Who Is Liable for an Uber Accident?

Ride-share applications have become extremely popular in most cities across the United States. While the applications provide a convenient solution for transportation, the services also present unique issues when it comes to liability and insurance coverage in auto accidents.

If you or someone you know has recently been injured in a car accident involving Uber, Lyft, or another ride-share service, our team of personal injury lawyers at Jorgensen, Brownell & Pepin, P.C. is available to help you better understand your rights and your potential ability to recover money damages because of the accident.

Determining who is liable for an accident, and whether the ride-share service can be held liable for your damages, will depend on the unique circumstances of an accident. In many cases, the determination of whether a ride-share service can be held liable depends the driver’s conduct at the time of the accident:

• Transporting a passenger? If a driver is transporting a passenger or is in route to a pickup location, the service’s insurance will cover damages caused by the driver. Under Colorado law, a driver, or the ride-share service, must maintain $1,000,000 in coverage for prearranged ride.
• Between trips? This situation applies when a driver is technically on duty but has not connected with a prospective passenger. Under these circumstances, Colorado law mandates that the driver carry insurance with the following minimum policy limits: $50,000/$100,000/$30,000 ($50,000 for injuries per person, $100,000 cap per accident, and $30,000 for property damage).
• Offline? If a ride-share driver is not currently transporting a passenger or using the application to access available passengers, the driver’s personal insurance will provide the coverage for accidents caused by the driver. All drivers, including ride-share drivers, must carry state-mandated automobile insurance.

Whether a ride-share service can be held liable for accidents caused by its driver is a relatively new legal issue, which means these cases can quickly become complex. If you were involved in an accident involving a ride-share driver, you can find the information and representation you need by speaking to an attorney at Jorgensen, Brownell & Pepin, P.C. Our legal team has helped numerous auto accident victims effectively hold at-fault parties liable for damages caused in an accident, and we are prepared to help you as well.

For a free consultation, contact us today.