Former Rideshare Driver In Debt After Wreck On The Job

A Haskell woman's attempt to earn some extra cash during the holidays takes a costly turn, leaving her thousands of dollars in debt.

She had a wreck while driving for DoorDash, but says her insurance policy didn't cover the damage.

Carrie Rongey liked the idea of driving for DoorDash, because it fit around her other job and her schedule as a mother. Now, after her wreck, she's urging other rideshare drivers to double-check their insurance policies.

The convenience of becoming a rideshare driver made sense for Rongey.

“It was easy to start up, and that was the draw for me. We just needed a little to get by, and that did the trick,” Rongey said.

After a few weeks as a driver, Rongey was in a wreck while on the job.

She says being honest with her insurance company about working resulted in the claim being denied and leaves her on the hook for $25,000 and a car she can no longer drive.

“That’s not right. Wait a minute. Like, there’s something wrong here. There’s no way that nobody would not tell you that there was special insurance if it was that important to have special insurance,” Rongey said.

AAA Oklahoma says rideshare companies are required to provide drivers with insurance but that it may not always cover them.

AAA’s Rylie Fletcher says rideshare drivers should discuss their options with their insurance providers before hitting the road.

“You shouldn’t only rely on that insurance when you’re going to and from because that rideshare insurance might not cover you if there not a passenger in the vehicle if you’re not actively participating in that rideshare transaction at that time,” Fletcher said.

Rongey says she's not only worried that bankruptcy is her only option, but she now worries about providing for her 11-year-old daughter, Samantha.

"I'm willing to do just about anything to try and salvage this. I don't want to file bankruptcy. I want to own a home one day. I want somewhere for my daughter to feel safe,” Rongey said.

A GoFundMe for Rongey was set on 12/08/2023 with a $10,000 goal and can be found here.