If you are a driver for one of the popular car services that rely on mobile apps to help book passengers, you might believe that your personal insurance and the additional coverage offered by the service might be enough to offer accident protection. Unfortunately, this might not be true. Depending on your coverage, you could be left scrambling to pay the damages from an accident if it occurs while you are on duty. If you are a car service driver, here is what you need to know.
Why Are You Not Protected?
Depending on your insurance provider, it is possible that you do not have coverage for accidents that occur while you are transporting a passenger. Some policies specifically state that accidents and injuries that occur while the vehicle is operating in a commercial capacity are not covered.
There is also the possibility that your licensing could be used against you. Depending on the state in which you live, a commercial license might be required to use your vehicle for commercial purposes. If you are in an accident and do not have a commercial license in a state the requires it, your insurance company could argue that you were not properly licensed. As a result, the insurance company could deny your claim.
What Can You Do?
One of the most important steps you can take is to check your state's laws concerning licensing. If you need a commercial license, stop driving professionally until you obtain one.
In addition to checking the licensing requirements, you also need to verify that your insurance provider will cover your damages if you are involved in an accident. If not, it is important that you find coverage that does.
You can also review the additional coverage offered by the car service to determine if you meet the requirements for it. If so, contact the company about purchasing the additional coverage.
What If Your Insurance Company Denies a Claim After an Accident?
In the event that you are involved in an accident while acting in a professional capacity and the insurance company rejects your claim, ask for a specific reason why. Ask the provider to cite the part of the policy that allows for your claim to be denied.
You also need to re-review your policy with an experienced personal injury attorney. He or she can help determine if the insurance company's denial is justified. If not, the attorney can help to resubmit your claim. Your attorney can also help with filing a lawsuit and building a case against the insurance company, if necessary.
