With about 100,000 Uber and Lyft rides each day in the City of Boston alone and 120 car accidents with injuries each day in Massachusetts, injuries while using a rideshare service in Massachusetts are inevitable.
From 2017 to 2018, Uber vehicles alone were involved in 97 fatal car crashes nationwide. About 20% of crash victims were passengers. In general, about 90% of Uber crashes occur in urban areas. A recent study revealed that Ubers and Lyfts increased fatal car accidents by about 3% nationwide. About 1,000 annual car-accident fatalities are connected to ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. Along with an increase in car accidents, Ubers and Lyfts have also led to about a 3% increase in bike and pedestrian deaths in cities.
If you were injured in a Massachusetts Uber or Lyft accident, you have the right to compensation.
What Happens if I’m Injured in an Uber or Lyft as a Passenger?
While Uber and Lyft car accidents can be more complicated because they involve more parties and insurance companies, our skilled car accident injury attorneys at Spada Law Group are ready to assist you.
According to Lyft…
As a Lyft passenger, there are various levels of insurance coverage available for riders and drivers.
- When the Driver has the Lyft App Off: The driver’s auto insurance coverage applies to any incident.
- When the Driver has the Lyft App On, Waiting for a Ride Request: Lyft has insurance that will help a driver in the event of an accident not covered by personal insurance. The limits extend to $50,000 per person for injuries, with a max of $100,000 per accident for physical injuries and up to $25,000 for property damage. The coverage is less in some states, such as Arizona and Nebraska.
- When the App is on, and Passengers are in the Car or Drivers are en Route to Pick up Passengers: Regardless of the driver’s insurance, Lyft provides riders at least $1,000,000 in coverage for covered accidents.
According to Uber…
All rides on Uber are insured. Once a driver has accepted a rider’s trip request, Uber’s insurance coverage applies.
- If a Driver is Online but Hasn’t Accepted a Trip Request Yet: Coverage varies by state. Still, the minimum coverage is $50,000 in injury liability per person, with a total of up to $100,000 per crash and $25,000 in property damage coverage per crash.
- If You are Riding in the Uber, or even if the Uber Driver has Accepted Your Ride Request: Uber provides coverage of at least $1 million for all passengers.
What If I’m Injured in an Uber or Lyft Hit-and-Run Accident?
If you are injured in an Uber or Lyft hit-and-run car accident, you still have options.
Lyft’s third-party auto liability insurance is effective from when a driver accepts your ride until the ride has ended in the app. As a passenger, Lyft maintains at least $1 million in insurance coverage per accident during this time. So even if another driver is at fault, or even if the other driver leaves the scene, in a “worst case scenario,” Lyft’s insurance coverage will step in to provide coverage.
Especially in the event of a hit-and-run accident, Lyft also has uninsured motorist (UM) insurance coverage. If a driver at fault for the accident is uninsured or underinsured, Lyft’s UM insurance would step in to cover the accident. This means that even if someone flees the scene or the at-fault driver has no insurance, Lyft will step in to provide the coverage you need.
Uber’s insurance policy also covers you as a passenger if someone else is at fault for the accident. If the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance, or if it is a hit-and-run accident, Uber’s insurance also protects you as a rider with a $1 million policy.
Injured In An Uber or Lyft Accident in Massachusetts? Text or Call East Boston Car Accident Injury Attorney For A FREE Consultation
As Massachusetts car accident attorneys, we know the unfortunate truth: car accidents in an Uber or Lyft are inevitable.
Over the last three decades, we’ve helped thousands of people in Massachusetts get the recovery they need after a car accident injury. Recently, Spada Law Group was recognized as one of the Top 20 Car Accident Attorneys in Boston and Attorney Spada was named one of Boston’s Top Personal Injury Lawyers by Boston Magazine. We’re here and ready to help. As personal injury lawyers, you never pay us a penny until we win your case.
We have offices in Chelsea, Peabody, Worcester, and Newburyport, but we proudly serve the entire state and can meet with you remotely from the comfort of your own home. Contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help you get the recovery you deserve after your injury.
