Are Uber Passengers Protected If There Is An Accident?
Uber and Lyft have changed how people get around. But what happens in the event that you are injured in a motor vehicle collision while using one of these ride-sharing services?
A passenger of any vehicle in the Province of Ontario has two ways to recover compensation for their injuries. Being a passenger in an Uber or Lyft vehicle does not change that.
The first way a passenger can seek compensation is to seek no-fault insurance benefits. These benefits are available to anyone involved in a motor vehicle collision, regardless of who is at fault. In the event that you are insured as a driver under a policy of insurance, you would claim these benefits from your own insurer. If you are not insured under another policy of insurance, you would be entitled to these benefits from the insurer of the Uber/Lyft vehicle.
Depending on the severity of your injuries, the no-fault insurance system in Ontario entitles you to a wide variety of benefits, including medical and rehabilitation benefits, attendant care benefits, income replacement benefits, and housekeeping and home maintenance benefits. Your family members can also be covered for expenses incurred coming to visit you while you recover.
The second way you might be able to obtain compensation if you are injured in a collision involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle is to sue the party or parties who were at fault for the collision. In the event that the Uber/Lyft driver is at fault for the collision, the insurer of said vehicle would be responsible for paying any judgment or settlement. The same would apply to a traditional taxi service.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a motor vehicle collision involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you should contact a personal injury lawyer at Oatley Vigmond for a free consultation to determine your options.
About the Authors
The son of a grocery store clerk, Kevin grew up outside of Perth, Ontario. He credits his humble beginnings with the development of his underdog mentality, an approach he has carried into his legal career.
He attended McMaster University for two years before being granted early admission to Osgoode Hall Law School. After being called to the bar in 2008, Kevin began practising law in Hamilton before joining a leading Toronto litigation firm, representing Canada’s largest insurance companies on personal injury actions. “I didn’t find it fulfilling,” Kevin recalls. “I was helping companies save money, when what I wanted to do was help the people going up against these major corporations.” Since joining Oatley Vigmond, Kevin has used his insurance-industry experience to protect his clients and recover the compensation they deserved. He’d been at Oatley Vigmond for two months when he settled a matter for a client at a mediation. “You felt the burden of the litigation, and her injuries, lifting off her. I wanted to help even more people experience the relief of having their uncertainty lifted.’”