[Hidden-tech] Drive for Uber? Or ride with them?
Liz Provo
liz at massmarketingresources.com
Tue Aug 18 10:58:53 EDT 2015
Here¹s a pretty recent article regarding the liability conversation
surrounding ³ride share² companies doing business in Massachusetts.
Insurance is governed by each state. Commercial insurance requires
commercial plates and it¹s not cheap. I can¹t see that an Uber driver
involved in an accident would be able to use the ³lie and say I¹m not
working². Attorneys would have a field day with that claim. Uber drivers
are essentially paid taxi drivers using their own vehicles to make a few
bucks. Uber must have thought about protecting the company ‹ drivers and
passengers, not so much, at least until a child was tragically killed by
their ³independently contract² driver.
Liz Provo
Mass Marketing Resources
13 Knight Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
(413) 539-7950
liz at massmarketingresources.com
http://www.massmarketingresources.com
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From: <hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net> on behalf of Max
Hartshorne <editorial at gonomad.com>
Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at 9:22 AM
To: Deborah Chandler <debchandler411 at gmail.com>
Cc: Ron Miller <ronsmiller at gmail.com>, Rich Roth - Webmaster
<webmaster at hidden-tech.net>, Hidden-Tech Tech
<hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net>
Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] Drive for Uber? Or ride with them?
I really don't think UBER hasn't thought this whole insurance thing out...it
would be very surprising for a company valued at $53 billion to not know the
work-around for car insurance for their drivers. I think your agent is just
scaring you.
-----------------------
Max Hartshorne
Editor
GoNOMAD.com Travel
P.O. Box 4
9 Mountain Rd.
South Deerfield, MA 01373
413-624-6640
www.gonomad.com <http://www.gonomad.com>
Writer's Guidelines <http://www.gonomad.com/about-us/writer-s-guidelines>
-----Original Message-----
From: "Deborah Chandler" <debchandler411 at gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 11:48pm
To: "Ron Miller" <ronsmiller at gmail.com>
Cc: "Rich Roth - Webmaster" <webmaster at hidden-tech.net>, "Hidden-Tech Tech"
<Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net>
Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] Drive for Uber? Or ride with them?
Hi all,
Well, I have not received a personal reply email from Uber about the
situation, but I received this text tonight (likely sent to drivers
throughout the entire region), in case anyone else would like to show up. I
will definitely be there.
UBER: Meet an Uber representative tomorrow at the Residence Inn Marriott
Springfield-Chicopee from 91PM! Come in and get your questions answered.
See you then!
Best,
Deb
On Aug 17, 2015 7:13 PM, "Ron Miller" <ronsmiller at gmail.com> wrote:
> I've used Uber frequently and I always talk to the drivers about why they're
> doing it, how they got into it and if they like it. To a person everyone has
> loved doing it. No complaints.
> I've had nothing but positive experiences. In fact, I took one in LA once and
> the guy was so nice, the person I was riding with offered him a tip and he
> refused it.
> The thing I love about it is that you order it, you pay through the app
> automatically and you get out when you get there. It's so simple.
> I have had instances where it didn't work well, but that was due to excessive
> crowds and the drivers just couldn't get to me.
> BTW, there are some drivers set up in western Mass, particularly in
> Springfield, but it's not widespread at this point by any means.
> Ron
>
> On Mon, Aug 17, 2015 at 3:59 PM, Deborah Chandler <debchandler411 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Hal and all,
>> I wanted to bring you all up to date on this insurance issue with Uber. >From
>> my research to date, and that of a few local insurance agents, it is looking
>> like Uber has not done their homework in the state of Massachusetts. I just
>> emailed them, included my findings from my local insurance agents, but as of
>> the night I discovered the potentially huge issue, I have not driven for
>> Uber.
>> If any of you drive for them, or know anyone who is, or who is driving for
>> Lyft or Sidecar or any other rideshare companies (or as Uber calls
>> themselves, a "transportation network provider") PLEASE realize that even if
>> you keep driving for them, and play dumb about your insurance coverage, you
>> could potentially be opening yourself up to "uber" liability. I am learning
>> that not only can your insurance company cancel your policy, but once they
>> find out you've driven for one of the rideshares, (and they *can* find the
>> evidence from your phone app) then you could be slapped with insurance fraud.
>> Feel free to contact me offline if you would like to discuss this further. I
>> will also share what Uber writes back to me. But as of this writing, I am
>> putting Uber in the category of unethical companies who are willing to hang
>> their independent contractors out to dry, and who are taking a calculated
>> risk if an incident arises. And I simply do not have any interest in testing
>> those waters. I will not continue to drive for Uber until such time I find
>> out that an insurance agent will legally cover me. Meanwhile, as Hal stated,
>> a commercial policy is just cost prohibitive for many of us wanting to do
>> this type of work. And furthermore, the agent I just spoke to won't even
>> write a commercial policy, because it is too risky, as Uber and the others
>> navigate the turbulent marketplace.
>> Lastly, if you are a passenger with Uber, please make sure YOU are adequately
>> covered if you are injured or killed. That also seems to be up in the air. I
>> don't know any of the details of the Uber case in CA, but an Uber driver hit
>> and killed a little 6 year old girl and it has gone to court. IT sounds like
>> Uber is saying they are not liable.
