Choosing to take an Uber ride instead of driving your own vehicle around Orlando can be a great idea, and can help you avoid the hassle of navigating traffic, finding parking, and is an excellent option for getting home safely after a night out with friends. Uber, as well as other ridesharing services like Lyft, have rigorous vetting processes for their drivers, and ongoing quality checks including user ratings, incident reports, and many other indicators for how well and how safely a driver is transporting their fares. These high standards are an important part of why you can feel comfortable climbing into a complete stranger’s car to get you to and from where you need to be.
Knowing that Uber has such high standards for their drivers is important, but the unfortunate reality is that there will never be a guarantee that you will be able to take a ride with 100% certainty that you will not be in an accident. Luckily for victims of Uber accidents, there is a robust insurance policy that covers all drivers who are actively engaging in a ride that you will be able to seek compensation from. Remember, though, that like any insurance company, the insurance company covering the Uber driver has a vested interest in paying you as little as possible.
Hire an Orlando Uber Accident Attorney Today
The resistance from the insurance company, as well as some complications that are specific to Uber and ridesharing accidents, means that you can anticipate a complicated process in order to get the money that you are entitled to. Trying to understand the complex process of getting the money that you deserve after being hurt in an Uber accident is complicated even if you aren’t trying to recover from injuries, and it is only more overwhelming while you are trying to focus on healing at the same time that you are trying to get a fair settlement.
When you are working with an attorney, you can prioritize your needs while enjoying the confidence and peace of mind you get knowing that there is an experienced and diligent legal professional who is fighting for your rights. Trying to find an attorney who is available to take your case, though, can be a complicated matter of its own. Luckily, 1-800-Injured can connect you with an attorney who is ready to take your case today. 1-800-Injured is an attorney and medical referral service.
Read more below about Uber accidents in Orlando, and contact us now to connect with an attorney today.
What Makes an Uber Accident Different From Other Accidents?
Every car accident is unique, and the injuries and damages that the accident causes are all highly specific to the crash itself. However, the administrative processes of a car accident are fairly standard, including a claims investigation, negotiations, and a settlement. However, when you are involved in an accident with an Uber driver—whether you are a passenger or another driver—the process is slightly more complicated because of the coverage extended to Uber drivers.
When Does Uber’s Insurance Apply?
An Uber driver, unlike a taxi driver, is not an employee of the company; instead, they operate as independent contractors, and Uber is operating as a platform connecting them to people who are looking for a ride. There are many different implications to being designated as an independent contractor instead of an employee, but one of the most relevant details to your accident is that a driver is only covered by Uber’s insurance policy in certain situations, and is covered by their own personal insurance all other times.
While Waiting For a Fare
As soon as a driver hits “GO” in their Uber Driver app, they are covered by the following:
- $50,000 for the driver’s liability for bodily injury per person case of a covered accident
- $100,000 per covered accident
- $25,000 for property damage for which you are responsible for in a covered accident
En Route To Pickup or During a Passenger Trip
Once a driver has accepted a ride and is either driving to pick up the passenger or in the process of driving the passenger to their destination, they are covered by a far more comprehensive policy than while waiting for a ride request.
- Third-party liability coverage of at least $1,000,000.
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage
- Contingent comprehensive and collision coverage if a driver has comprehensive and collision coverage on their personal auto insurance.
The specifics of each of these coverage areas should be discussed with your attorney as you are working together to understand your rights and options for seeking compensation after your accident.
Frequently Asked Questions About Orlando Uber Accidents
The following are just a few of the many questions that you and others likely have in the early days and weeks following your accident. The answers provided are intended to give you a high-level understanding, but the only way to get an accurate answer is to work with a personal injury attorney so that they can make recommendations based on the specifics of your case.
If a driver has an Uber sticker on their car, are they an Uber employee?
Maby Uber drivers like to place an Uber logo on their windshield or rear window as a way to help passengers identify their ride. However, drivers are not employees of Uber and instead operate as independent contractors who are using Uber’s app to locate and connect with people who need a ride. This is much different than a taxi driver, who is either an employee of a cab company or operate as their own business, subject to all of the rules and regulations that a taxi company must adhere to in Florida.
How much is my Orlando Uber accident worth?
Personal injury claims seek payment for two different types of compensatory damages: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are those that are measurable by their dollar value and include things like lost wages, medical bills, diminished earning capacity following injury, and other impacts that come with a calculable economic value. Non-economic damages seek compensation for the types of damages in an accident that do not have measurable dollar values, such as the actual pain and suffering of your injuries, emotional impacts of the accident, and more.
In order to determine how much you rightfully are owed after an Uber accident in Orlando, your attorney will need to work extensively in order to gather all of your damages and then present a clear case for the money you are requesting before initiating negotiations with the insurance company.
Should I settle with the insurance company, or will I need to file a lawsuit after an Uber accident?
A majority of personal injury claims are settled before a lawsuit, and many personal injury lawsuits are settled before trial. While this is not a guarantee for your own situation, it is statistically likely that you will avoid a trial even if you do ultimately file a lawsuit in the Florida courts. However, this does NOT mean that you will simply get the settlement you deserve without needing to put up a fight.
Before you accept any offers or sign any papers with the insurance company, have an attorney review your case and give you advice on how they recommend moving forward. Insurance companies are motivated to pay claimants as little as possible in order to protect their financial interests, and the first offer made is rarely, if ever, even close to what the victim deserves.