Need an Injury Attorney for an Uber/Ridesharing Accident in Utah?
In late news, the Utah Insurance Department has been warning riders against ridesharing apps, telling them to look into their insurance policies before they take a ride. This is to protect themselves in an event of an accident, which sometimes inevitably happen with these services. Passengers should always be prepared for anything, which means getting a handle on when a driver’s coverage applies because their own policies might not assume the cost of injuries that are sustained in an accident.
You may believe that nothing is safer than getting into a vehicle driven by an Uber driver or a driver that is part of some other ridesharing app, especially when you have been out with your friends drinking or have broken down alongside one of the many roadways with your vehicle. There are many reasons why people turn to the help of ridesharing companies every single day, but this does not mean that they are really as protected as they feel in their time of need. Ridesharing drivers must possess certain liability coverage when it comes to accidents, including personal injury protection that could offer you protection in your time of need. However, there are many other questions you might have pertaining to these accidents and how you can gain the help you need in a time when you have sustained a serious accident and injuries.
Is My Driver an Employee or Independent Contractor?
Let’s face it – when you get into the vehicle of a ridesharing driver, you probably aren’t thinking about what type of work relationship they have with the company they drive for. However, this is a very important fact to know because it could dictate whether or not you compensate for your injuries in certain ways.
If a driver is an employee, then the company may cover you because companies follow a doctrine of “vicarious liability,” which states that they are responsible for the actions of their drivers at times. However, if they are instead an independent contractor, you may only be able to compensate from the driver themselves because the company may try to wash their hands clean of the driver and state that they are not an actual employee. This is why the distinction becomes so important when you are involved in an accident because you want to know which party is liable for your accident and owes you compensation for your injuries.
No matter what, though, Uber drivers are supposed to always follow certain safety measures to protect you from harm when they invite you into their vehicle. This means that they are supposed to follow all the rules of the road and drive with caution in all areas. Also, driving companies are still required to look into the background of drivers and ensure that they have a clean driving record.
You May Be Offered Unique Protections
When it comes to your ridesharing accident, you may have a variety of choices to make. Uber, like many other ridesharing companies, has an enormous insurance policy that covers passengers when they have been injured in one of these accidents. Even if the driver is considered to be an independent contractor, you will sometimes be covered by this policy, which could cover up to $1 million in damages. But what happens when your damages extend well beyond that when the accident was incredibly serious? The bills are adding up and you aren’t sure what to do.
If negligence played a role in your ridesharing case, you may have options. You could file a claim against a party who has acted negligently and put you in harm’s way on our roads. If you have been injured in a Utah ridesharing accident, speak to an experienced attorney as soon as possible to get the results you deserve in your time of need.