>> Best,
>> Deb
>>
>> On Thu, Aug 6, 2015 at 7:22 PM, Hal Rosenthal <hrosen50 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> I was in the process of becoming a driver and checked with Amica, my
>>> insurance company. They were extremely clear that my policy would not cover
>>> Uber driving. Had I not checked and had an issue, they wouldStoller have
>>> denied the claim. They suggested that I get a commercial policy. I've
>>> decided to cancel my application to drive.
>>> Are you suggesting that Uber has insurance for its drivers? At the risk of
>>> being told what Amica told me but at least not getting surprised if you
>>> needed to use your insurance, I suggest you check with your carrier.
>>> Hal
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thursday, August 6, 2015, Deborah Chandler <debchandler411 at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>> To follow up, I have been driving for Uber for about a month now. They
>>>> officially rolled out the Springfield area back at the end of April.
>>>>
>>>> All is going fine overall, albeit slow. But I am assured by my student
>>>> passengers that the amount of work will increase when students come
>>>> back to school over the next month. It seems the students all use Uber
>>>> and love it, and they have many reasons to use Uber over a taxi. Word
>>>> about Uber has apparently spread mostly word of mouth.
>>>>
>>>> The reason I am writing to you great folks is that I am having a bit
>>>> of confusion and concern over my auto insurance coverage not being
>>>> adequate and I wonder if someone can help me understand it. In my
>>>> approval process to become a driver, I shared my insurance policy with
>>>> Uber. They shared theirs with me once I was approved. But now I am
>>>> hearing from other drivers that there is concern over us drivers not
>>>> being adequately covered.
>>>>
>>>> So, if you are either driving for Uber and have already gained a solid
>>>> understanding about our insurance coverage, or you work in the auto
>>>> insurance industry, please be in touch with me right away. I can share
>>>> my documents (which I admit, I don't follow too easily, and my
>>>> insurance agent is still *researching*...)
>>>>
>>>> REQUEST: please don't respond in criticism of Uber if your only
>>>> knowledge about Uber is through reading the mainstream media and all
>>>> the back-and-forth conflict between the taxi industry, the various
>>>> city and state regulators and Uber corporate. As usual, the media
>>>> stories are full of exaggerations and biases. They tend to confuse and
>>>> muddy the waters, and the politicians usually base their loyalties on
>>>> who contributed to their campaign coffers.
>>>>
>>>> In my opinion, Uber is fair competition for the taxi industry and many
>>>> taxi drivers are just getting their knickers in a twist because they
>>>> had to pay a lot of money up front to do their job and now Uber
>>>> drivers are doing the same job better, without the upfront cost and
>>>> they are taking business from the taxi drivers. I would be pissy, too,
>>>> if I were them...
>>>>
>>>> Thanks in advance for your solid input on this,
>>>> Deb
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, Apr 10, 2015 at 11:33 PM, Rich Roth - Webmaster
>>>> <webmaster at hidden-tech.net> wrote:
>>>>> > Emailing in from the land of the Uber (SF)
>>>>> > We've used Uber/Lyft a few times just in the last week and I'd have to
>>>>> say
>>>>> > it works well
>>>>> > here because there are so many drivers, you wait maybe, well actually
>>>>> you
>>>>> > don't wait
>>>>> > you have to be ready when you call -- ok so you don't call, you request
it
>>>>> > on the ap
>>>>> > which shows you exactly where the incoming car is and then handles all
>>>>> > payment.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > No reason someone in the Valley can't drive for Uber, only I'd wonder
>>>>> > how many call requests you'd get, esp given how far you'd need to go,
>>>>> > AND what I really don't know is how Uber handles the driving cost
>>>>> outside of
>>>>> > the actual trip.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Net-net: might work in the more concentrated area like Springfield,
>>>>> > or Holyoke on a busy weekend -- beyond that, many of these 'ap' based
>>>>> > alternative
>>>>> > approaches to transportation and the like work on spontaneous requests
>>>>> > because of the concentration of the people needing such services.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Ridebuzz has a better chance of working when people plan ahead
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Interesting in any case to explore alternatives for rural areas.
>>>>> > Part of why airbnb or Uber work is because the infrastructure the
>>>>> company
>>>>> > provides
>>>>> > a level of safety individual connections do not, such as insurance and
>>>>> > mutual ratings.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Rich/webmaster
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> > On 4/3/2015 3:22 PM, Deborah Chandler wrote:
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >> Hi all,
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >> Do you drive for Uber or do you use their ride services? I would like
>>>>>> >> to ask you about it. I don't see any Western Mass towns or cities
>>>>>> >> listed yet, but wonder how to find out who drives in our area. I see
>>>>>> >> Worcester is listed.
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >> My understanding is that we can offer and get rides in our area, even
>>>>>> >> if our city is not listed, as long as there are drivers signed up and
>>>>>> >> available.
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >> Thanks,
>>>>>> >> Deb
>>>>>> >> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>> >>
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>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >>
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> > --
>>>>> > Rich Roth
>>>>> > Hidden-Tech
>>>>> > webmaster/board member
>>>>> > http://www.hidden-tech.net
>>>>> > Sponsor: http://www.thrivesmedia.com
>>>>> >
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>
> --
> Ron Miller
> Freelance Technology Journalist
>
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