People who drive for Uber or rely on its ridesharing services may ask: Does Uber cover accidents for drivers? Uber offers coverage for drivers involved in accidents. The availability of this coverage and the amount provided, however, is based on the driver’s status when a crash happens. The driver’s car insurance policy covers the resulting damages and losses if the app was off during the accident. Uber provides limited liability coverage if the driver was logged into the app and waiting for a ride request when the accident happened.
The company also provides injury and property damage coverage of up to $1 million if the driver was on a trip or heading to pick up a passenger. The $1 million coverage applies if the Uber driver caused the accident or the liable driver has insufficient insurance to cover your damages. Besides understanding Uber’s insurance policy, you should also know what to do after an Uber accident. That way, you will safeguard your legal rights and maximize the compensation entitled to you.
Kuvara Law Firm has successfully represented people injured in motor vehicle accidents for over 50 years. You can rest assured that we can handle your case and do everything within our legal authority to win. Call us at 1-800-4-INJURY to schedule a free case review.
What You Should Know About Uber Drivers and Insurance Coverage
Uber drivers must carry personal liability coverage to provide rideshare services. Under California law, a driver’s personal insurance policy must include a $30,000 minimum coverage for bodily injuries or death to one person per incident. It must also include $60,000 minimum coverage for bodily injuries or death to several people and $15,000 for third-party property damage per incident.
Does Uber insurance cover accidents? Besides your insurance, Uber also offers its drivers additional insurance to supplement their policies. The company’s supplementary insurance provides up to $1,000,000 in coverage to eligible drivers. However, you only get covered under limited circumstances and certain periods, depending on your activities and interactions with the Uber app.
When Does Uber Cover Accidents for Drivers?
Uber’s $1 million coverage may sound very lucrative and highly reliable, however, it is not guaranteed in all Uber accident claims. It applies in specific situations, mostly focused on the driver’s interaction with the Uber app. The Uber insurance for drivers only applies in three (3) situations. When the driver is:
- Using the Uber app and awaiting request (Phase 1)
- On the way to pick up a client (Phase 2)
- On trip with passenger(s) onboard (Phase 3)
What Uber’s Insurance Covers During a Ride
Uber’s coverage comes with limits, depending on the driver’s activities at each phase of the trip.
Phase 1: Online, awaiting a client’s trip request
Uber’s rideshare insurance offers limited third-party liability coverage if a driver logs into the Uber app and clicks the “Go” button to wait for a trip request. It covers $50,000 in third-party bodily injury per individual, $100,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 in property damage per incident.
Phase 2: Heading to pick up a client
Uber’s coverage increases once an Uber driver receives a ride request and starts the journey to pick up a passenger. At this phase, Uber’s insurance provides you, the passengers, and other third parties with a coverage worth up to $1,000,000.
Phase 3: During the trip
Uber’s insurance also offers underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage when a driver is on a trip with a passenger. This insurance policy protects drivers and passengers from financial losses from accidents caused by another driver with little or no insurance. An advantage of this coverage is that it provides protection, no matter the circumstances.
An Uber driver’s auto insurance may sometimes be void. In such a case, Uber’s insurance may also include secondary coverage, known as contingent coverage. This insurance covers up to the vehicle’s actual value, but it is subject to a $2,500 deductible. What’s more, it’s only applicable if the driver includes it in his or her car insurance policy.
Limitations and Exceptions to Uber’s Insurance for Drivers
Although Uber’s supplementary insurance offers high-value coverage, a driver might be ineligible to file a claim. That happens in various exceptional situations, including a driver’s indulgence in:
Criminal Activities
Uber’s rideshare insurance doesn’t apply if you use your Uber-registered car to provide rideshare services to support or partake in criminal activities, such as drug or sex trafficking. Uber will also deny an injury claim if a driver intentionally causes an accident with an ill intention to receive compensation.
Personal Errands Using the Car
More often than not, Uber drivers may be involved in accidents when attending to personal responsibilities and errands using the car. Uber’s insurance coverage doesn’t apply in such situations. Drivers must cover resulting medical expenses and property damages using their auto insurance.
Other Rideshare Services
You must understand that Uber’s $1 million supplementary coverage only covers drivers providing Uber services. It won’t protect an Uber driver who get into an accident while offering rideshare services for another company like Lyft.
What to Do After an Uber Accident
Understanding Uber driver insurance coverage and the various periods it applies is not enough to guarantee maximum compensation. Knowing the steps to take after an Uber accident is crucial. Your actions following a crash may mean the difference between winning or losing a personal injury claim or case against Uber.
Take the following steps after an Uber accident:
Prioritize Your Health and Safety
Your health and safety should be your priority after an Uber accident. Inspect yourself for injuries immediately after the crash. You should also check other involved parties for injuries. If possible, pull off the road and pack your car in a safe location to avoid additional accidents.
