Ridesharing has skyrocketed in recent years.
Companies like Uber and Lyft provide convenient, affordable transportation to millions of people every day. However, these rides aren’t always safe.
Each year, Uber drivers are involved in accidents that injure or kill passengers.
Researchers found that when large US cities introduced ride-hailing services, traffic fatalities increased by up to 3%.
This fatality increase occurs at all times of travel, including weekdays and weekends, daytime and night.
If you were injured in an Uber accident, you should be able to recover compensation. To file an Uber claim, you may need the help of an attorney.
This article will explain where you could file an Uber claim and when you should consult an attorney.
Where Do You File an Uber Insurance Claim?
You have several potential options for filing an Uber insurance claim. The insurance company responsible for paying you depends on who caused the accident.
File with Another Driver’s Insurance
If another driver caused the accident with an Uber, file a claim with their insurance company. For instance, if a truck runs a stoplight and crashes into your Uber, file a claim with the truck driver’s insurance.
File with the Uber Driver’s Insurance
If the Uber driver was off-duty when the accident happened, you can file with their personal auto insurance.
Uber drivers are independent contractors, which means that they are not considered employees of the company.
So their personal insurance may foot the bill. However, an Uber driver’s personal insurance might not pay if they think the accident is work-related.
File with Uber’s Insurance
If the Uber driver caused the accident while working, you can file a claim with Uber’s insurance company.
Whether Uber’s insurance will pay depends on whether your driver was working at the time of the accident.
If the driver was not transporting a passenger, Uber’s insurance may not pay. The amount of coverage available depends on what the driver was doing at the time of the accident.
Driver without passengers
If the driver was actively “for hire” but had no passengers, Uber provides insurance coverage of up to:
- $50,000 per person for injuries;
- $100,000 per accident for injuries; and
- $25,000 per accident for property damage.
In this situation, you would file with the driver’s personal insurance first, and then Uber’s insurance would pick up any excess.
Driver with passengers
If the driver had passengers or was on the way to pick up a rider, Uber provides insurance coverage of up to $1 million per accident.
Note that insurance coverage amounts per accident are shared by all injured parties. That means that if you were injured by an Uber, file a claim quickly before other injured victims claim all the available insurance funds.
Uber driver injuries
California’s Prop 22 gives Uber drivers extra accident protection. If you were injured while working for Uber in California, you can get:
- Up to $1,324 in weekly disability payments; and
- Up to $1 million in medical expenses.
If your loved one was killed while driving for Uber in California, you can file a survivor claim on Uber’s insurance for up to $320,000.
File with Your Own Auto Insurance
You may also be able to file with your own auto insurance company on underinsured motorist coverage. Some California drivers add optional coverage for collisions with uninsured or underinsured drivers.
If you have this coverage, your insurance company may pay medical bills that exceed the other driver’s policy limits.
It can be confusing to know which insurance company is responsible for your medical bills.
When multiple insurance companies try to avoid paying you, a skilled attorney can sort through the stall tactics to get you the money you need.
How Much Money Can You Get for an Uber Accident Claim?
When you file an Uber claim, you want fair compensation for the harm you suffered. How much money will you get?
That’s hard to estimate without knowing the specifics of your experience. Settlement amounts for an Uber accident claim depend on things like:
- The extent of your injuries;
- Property damage;
- Whether you contributed to the accident;
- Whether your injuries prevent you from working; and
- Whether your injuries impact your life.
Proving that you suffered extensive harm from your accident requires evidence. You should bring any medical report, accident photos, bills, and other relevant documents when you meet with an attorney.
If you need more evidence to back your Uber insurance claim, the law firm investigators can look for it.
Should You Hire an Attorney for an Uber Accident Claim?
When you attempt to negotiate a settlement with a big company like Uber, they have the advantage.
Uber drivers get into lots of accidents, so the company’s insurer routinely negotiates settlements with victims. The insurance company may attempt to protect its profits by offering accident victims unfair compensation.
However, you may not know how to fight a big corporation on your own.
The settlement process can be intimidating, especially when you’re seriously injured.
You can give yourself an advantage by hiring a knowledgeable car accident attorney. An attorney can investigate your accident, calculate fair damages, and negotiate with Uber for every dollar you deserve.
Contact an Experienced Accident Attorney About Your Uber Claim
If you were involved in an Uber accident, you should contact an experienced accident attorney.
An honest attorney will advise you on what your claim is worth, explain the accident claim process, and help you pursue maximum compensation.
At The Beliz Law Firm, we’ve helped California accident victims get millions of dollars over the past decade.
Attorney Michael A. Beliz provides passionate, personalized representation as he seeks the best financial outcome for each client.
Contact Michael for a free consultation, and start pursuing maximum compensation for your Uber accident.
Michael A. Beliz, Esq., established The Beliz Law Firm in the spring of 2011. Michael has been a practicing attorney since 2006 and worked for two of the most prominent plaintiff’s personal injury law firms in Southern California. He has worked on and handled hundreds of cases as an attorney in all types of personal injury cases, including vehicle accidents, pedestrian accidents and dog bites, and successfully recovered millions of dollars for his clients.
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