The personal injury attorneys of Johnson law handle many types of auto accident cases, including ride-share accidents. Ever since ride-sharing services have been allowed to operate in and around Portland we have seen personal injury claims related to these services pop-up. We now see injuries to ridesharing services’ customers as a result of car crashes caused by their employees. When this happens, a convoluted maze is created that the injured victim is forced to navigate. It is unfortunately often months or years before the ridesharing services’ insurer assumes liability and decides to reasonably compensate the folks their driver harmed.
Uber currently requires its drivers to carry commercial insurance policies, but there is a catch—the insurance only covers losses that occur while the Uber app is activated. When its drivers are going to and from their residences, or are waiting to be “hailed” by a customer via the app, their personal insurance policies must cover any loss that occurs. This can result in a serious circumstance where the rideshare service employee is drastically underinsured. Even worse, the driver’s personal insurance could decide to contest the claim by arguing that the driver was on the job, resulting in a complete denial of liability.
Oregon law only requires individuals to carry $25,000 per individual in liability insurance coverage. This is why it is imperative to consult with an experienced auto accident attorney who can conduct an investigation into the specific facts that surround the car collision and prove that the rideshare employee in fact on the on the job.
Uber and Lyft were allowed to operate without carrying the same Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Benefits that every other motorist must carry. Also, because passengers are using Uber and Lyft for a commercial purpose, their personal auto policy’s PIP benefits will probably not be applicable. This was a giant hole in Oregon's statutory scheme that was only recently addressed by Oregon's legislature. Uber or Lyft passengers were left with having to use their personal health insurance, instead of the PIP benefits that are typically available. However, the new PIP law doesn't cover old insurance policies. Read our post on the new Oregon PIP law to learn more.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident involving a rideshare service, please give the auto accident attorneys at Johnson Law a call and we will walk you through all your options. No question is to small or to complicated, we are happy to offer our knowledge and experience because we know how frustrating it is to have your life turned upside down by any car accident, let alone one with a driver employed by a multinational ridesharing service.
If you decide to retain Johnson Law after your free consultation, our attorneys pledge that if they do not recover compensation for you then they will waive their attorney fee. Remember, we operate on a contingency fee basis so no money is required to retain us. Instead we force insurance companies to reasonably compensate you for your injuries and then we take a percentage of what is recovered.
