Rideshare Service for Teens and Children Will Launch in Las Vegas in January 2020

Rideshare services have quickly become the most popular way to get around Las Vegas. Convenient and affordable, these services have allowed tourists to get around Sin City without the risk of drinking and driving or having to find a place to park. Locals, too, have found rideshare services to be a good way to get around town.

But what about children and teens? Currently, Uber and Lyft do not allow minor children to ride unless they are accompanied by someone over the age of eighteen. This has created logistical problems for working parents who need to get their kids from place to place and are unable to drive them. Luckily, a new rideshare service launching in January 2020 will meet this need.

Rideshare cars – like any motor vehicle – can get into accidents. If you have been involved in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle, it can be difficult to know what to do, but it’s important to understand that you may have the legal right to compensation.

Don’t fight the insurance companies alone. The attorneys at Gina Corena and Associates have decades of legal experience. They have handled many Las Vegas auto accident cases, and they know how rideshare cases fit into existing personal injury law. Call (702) 680-1111 to schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced Las Vegas rideshare accident lawyers.

A Hop, Skip and a Drive

News 3 Las Vegas reports that HopSkipDrive is launching service in Las Vegas next month. The app launched in Los Angeles in 2014 and has been expanding to other markets over the past five years. It is now available in thirteen markets across eight states. The app was created specifically to provide ridesharing services for children aged six and up. Drivers must go through a rigorous fifteen-point certification process. They are subject to fingerprint and background checks, but the company also requires that drivers have at least five years of caregiving experience. The company also meets each driver in person and subjects each vehicle to a thorough inspection.

But how does HopSkipDrive ensure that children are safe before, during, and after their rides? Children are given code words to be sure they are meeting with the right driver. Parents can track their children’s rides, and the company has a support team monitoring all rides at all times. The company states it does “far more to vet drivers than most families do to vet nannies or babysitters.” One mother noted that she felt as safe with app drivers as she did with her children’s bus drivers.

Service will be available in Las Vegas starting on January 6, 2020. Rides start at $17 one way, and fares increase based on time and distance. Parents should note that rides must be scheduled at least eight hours in advance.

Rideshare Accidents

Though we don’t like to think about, anyone on the road runs the risk of being injured in a motor vehicle accident. This is why states require drivers to carry auto insurance with minimum amounts of liability coverage. But what happens when a rideshare vehicle is involved in an accident? Rideshare drivers – like any other drivers – must carry the minimum liability coverage. This is the first coverage available to victims who are injured in a rideshare accident. But both Uber and Lyft carry supplemental insurance policies that can cover damages beyond the driver’s coverage limits. The level of coverage depends on the driver’s status at the time the accident occurred:

• Period 1: If the driver is not logged into the ridesharing app, they are considered off the job. Their driver’s auto insurer must handle any accident claims that arise while the driver was not working . No supplemental liability coverage is available.
• Period 2:  If an accident occurs while the driver is logged into the app and awaiting a fare, supplemental liability coverage is available. The driver’s personal insurer must handle the claim first. If the policy limits are met, the supplemental insurance policy will cover up to $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident. There is also $25,000 of coverage for property damage to third parties. (The rideshare driver and their vehicle are not covered under the commercial policy.)
• Period 3:  Once the driver is en route to pick up a customer, $1 million in liability coverage is available. This coverage applies once the customer is picked up and throughout the ride. Again, the driver’s personal auto insurance policy must be used first. Once these limits are met, injury victims can be supplemented by up to $1 million in coverage under the commercial rideshare policy.

HopSkipDrive also maintains supplemental insurance. Their policy is tailored to its children riders and carries up to $1.5 million in liability coverage for Nevada drivers. As with Uber and Lyft, the driver must be logged into the app, and be either en route or with a rider before the supplemental coverage applies. HopSkipDrive also carries uninsured (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. This insurance covers damages caused by a driver who had either no insurance or insufficient coverage to pay for the damage. So if, for example, your child was struck by an uninsured driver while riding in a HopSkipDrive vehicle, you could still file a claim with HopSkipDrive’s insurer under the company’s UM coverage.  

Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Las Vegas Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Auto accident victims have the legal right to be compensated for their injuries. When a rideshare vehicle is involved in an accident, this right can become complicated and put at risk. Don’t fight the insurance companies alone. Call (702) 680-1111 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.