logo

Call or Text: (662) 536-5656

EMAIL
Text
CALL
  • Home
  • Our Team
    • Philip A. Stroud
    • Brandon L. Flechas
    • Matthew G. Dalton
    • Michele Watts
    • Amanda “Mandy” Wright
    • Traci Stone
    • Judy Bell
    • Heather Oglesby
  • Personal Injury
    • Personal Injury
    • Car Accident Injury
    • Motorcycle Accident Injury
    • Brain Injury
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Nursing Home Negligence
    • Semi Truck Accidents
    • Slip and Fall Injury
    • VIEW ALL INJURY PRACTICE AREAS
  • Criminal Law
    • Assault & Battery
    • Domestic Violence / Simple Assault
    • DUI / DWI
    • Drug Charges, Sale & Possession
    • Reckless Driving
    • Suspended or Revoked License
    • Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct
    • VIEW ALL CRIMINAL PRACTICE AREAS
  • Civil Rights
    • Police Misconduct
    • Police Shooting
    • Police Excessive Force
    • Police Taser Abuse
    • Law Enforcement Abuse of Power
    • Wrongful or Unlawful Arrest
    • Wrongful or Unlawful Search and Seizure
    • Police K9 Dog Bites
    • Sexual Abuse by Jailors or Police
    • VIEW ALL CIVIL RIGHTS AREAS
  • Results
  • Video Library
    • Accident Injury Videos
    • Insurance Law Videos
    • Civil Rights Videos
    • Criminal Law Videos
    • Liability & Malpractice Law Videos
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Community Resources
    • In The News
  • Contact

New Ride-Sharing Companies Raise Dangers

March 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Ride Sharing Dangers |Personal Injury Attorneys | The Stroud Law Firm |Ride-sharing services are on the rise, but they may not be as safe as they say.  After a deadly accident involving a ride-sharing driver in California, questions are being raised about who pays when something goes wrong with this new carpooling technique.

An article from the LA Times discusses how companies such as Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar have previously insisted that the insurance provided to drivers is sufficient to cover accidents, but there is new light shed on the murky legal waters that these taxi-like services operate in.

On New Years Eve, according to the article, an Uber driver hit and killed a 6-year-old child who was crossing the street with her family.  It is unclear whether Uber is liable for this fatality.

Uber initially distanced itself from the accident, insisting that the driver was not covered by Uber’s insurance policy at the time of the accident because he was not carrying any passengers.

But the family sued Uber anyway, for wrongful death and negligence.  The lawsuit states that the Uber driver was logged into the Uber network when the child was struck, and therefore the company is responsible for the accident.

These ride-sharing firms, also known as “transportation network companies” got approval in September 2013.  These companies connect people who need rides with drivers — who use their own personal vehicles — through smartphone apps.  Though there is a price for the ride, just like with taxis, the cost is often a third cheaper than taxi fares.

Rules enforced by the California Public Utilities Commission state that the companies must provide $1 million worth of liability insurance when a privately owned car is being used to carry passengers for a fee.

The problem is deciding exactly when these drivers’ cars are and are not covered by the policy.  This is what could be settled in court.

The California state Department of Insurance has called in the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) due to the uncertainty of safety for passengers, pedestrians, and drivers.

This lawsuit could be the first of many to come unless the PUC puts a definition on exactly when a driver is providing ride-sharing services and is therefore covered by the insurance policy.

According to the article, the ride-sharing companies are required to provide coverage only when their drivers are at fault for damages to people or property.

The policy does not cover injury to the driver or damage to their vehicle — that is up to their own insurance coverage, if they have any.  Passengers of the ride-sharing companies also do not receive coverage if another vehicle, whose insurance does not cover injuries, injure them.

Ride-sharing companies must patch up the holes in their insurance coverage if they are to be trusted.  Always be aware of insurance policies and coverage when you are getting in to a car with a transportation company or carpool group.

Filed Under: blog, Personal Injury

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request Your Free Consultation

  • Hidden
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“The lawyers at Stroud Law Firm represented my case with ease and great professionalism. I appreciated their integrity and would highly recommend this firm.”

– Suzanne R.

READ ALL REVIEWS

What do I need to prove to win my accident case?

Should I agree to take a breathalyzer test? What happens in Mississippi if I do not?

Can I be arrested for speaking alone?

VIEW ALL FAQ VIDEOS

  • Home
  • About
  • Personal Injury
  • Criminal Law
  • Civil Rights
  • Results
  • Videos
  • Contact

5779 Getwell Road, Building C1
Southaven, MS 38672 | United States

Phone : (662) 536-5656

Copyright © The Stroud Law Firm
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy

  • Home
  • Our Team
    ▼
    • Philip A. Stroud
    • Brandon L. Flechas
    • Matthew G. Dalton
    • Michele Watts
    • Amanda “Mandy” Wright
    • Traci Stone
    • Judy Bell
    • Heather Oglesby
  • Personal Injury
    ▼
    • Personal Injury
    • Car Accident Injury
    • Motorcycle Accident Injury
    • Brain Injury
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Nursing Home Negligence
    • Semi Truck Accidents
    • Slip and Fall Injury
    • VIEW ALL INJURY PRACTICE AREAS
  • Criminal Law
    ▼
    • Assault & Battery
    • Domestic Violence / Simple Assault
    • DUI / DWI
    • Drug Charges, Sale & Possession
    • Reckless Driving
    • Suspended or Revoked License
    • Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct
    • VIEW ALL CRIMINAL PRACTICE AREAS
  • Civil Rights
    ▼
    • Police Misconduct
    • Police Shooting
    • Police Excessive Force
    • Police Taser Abuse
    • Law Enforcement Abuse of Power
    • Wrongful or Unlawful Arrest
    • Wrongful or Unlawful Search and Seizure
    • Police K9 Dog Bites
    • Sexual Abuse by Jailors or Police
    • VIEW ALL CIVIL RIGHTS AREAS
  • Results
  • Video Library
    ▼
    • Accident Injury Videos
    • Insurance Law Videos
    • Civil Rights Videos
    • Criminal Law Videos
    • Liability & Malpractice Law Videos
  • Resources
    ▼
    • Blog
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Community Resources
    • In The News
  • Contact