MUber, Lyft, and other ride-share app companies have transformed how people get to where they need to go. The Uber app allows you to connect with a nearby Uber driver to call for a ride so that you can go where you want at a lower price than the cost of a taxi. Many people use the Uber app every day in California. While an Uber can be a convenient mode of transportation, an Uber accident can present novel issues of liability for which most people are unprepared. If you have been injured in an Uber accident, you should talk to an experienced Uber accident lawyer Palo Alto as soon as possible.
Liability issues in an Uber accident
Uber accidents present unique liability issues that are not present in other types of motor vehicle accidents. In other commercial vehicle accident claims, injured victims may be able to go after the companies that employ the drivers to seek compensation. Uber argues that its drivers are independent contractors instead of employees to avoid vicarious liability. However, it is still possible to recover compensation for your injuries when you are injured in an Uber accident. There may be issues about whose insurance policy will apply in an Uber accident, however.
Insurance in Uber accidents
After an Uber accident, you might recover compensation for your losses and injuries. You will first need to determine whose insurance will apply. If another driver was at fault for your accident, you can seek compensation from that driver’s insurance company. If the Uber driver was at fault, you might recover compensation from the Uber driver’s policy and from the additional insurance that is provided by Uber.
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Uber drivers are required to carry insurance just like all other drivers in California. However, if they do not have ride-sharing insurance policies or endorsements on their insurance policies for using their vehicles for ride-share services, their companies will likely deny claims. Most insurance companies have exclusions on their regular policies when their policyholders use their cars for commercial purposes.