When you order a ride from the Uber app, there is a lot of implicit trust that goes into this decision, and this trust is necessary for you to climb into the back seat of a stranger’s car and let them take control of your safety for the duration of your ride. Uber, Lyft, and other ride sharing platforms take extensive steps to ensure rider safety, including background checks for drivers, rigorous quality monitoring, and much
more, but the reality is that there is no amount of precaution that will ever guarantee that an accident won’t happen.
If you have been in an accident while riding in an Uber, the upcoming process can be frustrating as you attempt to get the compensation that you rightfully deserve. The good news is that Uber drivers are covered by comprehensive insurance while they are actively transporting a rider, but there are a variety of stipulations and complexities in the system because of the nature of the driver’s relationship with Uber as a contractor. While you focus on recovering from your injuries, your attorney will be able to wade through the legal muck of the Uber insurance claim process.
Find an Uber Accident Attorney Through 1-800-Injured With Ease
After any car accident, especially one where you are injured, thinking about taking the time to find an attorney who is available and willing to take your case can feel like an extra step, and too often, people decide to skip this step and simply file a claim on their own. This is never advisable, especially if you have been injured in the accident since you are entitled to compensation beyond what the insurance company will attempt to pay you.
1-800-Injured is an attorney and medical referral service. If you are looking for a hassle-free way of connecting with an available attorney, then contact us as soon as possible. The sooner you hire an attorney, the more opportunities your attorney will have to build a strong case for your compensation.
What Makes an Uber Accident Different From a Passenger Vehicle Accident?
Commercial Regulations
Most Uber drivers are operating with a standard driver’s license and a passenger vehicle, as opposed to taxi drivers who are operating with a commercial driver’s license and a commercial vehicle. This difference has a significant impact on things such as commercial driving regulations, maintenance schedules, and more.
Accident Insurance
In addition to these regulatory differences between professional drivers and rideshare drivers, there is the issue of insurance. An Uber driver is an independent contractor who, according to Uber Technologies Inc., simply uses the Uber platform to connect with riders, and not working for Uber itself. As such, there are a few different types of insurance that can apply to an accident depending on the specifics of the situation.
According to Uber, this comprehensive insurance begins the moment that a driver hits “GO” in the app to search for a fare. However, there are tiered coverage policies depending on the actions that the driver is engaging in with the app, such as driving to pick up a fare or actively transporting a rider. When the app is not on, the driver is not working with Uber in any capacity and is therefore covered by their own personal insurance.
What To Do After an Uber Accident
The following is meant to provide you with a general sense of the steps to take after an accident. However, it will be up to you to determine the most appropriate actions to take after an accident, as each is unique. The most important thing for you to remember is that your safety is tantamount and that every step you take following a crash should be done with the idea of maximizing your safety and the safety of those around you.
Call 911
Whether you or someone else on the scene does it, it is essential that someone calls 911. While oftentimes people try to avoid making a big deal out of an accident and believe that not calling 911 will make it less of a big deal, this is a really important step for a number of reasons. One is that the police will be able to take notes and interviews as they compile an accident report, which will be a central document in the upcoming legal process. Too often, victims of accidents find that the responsible party quickly changes their story once an insurance claim has been filed if there is no official documentation supporting the victim’s statements.
In addition to the police report, the EMTs will be able to administer emergency medical care and can provide you with guidance and advice on how to proceed with your own injuries. In some cases, they may suggest an ambulance to the emergency room, but even if you leave the accident under your own power, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Get Medical Care
Getting treated by EMTs at the scene of the accident isn’t enough. If you do not take an ambulance to the ER due to serious injuries, you will need to see your own doctor within a day or two to have your injuries examined and to get checks to ensure that you are not suffering from additional injuries that you may not have been aware of, or aware of the extent.
In addition to the obvious benefits of getting medical treatment for your injuries, each visit with a medical professional about your accident-related injuries adds to the official documentation about these injuries, and as with the police report, they will play a central role in your insurance claim. If you do not have official proof of injuries, the insurance company will do everything possible to push back on your claim.
Call a Lawyer
Before filing an insurance claim, hiring a lawyer is an important and beneficial step to take. Once you initiate your claim, the insurance agent assigned to your claim will focus intently on identifying every possible way to limit your settlement amount, meaning that every statement you make and every document that you submit will be picked apart with the specific goal of pinning fault on you and keeping their own client from as much legal obligation as possible. Remember that an insurance company’s primary goal is to make money, and paying the full amount of a claim is counter to that goal.
When you have an Uber accident lawyer representing you from day one, they can take charge of all interactions with the insurance company and can do so with their intimate knowledge of tort law and insurance claims. At the same time, you can focus on your injuries, recovery, and getting your life back on track without letting the stress of the legal process slow your recovery.