What if My Uber Gets Into an Auto Accident?

Ridesharing services like Uber are extremely popular these days, and it’s easy to see why. Not only are they convenient and widely available, but they are also relatively inexpensive. This makes ridesharing services like Uber a great alternative to other forms of paid transportation. Unfortunately, though, with so many Uber drivers on the road, accidents are bound to happen. And as ridesharing services are still a relatively new concept, passengers are often unsure of what to do following an Uber accident. In this article, we examine what you should do if your Uber gets into an auto accident. For additional information, please contact an Uber accident lawyer.

Can You Sue Uber if You Get in an Accident?

The first thing to understand about Uber accidents is this: If you are injured while riding in an Uber, you can sue the company for any resulting damages. California law requires ridesharing companies like Uber to carry $1 million in insurance coverage for accidents caused by their drivers and the drivers of other vehicles. Therefore, you’re covered regardless of who caused the accident. And if you successfully sue Uber following a ridesharing accident, you may be entitled to compensation for things like pain and suffering, past and future medical care, and other damages suffered in the accident.

When Does Uber’s Insurance Kick In?

As discussed above, Uber is required to maintain liability insurance for passengers and drivers. However, simply being in an Uber driver’s vehicle during an accident doesn’t result in automatic coverage. Rather, if you are injured in an Uber accident, the circumstances surrounding the accident determine whether Uber’s insurance will cover your injuries. Uber accidents typically involve one of the three following scenarios:

• The Uber driver is logged out of the company’s app and is off-duty: When an Uber driver is off-duty and logged out of Uber’s driver app, neither the driver, passengers, occupants of other vehicles, or pedestrians are covered by Uber’s insurance.
• The Uber driver is logged into the company’s app, but he or she has not yet accepted a passenger: When an Uber driver isn’t carrying any passengers but has Uber’s driver app open, Uber’s insurance will cover the driver, pedestrians, and the occupants of other vehicles for injuries incurred in an accident. 
• The Uber driver has accepted a ride and is transporting a passenger or in route to pick up a passenger: Uber’s insurance provides the highest level of coverage during the time that a driver has accepted a ride and is transporting a passenger or in route to pick up a passenger. Uber’s coverage extends to underinsured and uninsured drivers and covers most injuries suffered in an Uber accident.

Steps to Take After an Uber Accident

If you routinely use a ridesharing service like Uber, you should be prepared for the possibility that you may be involved in an accident. And the best way to ensure that you’re prepared is to arm yourself with the knowledge of what to do following an Uber accident. If you are involved in an Uber accident in Los Angeles, you should take the following steps:

• Seek immediate medical attention: The first (and most important) thing you should do following an Uber accident is seek immediate medical attention. Your health is of the utmost importance following an auto accident, so it is imperative that you receive a medical assessment as soon as possible. In fact, you should see a medical professional following an accident even if you don’t believe you’re injured—injury symptoms can take days or even weeks to emerge following an accident. Therefore, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
• Take pictures: If you receive medical attention at the scene of the accident and you don’t require immediate hospitalization, you should take pictures of the accident scene and your injuries. These can serve as valuable pieces of evidence as you pursue compensation for your injuries.
• Contact an Uber accident lawyer in Los Angeles: Next to seeking medical attention, contacting a Los Angeles Uber accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident is the most important thing you can do to ensure that you are properly compensated for your injuries.
• Gather evidence: With the assistance of your Los Angeles rideshare accident lawyer, you should next gather relevant evidence in order to make your case as strong as possible. In addition to taking photos as discussed above, useful evidence to gather following an Uber accident includes:
  • The contact, insurance, and license information of all parties involved in the accident.
  • Statements from all parties involved in the accident.
  • The contact information of all witnesses to the accident.
• Report your accident to the ridesharing company: Finally, you should report your accident to Uber. Uber makes this easy to do through the “report accident” option in its app.

How to Prove an Uber Accident Claim

After you and your Los Angeles rideshare accident lawyer have gathered the necessary evidence, you can pursue your Uber accident claim. Once you’ve determined that Uber’s insurance will cover your accident, you’ll need to submit the following types of information to prove your claim: 

• Medical records
• Police report
• Eyewitness testimony
• Medical expert testimony
• Financial expert testimony
• Accident reconstruction expert testimony
• Pictures and footage of the accident
• Medical bills
• Evidence of lost income
• Picture of injuries

Contact an Uber Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles

If you’ve been injured in an Uber accident, you need a Los Angeles Uber accident lawyer on your side. At Glotzer & Leib, LLP, we have over 50 years of combined experience helping car accident, slip and fall, and truck accident victims in the Los Angeles area. Our experienced personal injury attorneys understand that following an accident or loss of a loved one, worrying about medical bills and insurance companies are the last thing you want to deal with. That’s why we’re here. Contact us today for a free consultation, and we’ll do everything we can to ensure that you receive the best possible outcome in your Los Angeles rideshare accident case.