It’s a common story: COVID-19 took a huge toll on Uber’s operations and revenue in 2020.
Now, with the weather warming up, more vaccines being administered, and people trying to work off stir-craziness, Uber is back in full force.
With 4.98 billion Uber trips being taken in just the dreaded year of 2020, there are bound to be accidents involving an Uber driver. If you happen to be an Uber passenger in one, you’ll want to take the correct steps to be correctly compensated for any injuries.
Keep reading to find out what to do if you’ve been involved in an Uber-affiliated accident.
What To Do Right After An Accident
While the moments right after an accident can be chaotic, it is important to check for injuries and collect information for any legal cases.
Follow these steps if you’ve been involved in an Uber accident:
Call 911
As with any car accident, you’ll want to make sure you call your local emergency services as soon as possible.
If there are injuries present, emergency services will be able to take care of them. If there are no injuries present, it is still important to file a police report if you decide to take legal action.
Gather Information
If you can, this is the time to gather as much information about the accident as possible.
You’ll want to take down the following information: names and insurance information from everyone involved, vehicle information (plate numbers, make, model) for any cars involved, and photos/videos of the scene.
Contact Uber
Once you have gathered as much information about the scene as you can, it is time to contact Uber. You can do this through the “Trip and Fare Review” option on the app. They will work to find the correct insurance coverage for the incident.
Once you have taken these steps, you may want to continue with legal action. Let’s talk about what that looks like next.
Taking Legal Action When Your Uber Driver is At Fault
Uber mandates that all its drivers have and maintain their own personal insurance coverage. In addition to that, they are supposed to have a “Rideshare Rider” addendum added to their policy to cover any riders.
This can get complicated, though. Many drivers do not have this added policy due to being unaware of it or because of insufficient pay from Uber to cover the premiums.
If your driver does not have sufficient insurance coverage, then Uber’s liability coverage will kick in. You can read more about that coverage on Uber’s insurance page.
Taking Legal Action When the Other Driver Is At Fault
As with the situation above, you are still covered by Uber’s liability policy as an Uber passenger, even if the at-fault driver does not have insurance.
It is important to mention, though, that while this process seems simple and assured on paper, it may still be in your best interest to hire legal representation. This is especially important if you are looking to sue Uber for any reason.
This lawyer in Florida mentions Uber’s tendency to make legal processes more confusing and circuitous, so it is important to cover your bases by hiring an attorney. It is especially crucial to hire a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the accident if you received an injury.
You Are Protected
Uber’s mission is to provide safe and accessible transportation to people just like you. They want to make you feel safe during the entire ride with your Uber driver.
It is nice to know that Uber has implemented their own liability coverage, but also know that this process is not always as simple as it seems. Hiring a personal attorney may be in your best interest.
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