Mason (Driving Law Expert)
When an Uber or Lyft driver gets hurt on the job, they’re often left to cover their medical costs and vehicle repairs alone. Even with health insurance and car insurance coverage, this could mean the driver is out thousands of dollars and left unable to work until their injuries have healed and their car is repaired.
Rideshare drivers in New York have access to a unique resource that may cover these expenses and more: The Black Car Fund.
What Is The Black Car Fund?
Today, many beneficiaries of The Black Car Fund are rideshare drivers. However, BCF was established in 1999, before Uber and Lyft even existed.
The Fund was originally called The New York Black Car Operator’s Injury Compensation Fund and it was created by law to ensure drivers of vehicles for hire had access to worker’s compensation benefits. Since then, the Black Car Fund has expanded to include additional benefits to support driver’s health and overall wellness.
The Black Car Fund extends to member bases across the state of New York. However, because black car services are more common in dense, urban areas, many of The Black Car Fund’s member bases are concentrated in New York City.
How Black Car Fund Membership Works
With traditional worker’s compensation programs, employers pay insurance premiums and injured employees file claims. The Black Car Fund works a little differently. Uber and Lyft don’t pay directly into the fund, but neither do drivers. Instead, the program is funded by a small fare surcharge paid by passengers.
Drivers also don’t need to individually enroll in The Black Car Fund to be covered by worker’s compensation insurance. They just need to be affiliated with a member base. The Black Car Fund’s member bases are vehicle-for-hire services, rideshare services and driver collectives that meet the following qualifications:
- The base owns fewer than 50% of the vehicles used by it’s drivers.
- Over 90% of passengers do not make direct cash payments.
Both Uber and Lyft are members of The Black Car Fund, so if you drive for either company in New York, you’re already covered. However, if you want to access additional, free health and wellness benefits, make sure to sign up for The Black Car Fund’s Driver’s Benefits Program.
Key Benefits of The Black Car Fund
Many New York rideshare drivers discover The Black Car Fund after having been involved in an accident. As long as they’re affiliated with Uber, Lyft or another member base, they qualify for The Black Car Fund’s key benefits:
Worker’s Compensation Insurance
Worker’s compensation insurance is the core benefit of The Black Car Fund. Worker’s compensation insurance covers the cost of medical treatment for drivers injured on the clock. It also provides a partial wage replacement benefit for drivers who are out of work during their recovery.
When providing injured drivers with partial wage replacement, the Black Car Fund follows the same guidelines established by New York worker’s compensation laws. This means that if you suffer an injury while driving for Uber or Lyft, you might be compensated two-thirds of your average weekly wage while you heal.
Survivor and Death Benefits
If you’re killed while driving for Uber or Lyft, your family might struggle to pay bills in your absence. That’s why, in addition to worker’s compensation benefits, The Black Car Fund provides a driver death benefit. If you suffer a fatal injury while driving for Uber or Lyft, your family will receive a one-time $100,000 check.
This benefit may be used to cover your burial and funeral costs. If your family partially or totally depended on your income, it may give them a sense of security while they find another source of income.
IDG Mental Health and Wellness Program
This free benefit is a collaboration between the Independent Drivers Guild (an advocacy group for rideshare drivers) and The Black Car Fund. It helps drivers achieve their health and wellness goals by offering no-cost access to several benefits:
- Individual, couples and family counseling
- Assistance signing up for Human Resources Administration (HRA) benefits
- Monthly Wellness Community Space gatherings
- Wellness Advocate Program (a peer-to-peer support system)
Working as an independent contractor can feel isolating, but the IDG Mental Health and Wellness Program can help drivers connect and build a supportive community.
Additional Income Protection for Drivers
If you enroll in The Black Car Fund’s Driver’s Benefits Program, you can take advantage of a range of additional benefits for New York rideshare drivers. These benefits include vision and dental insurance, urgent care discounts and even free telehealth visits.
Several benefits expand the income protection offered by worker’s compensation insurance. When you have coverage through The Black Car Fund Driver’s Benefits Program, you’ll be financially protected if you’re injured on the clock or off:
Personal Accident Insurance
This coverage pays up to $40,000 if you’re involved in an accident on or off the clock. It can provide a financial cushion if you’re unable to work or have to pay for car repairs.
Accident Disability Insurance
If you suffer a disabling injury outside of work, you don’t qualify for worker’s compensation coverage. However, if you’re unable to drive while you’re recovering, you could still face financial uncertainty.
The accident disability insurance available through the Driver’s Benefits Program will pay you $1,000-$1,500 per month for up to a year.
Critical Illness Insurance
Injuries aren’t the only thing that can stop you from driving. If you suffer a serious illness or medical event, you may be unable to work for a time. If you experience a heart attack, stroke, cancer or another major medical problem, you could receive up to $20,000.
Accidental Death Benefit
The Black Car Fund pays a death benefit if you are killed while working. This accidental death benefit will pay your loved ones $100,000 if you die in a covered accident.
Why the Black Car Fund Is So Important for Drivers
The Black Car Fund isn’t just a perk that comes with driving in New York. It provides a significant increase in quality of life for most drivers.
No other state offers a program like The Black Car Fund, so New York drivers enjoy benefits and protections that Uber and Lyft drivers can’t find anywhere else. These are some of the main reasons The Black Car Fund is important for New York rideshare drivers:
It Protects them Financially
Because rideshare drivers are independent contractors, they aren’t covered by an employer’s worker’s compensation insurance. This puts rideshare drivers (and especially those who drive full-time) in a financially precarious position. Getting into an accident may mean a driver can’t work for months and during that time, they may be unable to earn a living.
By providing worker’s compensation coverage, The Black Car Fund makes it possible for drivers to heal from their injuries without worrying about how to afford basic necessities. Drivers who sign up for the Driver’s Benefits Program receive further financial protection through disability insurance and other kinds of additional coverage.
It Provides Additional Health-Related Insurance Coverage
Many people employed full-time have access to employer-provided vision and dental insurance. Uber and Lyft drivers don’t have those options and purchasing standalone vision and dental policies can be expensive. If you enroll in The Black Car Fund’s Drivers Benefits Program, you can receive free vision insurance, dental insurance and other healthcare-related benefits.
It Advocates for Driver-Friendly Legislation
Large rideshare companies have their own legal advocates, but rideshare drivers generally don’t. In addition to providing insurance coverage and other benefits, The Black Car Fund also advocates for legislation to benefit drivers. For example, in recent years, the BCF was one of the organizations behind the push for vision and dental insurance for New York City rideshare drivers.
It’s Faster than Filing a Personal Injury Claim
Generally speaking, worker’s compensation programs were designed so that injured employees didn’t have to go through the process of filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit. When you’re injured and unable to work, you need money for medical bills and wage replacement now, not months later.
Like other worker’s compensation providers, The Black Car Fund works to efficiently approve claims so drivers can recover compensation as quickly as possible.
The Black Car Fund: An Indispensable Resource
If you’re a rideshare driver in New York and you’re not familiar with The Black Car Fund, take a few moments to familiarize yourself with the benefits available to you. Whether you’ve been hurt in an accident or are just looking for health benefits, The Black Car Fund and its Driver’s Benefits Program can offer you an unmatched level of support.
