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What happens if you suffer an injury in a ride-hailing crash?

On Behalf of | Feb 14, 2022 | Car Accidents |

You may know how to handle things if you find yourself involved in a Connecticut car crash as a driver. Yet, what happens when you are using a ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft and then suffer injuries in a wreck? Obtaining compensation after a ride-hailing car crash is not always easy. Also, contrary to popular belief, Uber or Lyft and other ride-hailing services do not always have an obligation to cover your medical or other expenses.

What is considered a ride-hailing service?

Ride-hailing is when someone hires a driver to take them to a destination. The most common ride-hailing platforms are Uber and Lyft. The drivers are operating their own vehicles to take paying passengers to a specific destination.

According to the New Haven Register, ride-hailing services operate differently than a traditional taxi or limousine service. As a result, the process involved in pursuing an injury claim for an injury sustained in a ride-hailing crash may be different than it would be following a traditional car crash.

Ride-hailing insurance considerations

Ride-hailing services have legal classifications as Transportation Network Companies. This means they facilitate transactions between drivers and passengers, but they do not actually own any of the vehicles driven. This gives them a potential loophole and an ability to deny insurance coverage to the vehicles in their fleets.

Connecticut ride-hailing driver insurance mandates

In 2018, Connecticut dictated specific insurance requirements for ride-hailing service drivers that cover two distinct periods. The state set coverage minimums for drivers when they are waiting for ride requests but have not yet confirmed a new ride. The state also sets insurance requirements for when rideshare drivers are on the way to get passengers, or when they have passengers already in their vehicles.

Because of Connecticut’s guidelines, you may be able to pursue compensation through several sources. You may be able to do so through the driver, the Transportation Network Company, or, depending on circumstances, both.

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