Even though driving is perhaps one of the most dangerous actions Massachusetts’ residents engage in on a daily basis, it is also one of the most common ones. As a country, we mostly drive to get wherever we want to go and increasingly now we are outsourcing either our vehicle to be driven around when we are not driving it or volunteering to drive others around for some extra cash. Both endeavors can be highly profitable-the more days one makes their car available, the more they might end up getting paid. But what happens when the car is involved in a crash?
Car sharing, or peer-to-peer sharing services, as it is known, allows drivers to rent their vehicle to other drivers who need transportation. However, both parties end up taking risks they do not fully understand, especially when it comes to an involvement in a car crash, because the question that arises is: who will pay compensation to the injured person?
State insurance laws have not yet caught up with changing times, which means drivers need to check out their own insurance coverage. Insurance companies generally do not cover drivers in these instances, because they do not know the person who was behind the wheel at the time and their driving patterns. In addition to this, personal insurance cannot be used when the vehicle is being used for business purposes. Some car sharing services offer their own collision liability, but these are limited depending on geographical location and when the coverage begins (rental period or delivery period).
Getting injured in a car accident is traumatic enough — an accident victim has to cope with their injuries and recovery, medical bills that flow from the crash and perhaps loss of income due to recuperation. Dealing with contentious insurance companies may seem overwhelming, which is why consulting an attorney may be beneficial. They can help determine who should cover your medical expenses if you are injured in an accident with a car sharing service vehicle.
