Maryland Attorney Discusses Transportation Network Company Vehicle Accidents
In recent years, transportation network companies (TNC) have streamlined the way people get from one destination to another. You may have seen them in Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia. Companies such as Uber and Lyft have expanded in just about every city across the United States, and may have even replaced the word “Taxi” in our vocabulary as the primary means of paid transportation.
Finding liability in a TNC vehicle crash
Like other road users, TNC drivers sometimes cause traffic accidents. However, the unique nature of TNC driving can make dealing with an auto accident claim involving a TNC driver especially complex.
Receiving compensation after a crash with a TNC vehicle often depends on certain factors:
- Was the driver running the app at the time of the crash?
- Was the driver traveling to or from picking up passengers?
- Was the driver carrying passengers at the time of the crash?
- Did the driver have his own personal auto-coverage on the vehicle?
How insurance coverage works
In Maryland, when a driver offers transportation services to the public, his or her personal insurance company isn’t required to provide coverage for any injuries or damages that are accrued. In this case, the TNC broker is required to provide liability and underinsured (UIM) motorist coverage up to one million dollars. It doesn’t matter who was at fault in the crash.
If a TNC driver hasn’t picked up a passenger, but is running the app, the TNC broker must provide coverage of $50,000. The same applies if the driver was making a food delivery via UberEats.
If the TNC driver was not on duty, the TNC broker isn’t obligated to provide any coverage in a crash. It must be treated as a standard traffic accident for which the regular car insurance company should be liable.
In Maryland, all drivers must carry a minimum of:
- $30,000 for bodily injury
- $60,000 per accident
- $15,000 for property damage
This is significantly lower than the coverage provided by a TNC broker.
Why it’s important to speak to an attorney
If you or a loved one sustain an injury in an auto accident with an Uber driver, it’s important that your rights are upheld. Luckily, many state legislators are working with TNCs to ensure that passengers and other road users are protected. But in the meantime, these claims can become chaotic as the private insurance company and TNC fight over liability.
If you have any questions on how to file a personal injury claim after an accident involving a TNC vehicle, a highly skilled Maryland auto accident attorney at Law Offices of Stuart L. Plotnick, LLC can help you.
Our legal team has the experienced and competitive edge to handle the most complex accident claims. We serve injury victims in greater Rockville, Washington D.C. and Virginia. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.