Atlanta Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers

Rideshares have experienced widespread adoption in a relatively short amount of time. Estimates suggest a quarter of people living in the U.S. use ridesharing at least once a month. With such widespread usage, accidents involving rideshare drivers are inevitable.

As with many new technologies, laws had to catch up with the way these businesses were operating. The framework for things like liability and insurance requirements were not in place prior to the proliferation of services like Uber and Lyft.

Protections for rideshare passengers and other motorists on the road have increased in recent years, with many states passing laws that require Uber, Lyft and other rideshare companies to provide an additional level of liability coverage to drivers.

When this extra insurance becomes active can vary depending on what the driver is doing. Being hit by a rideshare driver who is between rides can lead to a different claim result than suffering an accident injury as an Uber passenger who is being actively driven to a destination.

Georgia has passed specific laws pertaining to “transportation network companies,” including OCGA § 33-1-24. That law puts the onus of confirming a driver’s insurance and providing additional liability protection on the rideshare company. Specifically, when the driver is “logged on” to the network and is available to accept rides or is actively providing a ride they must be covered by:

• $50,000 bodily injury liability per person/$100,000 per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability

The good news for people involved in accidents with active Uber or Lyft drivers are these increased policy limits. The policy limits are significantly higher than the minimum coverage required of normal commuters.

Both Uber and Lyft meet or exceed those coverages. When drivers are en route to a pickup after accepting a ride and while they are in the process of giving a client a ride, both companies provide $1,000,000 of third-party liability coverage through the app. They are also protected by an additional uninsured/underinsured motorist policy and contingent comprehensive and collision coverage.  

The law also provides specific reporting rules rideshare companies must follow when insurance companies investigate the accident. For example, insurance companies can request records of an Uber or Lyft driver’s app usage and driver activity for the 12 hours preceding the time of the accident.

The Challenges of Uber and Lyft Accidents

There are notable challenges that can make filing claims complicated for people injured in Uber and Lyft accidents. To file a claim against the larger liability policies, it’s necessary for the rideshare driver to be logged into the app, en route to pick up a passenger or actively transporting a passenger. Rideshare companies and their insurers may attempt to dispute claims by saying drivers weren’t logged into the app when the accident occurred.

If you’ve been involved in an Uber or Lyft accident and you’re receiving excuses or claim denials, it may be in your best interest to speak with a Georgia rideshare accident attorney.