Ridesharing is great, especially in places without public transportation. Even then, using a rideshare service can save you money and is available at hours when public transit is not available. However, the trend to use such services is a new concern. If you are using ridesharing and are in an accident, who is liable? Is it the rideshare company, your driver or your own insurance in Georgia who will foot the bill for any injuries you sustain?
Inc. explains that the rideshare companies and insurance companies have set policies about who is responsible for any accidents, but there is still a lot that is unknown and could cause issues if you are involved in such a situation.
One of the issues is that there are multiple rideshare companies and multiple insurers involved. Everyone has their own rules. In some cases, the driver’s insurance will not pay for any accident. The rideshare company may not automatically pick up liability either. Sometimes, the driver’s insurance may cover some of the expenses, but maybe not all of your expenses. The rideshare company may have insurance coverage, but it may not always pay. Your insurer will probably go after whoever it thinks is liable.
This means you will probably end up in court unless you have a clear idea of who is responsible based on documentation from the rideshare company. Because there are many unknowns in such a situation, the chances are very good that you will have to pay out of pocket first before you ever get reimbursed for your expenses due to the accident. This information is for education only and does not constitute legal advice.