Call 911 to Report the Crash and Request for Emergency Medical Services
Call 911 to tell the police about the accident and request emergency medical services. The police will come to the scene, take pictures and videos, interview you and the other driver(s), and record witness statements. The responding police officers will then compile a detailed report and give their opinion on what or who contributed to the accident.
Emergency medical responders, on the other hand, will examine you and provide the required treatment. You can visit a nearby medical facility or primary physician for further treatment.
See a doctor, even if you feel uninjured. You may unknowingly reduce your compensation by failing to seek treatment. Some common injuries after a California accidentare internal and may manifest weeks or months after an accident. Getting medical assistance is the only way to have these injuries detected early and treated, and the treatment cost included in your claim.
Gather the Necessary Information
Record the other driver’s license/insurance information and eyewitnesses’ contacts. Additionally, document the scene by taking photographs and videos of the wreckage and your injuries. Ensure you include crucial details, such as the precise date, time, and location.
Store Evidence Safely
Ensure you safely preserve the information or documents that you collected as evidence at the scene and after the crash. That might include medical bills, surveillance camera footage, property repair receipts, and other accident-related documents.
Apart from failure to seek immediate medical care, other mistakes to avoid after a rideshare accident include signing a settlement form without legal counsel, discussing the accident online and on social media platforms, and admitting fault to an insurance company.
How an Attorney Can Help Injured Drivers After an Uber Accident
Pursuing compensation and handling correspondences with insurance adjusters after an Uber accident can be stressful. Your focus as an injured driver should be on your health and well-being, not trying to demonstrate why you are entitled to compensation.
As previously stated, Uber will cover the accident partially if you logged into the company’s app and up to $1,000,000 if you were heading to pick up a passenger or on a trip. That’s easier said than done. The high-value coverage doesn’t necessarily mean you will receive that much compensation.
The most effective way of hedging your financial interests in a claim is by involving Uber accident lawyers. They can assume several roles and responsibilities to help you file a claim and receive the maximum possible settlement.
Investigating the Accident
Experiencedcar accident attorneys can navigate the legal procedures involved in the fault determination process in an Uber accident claim. The lawyers will:
- Obtain eyewitness accounts by interviewing people who saw or have information regarding the accident
- Work closely with an accident reconstruction team to recreate the accident
- Gather medical reports from healthcare providers
- Review CCTV surveillance videos (if available)
- Help cover your medical bills and treatment costs before settlement
Handling the Legal Documents
A car accident attorney leverages his or her experience with rideshare accident claims to handle your claim. The attorney will gather, draft, and organize all the paperwork and submit it to the relevant offices.
Monitoring Deadlines
Like other personal injury claims involving vehicle accidents, Uber collisions follow strict deadlines for pursuing compensation. The California statute of limitations requires injured drivers to file claims within two (2) years from the accident date. Beyond that, they lose their rights to file claims. Your lawyer will ensure your claim is filed on time and even use his or her experience to expedite the claims process.
Sometimes, the two-year timeline may elapse before you file the claim. Fortunately, California has exceptions to the statute of limitations. Your Uber accident lawyer will carefully evaluate your situation and determine if you qualify for an extension. If so, the lawyer will handle the legal procedure to pause or extend the filing deadline.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
A crucial stage of any car accident claim is negotiations with the involved insurer(s). Typically, insurance companies will try to lower the settlement amount. They often compel claimants to accept and sign settlement forms without legal representation, exploiting their ignorance of the legal process.
A seasoned accident attorney may have interacted with insurance companies for many years. He or she will likely understand the various strategies insurers use to dupe claimants into signing unfair settlements. With a lawyer by your side, an insurer can’t use unscrupulous and illegal means to settle the case. The attorney will draft a demand letter and manage correspondence with the insurer. The attorney will leverage his or her legal powers to prod the company to pay the maximum possible compensation.
Filing a Lawsuit
Rideshare companies usually obtain their insurance policies from powerful, globally recognized insurance providers. Those insurers may not agree with your lawyer’s demand letter. They may even hire a team of seasoned attorneys to challenge the claim. In such cases, the negotiations may be unsuccessful due to aggressive tactics employed by insurers and their legal representatives.
If a mutually fair settlement isn’t reached, the only legal recourse is to take the case to court. An attorney can help you file the lawsuit. Legal proceedings in court require someone with a vast understanding of accident injury laws. They also require someone who understands the accident lawsuit timeline.
You don’t have to worry about that if you have a lawyer in your corner. Your lawyer will walk with you throughout the entire legal process. The lawyer will fight for you to ensure you receive your rightful compensation.
Kuvara Law Firm has been helping personal injury victims recover their rightful compensation for over five decades. We will listen to you carefully, review your case, conduct additional investigations, and tailor our legal support to your unique legal situation. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.