Uber Insurance - Lyft Insurance
Las Vegas, Nevada
Questions about ridesharing
Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft are, without a doubt, very convenient and cheaper alternatives to regular taxi services.
If you are interested in driving for Uber or Lyft in Las Vegas, you may have many questions. This article aims to provide the information you need, addressing the most common inquiries such as:
a. What do I need to know before becoming a driver for a ridesharing company?
b. How does Uber or Lyft insurance work?
c. What is ridesharing insurance, and where do you buy it?
d. What should you do after the Uber or Lyft car accident?
e. Do I need to hire an attorney in case of a crash?
Before becoming a driver
Knowledge is power. If you plan to become a ridesharing company driver, you need to be prepared. Here is a shortlist.
- Be very comfortable using GPS on your mobile phone.
- Know the area around the airport since many trips will come from or to the airport.
- Know the pick-up areas in Las Vegas hotels, stadiums, and concert venues and the fastest way to get there.
- Feel comfortable dealing with clients who are not always polite and often under the influence of alcohol.
- Be prepared that your passengers will rate your services.
- Since the Uber fare rates automatically increase when demand increases (e.g., holidays, sporting events), you should schedule your work around these peak hours.
- You can be a driver for different ridesharing companies simultaneously, as long as you don't discuss which company you prefer with your clients.
- Tell your car insurance company you will be driving for Uber, Lyft, or other ridesharing services. They will add a clause to your insurance policy.
- In the case of an accident, you need to know what to do and where to call. The procedures for submitting a claim and reporting the accident to your ridesharing company can vary depending on the situation.
- Some passengers could be rude, condescending, or just plain weird, and you must handle them all.
- We recommend having a dashcam installed in your car. It will protect you as a driver against any unwanted accusations.
Does Uber or Lyft provide insurance for its drivers in Las Vegas, Nevada?
Like taxis, Uber and Lyft have commercial car accident coverage, which is in effect when you have a passenger in a car or are on your way to pick up a passenger. In all other cases, your car insurance covers an accident.
Uber or Lyft insurance applies to all parties involved in an accident, including the driver and passenger(s). In 2024, the coverage is:
Uber with a passenger:
- $1 million combined single limit for any combination of injury or property damage.
- No UIM unless the driver purchased it.
- $5,000 medical payment reimbursement.
Uber driver is online waiting for a ride request:
- 50/100K bodily damages
- No UIM unless the driver purchased
- 25K property damage
Lyft with a passenger:
- $1 million combined single limit for any combination of injury or property damage.
- No UIM unless the driver purchased it.
- $10,000 medical payment reimbursement.
Lyft driver is online waiting for a ride request:
- 50/100K bodily damages
- No UIM unless the driver purchased
- 25K property damage
When Uber or Lyft insurance is in effect, the driver is still financially responsible for paying deductibles. In 2024, the deductible for Uber or Lyft was $2,500 per accident.
It's always best to check the ridesharing company's website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
If you want to know how these rules apply to your accident, call us at 702-432-1000.
Driver's car insurance
Your car insurance provides liability coverage only if you use your car for personal purposes. If you were driving to make money (like driving for Uber or Lyft) and didn't specify it in the contract, your insurance company doesn't have to pay liability claims. Moreover, they most likely will drop your coverage.
One reason is that the premium you pay for your car insurance is calculated based on your usage. Because Uber and Lyft drivers spend more hours behind the wheel than an average car driver and drive and text simultaneously, their chance of getting in an accident is much higher.
Your insurance will most likely go up, but not much, between $10 - $20. So, if you decide to become an Uber or a Lyft driver, you must contact your car insurance company and ask them to add the ridesharing clause to your policy. Some insurance companies don't increase the premium when they add the ridesharing clause. It depends on the company.
Price for ridesharing insurance
Just as with any personal car insurance, the premium for ridesharing coverage varies and depends on many factors—your previous driving record, age, marital status, car condition, city, and state. You may also get a discount if your car insurance is bundled with other coverages from the same company (e.g., homeowners' insurance).
We recommend getting car insurance quotes from different places before deciding.
Who offers ridesharing insurance in Nevada?
At the time of writing, Farmers Insurance, Allstate Insurance, Liberty Mutual Insurance, and Mercury Insurance offered ridesharing insurance policies for Nevada drivers.
Contacting the insurance company
If the accident happens while a passenger is in your car or if you are en route to pick up a passenger, contact the ridesharing company's insurance directly. Call your car insurance company if the accident happened when you started your shift or between passengers. In both cases, the ridesharing company requires you to report the accident.
Challenges of liability claims
The claims process for ridesharing companies is different from that for regular car accidents.
- Multiple insurance companies are involved in most Uber or Lyft car accidents.
- Third-party insurance may be involved if the person responsible for the crash is not the Uber or Lyft driver.
- With the rise of UberPool services, attorneys also see an increase in multi-passenger accidents.
If you are the party at fault
Nevada is a comparative negligence state, and comparative negligence rules apply to all Uber and Lyft accidents. If the plaintiff was less than 51% responsible for the accident, the plaintiff could collect compensation from all other at-fault parties.
The car accident lawyer can help
Whether you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft car, a pedestrian, bicyclist, or motorcyclist injured in an accident caused by an Uber or Lyft driver, or you are an Uber or Lyft driver injured in a crash, you want to get a full and fair accident compensation.
The Law Offices of Heshmati & Associates handle liability claims against ridesharing companies all the time. Although we cannot disclose the settlement amounts received, we have had positive experiences dealing with Uber and Lyft commercial car insurance, and most of our clients are happy with the results.
If you got in an Uber or Lyft accident, call us at 702-432-1000.
The initial consultation is always free.
We take all personal injury cases on a contingency basis, which means - you don't have to pay until we get you money.
We represent clients in Las Vegas and throughout the surrounding areas of Nevada.
Last updated on May 26, 2024.
