I was involved in an Uber car accident. What are my rights?

Author: Attorney Jason Macri

Ride-sharing services like Uber are extremely popular and typically easier to use than the traditional taxi. Consumers like the convenience of using their smartphone to hail an Uber as opposed to calling a taxi company by phone to request a cab or standing on the street corner trying to hail one. As Uber’s popularity increases, so does the amount of car accidents involving Uber drivers.

Uber maintains a commercial insurance policy with $1,000,000.00 in coverage per incident. An Uber driver’s liability to third parties is covered by this insurance policy from the moment a driver accepts a trip until the trip’s conclusion. This policy will be primary to any personal auto coverage that the Uber driver may have. The policy also maintains $1,000,000.00 in uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) coverage. This coverage will apply in the event that another driver causes an accident with an Uber driver and does not carry adequate insurance.

While $1,000,000.00 in bodily injury (BI) coverage seems adequate to most people, there is a caveat. The BI coverage will only apply in the event that an Uber driver causes an accident either while transporting passengers or while traveling to pick up passengers. What happens if the Uber driver causes an accident but is not carrying passengers or traveling to pick up passengers? Uber’s insurance policy provides $50,000.00 in bodily injury liability coverage per-person, with a total of $100,000.00 in coverage per accident and $25,000.00 in property damage coverage in this situation. This policy, however, is only available in the event that the Uber driver’s personal insurance company denies the claim.

If a person is riding in an Uber and is involved in an accident that is caused by another driver on the road then the other driver will be responsible for the damages caused. If the other driver has auto insurance and carries bodily injury (BI) coverage on that insurance policy, then that insurance company will be responsible for the damages caused. If the other driver does not carry bodily injury (BI) coverage, then the UM coverage provided by Uber will be applicable.

Clearly there are many variables involved in Uber accident cases with the potential for many different outcomes. If a person is injured while riding in an Uber, their best course of action would be to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. That lawyer will explain your rights and help avoid any potential pitfalls while helping to insure the best possible outcome.