Rideshare services have changed the way many Connecticut residents get from Point A to Point B. The availability and convenience of Uber and Lyft have led some people to give up vehicle ownership and abandon other forms of transportation, including CT Transit and private taxis. But like every other mode of transport, Uber and Lyft vehicles are sometimes involved in accidents that leave passengers and others injured.

If you are hurt as a rideshare user, a pedestrian or a driver or passenger in another vehicle, you may be able to recover compensation, as you would in a crash involving your own car or SUV, but the process of obtaining that compensation comes with some unique complications.

The Lyft or Uber driver’s insurance policy is usually the first place to look for compensation. Connecticut requires all rideshare drivers to maintain their own insurance policies and to keep paper copies of their Certificates of Insurance (COI) in their vehicles whenever transporting paying passengers.

If the driver’s own insurance does not provide enough coverage to fully compensate for your injuries, you can pursue a claim through the insurance coverage that Uber and Lyft provide for their drivers. Here is a basic breakdown of how Uber and Lyft policies work:

• Crashes when the driver is offline or the app is not on — Neither Uber nor Lyft provide coverage; only the driver’s own insurance applies.
• Crashes when the driver is logged in and waiting for a ride request — Both services provide $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per person up to a maximum of $100,000 per incident. They also cover up to $25,000 in property damage per accident.
• Crashes when the driver is en route to pick up riders and during trips — Uber and Lyft both provide up to $1 million in bodily injury coverage and uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.

Even though the rideshare driver involved in your crash has insurance, it is rarely easy to get the full compensation you are due. Insurers have extensive resources and they often fight hard to avoid paying claims. Uber and Lyft themselves are large companies, so you will be going up against some powerful opponents. That is why it is critical to retain a qualified personal injury lawyer at a firm that has the experience and resources to prosecute your claim effectively. This is especially so if your injuries are so extensive that your claim exceeds underlying policy limits and you need to explore other avenues to pursue the additional compensation you deserve.

The attorneys of Gesmonde, Pietrosimone & Sgrignari, L.L.C. are highly experienced in auto accident cases, including Uber and Lyft crashes. You can rely on us to fight for full compensation on your behalf. To speak with a member of our team, please call 203-745-0942 or contact us online. We have offices in Hamden and East Haven.