You have legal questions, and our attorneys are here to give you answers. Read below to learn more about the confidentiality terms of Uber’s settlement offers.
Question
I was a passenger in an Uber vehicle that was involved in an accident. The driver of the vehicle I was in was at fault the car accident. Uber’s insurance company, James River, has reached out to me and offered a settlement for my injuries. However, the insurance company’s offer requires that I sign a confidentiality agreement. Do I have to agree to keep the settlement confidential?
Answer
It is standard practice for companies like Uber and Lyft to include a confidentiality clause in all injury settlement offers that are released by their insurance provider. The non-disparagement and confidentiality agreement contained in a settlement release has to be signed by the injured party before they can be issued any payments for their damages.
At McGee, Lerer & Associates, our skilled team of attorneys have quite the distaste for the draconian clauses that are contained in settlement releases made by the insurance carriers that represent Uber and Lyft. After all, why should you have to forfeit your right to disparage Uber or Lyft, or to talk about the settlement offered by their insurers, if you have been injured because of the negligence of one of their drivers?
It is important to note that if there’s a confidentiality clause in the settlement release that you receive from an insurance company, there are now tax consequences that may apply to you. If you sustained an injury in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver, you should immediately consult with one of our personal injury attorneys before you decide to agree to any settlement offers you might get from insurers.
At McGee, Lerer & Associates, our legal team is all too familiar with the shenanigans that Uber and Lyft’s insurance companies try to pull on people who have been injured while using their rideshare services. We understand how to fight back against these questionable tactics to ensure that your rights and interests are fully protected. Let us put our 35 + years of combined legal experience to work for you today.
Contact our Santa Monica team of car accident attorneys, or call (310) 692-9582 to schedule your free case consultation.