rideshare company’s liability policy no matter who is at fault in an accident. That said, these same companies have also insisted that they are not liable for driver behavior because they are not employees. If an accident happened because the rideshare driver was distracted, drunk or behaving poorly, passengers may have trouble with the claim.
Of course, you can turn around and sue the driver instead, but it’s unlikely they’ll be able to pay very much to cover your damages.
If you are a third party
What happens if you were walking, biking or in another car and were involved in an accident with an Uber or Lyft? It depends whether the driver was on duty or not. If the driver was on a paid ride, most rideshare companies are prepared to foot the bill. If the driver was off duty, you’ll be dealing with the driver’s personal insurance coverage, which won’t involve the rideshare company at all.
If you are a rideshare driver
First, it is in your best interest to make sure you have the best possible rideshare coverage with your own insurance company. Their offerings have expanded in lots of great ways recently. Rideshare policies may also be more affordable than you expected, but even if the costs seem high, compare those with the cost of losing everything if the unthinkable should happen. We say this because when you ask, “Am I covered for damage to my car and injury to myself?” our answer is … maybe.
When you were in the accident (driving with a passenger, on your way to pick up a passenger, etc.) is an important part of the story. However, add to that the complications of who is at fault and why they were at fault, and things get so much more complicated.
Yes, what we’re saying is, at least at this point in time, it’s impossible to tell you the extent of your coverage. It’s up to you to make sure you are insured for those times you are both on and off your app, and that you understand what you’re responsible for paying to fix your car or get medical care.
NOTE: Uber, Lyft and other drivers for hire, there are more and more reasons you need rideshare insurance in order to continue driving for pay! Check out this article on The Rideshare Guy website to find out more about why, and to see who is offering rideshare policies in your state.
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