The rise in popularity of rideshare and new technology services such as Uber and Lyft have provided useful tools to the public as a supplement to current taxi and public transportation options with added features and flexibility that many consumers enjoy. They’ve also seemed to have an impact on the number of cases of drunk driving. A report by Western California University has made a connection between these new services and a reduction in DUIs which include cities in Arizona such as Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff. There is a counterbalance however in that many of these drivers are not trained and through the motivation of making more money or simple carelessness, have added to road risk by running traffic lights or exceeding the speed limit putting the passenger in danger.
We’ve also seen rideshare and new technology come together with the introduction of self-driven cars in the ride-share market. While this may be a wave of the future first attempts have been met with challenge. There was an attempt in early 2017 in Tempe that ended in an accident and there has also been trial in Las Vegas and other markets with mixed results. Even as we expect this technology to become more robust, I think we can all identify with the number of glitches we have on our computers to wonder if this will ever be perfected.
Whether self-driving or under the command of anxious under trained drivers, it seems that there is good and bad in these new services and in any case, they’re here to stay.
Liability Coverage for Rideshare vehicles.
If you are involved in an accident with a rideshare provider you’ll be happy to know that in Arizona these providers are regulated since the state passed laws requiring drivers to have a background check and insurance in 2015. The state requires that a taxi service carry a minimum coverage level of $300,000 to cover personal liability and property damage. They’re also required to have a policy to protect against under insured or uninsured drivers. Typically, the newer rideshare providers, Uber and Lyft specifically, carry coverages up to $1 million to protect their passengers. The downside to this is that many of the drivers don’t carry additional coverage although it is recommended they should all have a commercial rideshare insurance policy with is the most comprehensive form of insurance for these drivers. In some reports only about 25% of rideshare drivers carry some form of supplemental coverage. One other note, the 2015 legislation in Arizona also explicitly calls for zero tolerance for driver intoxication and that the vehicles have proper inspections.
If you are involved in an accident while in a rideshare vehicle, you may find the process even more challenging that if in your private car as you’ll have, in addition to the insurance companies, the rideshare provider to contend with. Worry not and call us for guidance.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident and injured, you have our deepest concern and sympathy. Contact us at Accident Law Group to get a complete assessment of your case. We built our firm to help you build fight and win your case and make sure the rights you have under the law are protected.
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