If you live in New York City, you might rely on a rideshare service like Lyft to get from point A to point B. When an accident occurs in an Uber and you suffer injuries, you may be unsure how to recoup the cost of your medical expenses and lost wages.
Review the factors to consider when seeking personal injury compensation after a serious rideshare collision.
Compensation from the driver’s policy
After this type of crash, you should get the rideshare driver’s auto insurance information so you can file a claim for personal injury and property damage. If another driver caused the crash, your claim would be with his or her insurance provider.
However, few Lyft and Uber drivers maintain large commercial auto insurance policies, and a personal policy may not cover the full cost associated with the accident.
Compensation from the rideshare company
If your injuries exceed the responsible driver’s policy limits or the insurance company rejects your claim, you can seek compensation through the rideshare company’s supplemental insurance policy. In most cases, Uber or Lyft will cover damages up to $1 million for an accident caused by a rideshare driver on duty.
In either scenario, you reserve the right to file a lawsuit in certain situations if you do not receive adequate compensation from the insurance company. New York is a no-fault auto insurance state, which means you can only sue an at-fault driver if your injury caused disability for at least 90 days, loss of body system or function, loss of member or organ, bone fracture, or disfigurement.