Uber Eats Driver Seeking Anyone Who Saw Fatal Motorcycle Crash April 27 On I-66

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — A law firm representing an Uber Eats driver who was injured during a fatal motorcycle crash is seeking information from anyone who may have witnessed the collision that occurred April 27 on I-66.

Shortly after midnight, a state trooper saw a motorcycle traveling over 100 mph on the eastbound interstate near Nutley Street in Fairfax County, according to the Virginia State Police. The trooper tried to stop the motorcyclist but the driver sped off so the trooper gave chase, although the trooper quickly stopped the pursuit due to safety concerns, according to police.

The trooper then encountered a crash and found the motorcycle had caught fire after striking the back passenger side of a 2007 Honda Santa Fe, according to authorities.

VSP later identified 51-year-old Nicholas S. Cannon of Kensington, Maryland, as the motorcyclist who was declared dead at the scene.

The Uber Eats driver was making a delivery in her personal vehicle, when she was struck by the motorcycle, according to a spokesman with Blaszkow Legal PLLC. She was taken to the hospital for a head injury and later released.

As part of a potential legal suit against Uber Eats, the Alexandria law firm is seeking information about the crash on behalf of their client. At issue is whether Uber Eats will compensate the injured driver, whose SUV was damaged through no fault of her own.

On Jan. 1, the minimum liability insurance required for drivers in Virginia increased to $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $20,000 for property damage. In addition, underinsured motorist coverage limits must match the liability minimums.

“When you drive for Uber Eats, you have your own car,” the Blaszkow Legal spokesman said. “But there is a clause in these insurance policies that says, ‘If you're driving for money, you're doing DoorDash or Uber or Lyft, the policy is not in effect.’”

Patch reached out to UberEats for comment about whether the injured driver would be covered by the company’s liability insurance and received the following response from Sarah Casasnovas, an Uber spokeswoman:

“While VA law does require individual owners of automobiles to maintain UM/UIM, it does not mandate that delivery companies provide coverage on behalf of couriers. Nonetheless, Uber voluntarily maintains liability insurance coverage on behalf of drivers.”

Even though Uber owns Uber Eats, it treats the food delivery company as a separate entity and each company has its own liability insurance, according to Blaszkow Legal.

As a passenger carrier, Uber is required to have the same UM/UIM insurance for its drivers as regular motorists in Virginia. However, Uber Eats does not fall under that legal mandate.

“Uber Eats is trying to say, ‘We don't have to give you anything,” according to the Blaszkow Legal spokesman. “These drivers out there are uncovered, and they don't realize it, because Uber Eats tells them that they are, but they don't mention the specifics. If an Uber Eats driver drives negligently and smashes into somebody else, they’ve got a million dollar liability policy. But, if the driver is a victim in a hit and run or whatever, they get nothing.”

Anyone with information about the motorcycle crash and police pursuit, including dash cam footage, photos, or videos is asked to contact Blaszkow Legal by calling 703-879-5910 or email the firm’s investigator: matt@blaszkowlegal.com