Injured as an Uber Passenger: Am I Covered by Insurance?

Uber and other rideshare companies like Lyft are very popular in Daytona Beach. With a couple taps of an app, you can catch a ride to almost anywhere for rates that are much more affordable than what taxi cabs normally charge.

Nevertheless, with so many vehicles on the road, Ubers and Lyfts are likely to get into accidents just like taxis. If you were a passenger and injured, you might wonder what insurance applies. Below, we give you the basics.

Uber Drivers Carry Insurance

Uber and Lyft drivers must carry insurance which will provide compensation in the event that your driver was negligent. For example, your driver might have run a red light and slammed into another vehicle, injuring you in the process. This makes your driver at-fault, and you can submit an insurance claim to the driver’s insurance carrier.

Uber carries $1 million policy to cover your injuries. They will cover lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering, which could be substantial depending on your injuries.

The Other Driver Might Be to Blame

The fact that you were injured sitting in an Uber doesn’t necessarily make your driver at fault for the collision. Imagine you were waiting at an intersection when another vehicle plows into your Uber, injuring you. In this situation, the driver who rear-ended your Uber is responsible for the crash, and you will need to submit a claim for compensation to that driver’s insurer.

However, Uber also carries underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage, which can step in if the driver who hit you lacked insurance or did not have enough to cover all your losses.

You Can Use Your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Benefits in the Event of a Crash

If you have a registered car, then you should have PIP benefits. These are no-fault benefits that pay a certain percentage of medical bills and lost income up to the policy amount. In Florida, the minimum PIP policy is $10,000, though you might have bought more.

Your PIP policy follows you around, so you can tap it if you were injured as a passenger riding in an Uber. Because they are no-fault benefits, it doesn’t matter who is responsible for the accident. Instead, contact your PIP insurer as soon as possible and make sure to get medical treatment within 14 days of the accident.

If you don’t have PIP insurance, you might be covered if you live with a relative who carries a PIP policy, such as a spouse or parent. You should check with the people you live with to see if they will cover you.

Unfortunately, PIP benefits are rather skimpy. If you have a serious injury, then you will need more compensation than these no-fault benefits can provide.

Contact a Daytona Beach Car Accident Lawyer

After an auto accident, it is normal not to know what to do. Florida’s insurance system is unfortunately very complicated, and many people get confused easily.

We can help. As experienced Daytona Beach car accident lawyers, we have helped many injured people obtain the money they need to recover after a devastating car accident. We can collect evidence to show the seriousness of your injuries and negotiate with an insurance company.

Please reach out to us today at Bundza & Rodriguez, P.A.. You can call 386-252-5170 to schedule a free, no-risk consultation.

https://www.daytonalawyers.com/will-florida-repeal-no-fault-insurance/