Uber drivers

Anybody out there drive for Uber?
I've got some questions.

Steve A W

You are hitting a really sore spot with me on this one.
First let me say that Uber is a totally illegal operation that is skirting the laws and regulations that should apply to them.
Their operation is doing taxi work. Plain and simple. They try to disguise it by calling it "ride sharing."
The way it works is this: You have an application on your phone. When you want a ride, you tell it where you are and where you want to go. This goes into some "central" office somewhere and the call goes out to whoever may be in the area and has a corresponding application on their phone. That person then goes to your location, picks you up, and then takes you to your destination. You are charged money for this "service." That makes it commercial. That is basically TAXI work.

Now, here is where the similarity ends:
A taxi is regulated. Some places by the PUC like here in Pa. Other places by municipalities. In either case, a taxi is supposed to be licensed and regulated. This is for the protection of the taxi company as well as the passengers and the general public in general. A taxi has to have commercial insurance to cover their liability to the general public. A taxi also has to have equipment like a meter to accurately record mileage and waiting time.

Now, in the case of a "problem" like a collision, does an individual's personal insurance cover the liability for that? As a commercial policy would? Probably not. Even if the collision is not your fault, you can be sure that an injured passenger will sue everybody in sight.
Next, how about rates? A taxi is regulated in what they can charge. Usually it is a per mile charge with additional charges for waiting time or extra luggage. Uber charges whatever they can get away with.

So, by evading the laws, Uber saves money in insurance premiums, licensing costs, and equipment costs. So, in my opinion, they should be forbidden to operate unless and until they comply with existing taxi laws and regulation.

So far, in my area, they have driven one taxi company into bankruptcy. Others are suffering from unfair competition.

Kinda like "hot shot" truckers who haul without legal license, registration or insurance?

My son was involved in a fender-bender a couple of years ago. He had a friend in the car. At the time I didn't understand why the insurance guy kept circling back to "Was (buddy) in any way compensating you for the trip?" Nobody was hurt, but the insurance company was checking this aspect out before any other.

My nephew is an uber driver and we haven't heard from him since monday.
I need to find out if a fellow driver can tell us how to check on him.

Steve A W

I have always wondered-----Just what is the insurance situation regarding an Uber driver?

HA!! We all know that all UBER drivers or whatever are "skillful in vehicle operation". Another reason I don't need some schmo in a smart car giving me a ride in traffic. Crunch.

I could ask my BIL, he drives for Uber and Lyft, I know they carry insurance at least through Uber in case of claims/accidents etc. He has an insurance policy on his own but also through the company while on company time. It's not a big money maker in my area but he sets his own hours, and picks where he want's to work and who he wants to accept for rides.

I agree with JMG Allentown with everything about Uber, except that they are not legal. Laws that pertain to transportation are enacted by votes of state legislatures, not by JMG Allentown. From things that I keep hearing on the news, I expect that states and cities will be passing laws regulating Uber more like taxis are regulated.

This is kinda related. In this mornings paper was an article about a local Uber driver that picked up a crazy lady. She got mad at him for something and busted the window of his car and did some other damage to his car. Driver reported to cops and they sent someone to her house. She opened the door and told her dog to KILL. Dog bit the cop 5 times on his leg. Some bites broke skin and drew blood. What the heck!

Under insurance laws here in PA, you cannot insure another person's property because you have no insurable interest in that person's property. That leaves a big "gray" area of who can insure what and under what conditions. That raises some question as to whether Uber can extend their insurance to cover a non-owned private (read non-commercial) vehicle.

4-play ...... up here I don't think a person can have insurance coverage on your vehicle from two different underwriters. I
could see that getting pretty confusing and a legal nightmare when something bad happens.

This has nothing to do with my "say so" so to speak. I say that they are not legal because they are performing a service that is regulated under the law yet they are NOT in compliance with that regulation. Last I checked "sidestepping" the law constitutes a violation as in "against the law."
So, let me review what constitutes a taxi service:
In the case of a REAL taxi, you phone a dispatch office to request a ride. Dispatcher sends a cab to your location to pick you up and take you to a destination.
With Uber, you c all into a central dispatch of sorts except that you are using a phone application instead of a voice phone call.
Is there really any difference in the fact that you are calling for transportation??
Next, with a REAL taxi, they pick you up and take you to a destination.
With Uber , they pick you up and take you to a destination.
Any difference? I think not.
Finally, a REAL taxi charges you for the ride.
Oh, uber charges you for the ride as well.

So, by the process of logical deduction, I say that taxis and Uber are performing the SAME service.
Taxis are subject to regulation. Regardless of who enacted those laws, they are nonetheless laws. Since Uber is not in compliance with those laws. As such, and NOT JUST MY SAY SO, they are in violation of existing laws. That makes them illegal in my judgment.

Ain't nothing like those pesky laws getting in the way and thinking you're smart enough to ignore them.

I to question legal and insurance for this as well as that home rental for weekend like air B&B or some such.

Jocco, NOT sure why you are worried about the details of these "services"?

Have you used them and had a bad experience, or do you own stocks in a taxi company or a motel chain?

Friends of mine have had good experiences with AIR BNB and my son and his GF have had many good experiences with UBER.

I'm sure there's some horror stories, as well, so if you have some, SHARE 'em!

And your problem is???

Since Taxi medallians are limited in number in Chicago (and other places)and cost when for sale $1,000,000 ,is it any wonder some"pirates" are operating?

Read my post, legal and insurance.

(quoted from post at 04:55:55 01/05/18) Read my post, legal and insurance.

Click to expand...

You can in most states have more than one policy on a vehicle. Say if you deliver pizza with your car at night. That's for commercial use. And in most cases it doesn't have to be provided by the same company. You cannot however collect double for an accident. You would have to collect a percentage from each company if both policies covered the same loss. Not disclosing double coverage constitutes fraud.

Rick

One of many technicalities, Uber is not insuring the car, they are insuring the DRIVER against liability for incidents that occur during Uber activity. Driver can have as many insurances as he wants.

At least here in NY, Uber and Lyft could NOT operate without special legislation from the state. So they ARE legal.