December 24, 2021
It’s never good to have a car accident, in Indiana or anywhere else. Uber and Lyft accidents offer one important mitigation, however. Accidents while in Uber or Lyft vehicles, or accidents involving Uber or Lyft vehicles, often yield superior injury compensation. A Lyft or Uber accident settlement is likely to be higher than a settlement with a random motorist if the company insurance policy covers your claim.
What Happens If You Get in an Accident with Uber?
What happens if your Uber gets in an accident? The liability status of Uber accident claims depends on several factors. If you were involved in an accident in an Uber vehicle, compensation also depends on insurance coverage. The following rules apply:
- If the at-fault driver was an Uber driver waiting for a ride request, Uber offers liability coverage of up to $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident plus $25,000 in property damage.
- If the at-fault driver was an Uber driver on their way to pick up a passenger, or if they already had a passenger in their car (including you), liability insurance coverage increases to $1,000,000 plus certain other benefits.
- If the $1,000,000 limit applies and a driver of another vehicle causes an accident, you can file a claim against the at-fault driver. The at-fault driver may only carry minimum insurance, however, which in Indiana can amount to as little as $25,000 per person for bodily injury.
What Should You Do If You Get into an Uber Accident?
“My Uber was in an accident.” If you were injured in an Uber accident, or even if you think you were not injured, take the following steps:
Report The Accident
You should report an Uber accident to Uber immediately, so that Uber’s generous insurance policy benefits will apply. You should also contact the police. A police report will not be admissible in court, but you can use a favorable police report to bargain with the insurance company.
Document The Accident
Take photographs of the accident, and write down your side of the story as if you are making your own police report. Keep any medical treatment records. In an accident claim, the evidence dictates who is liable in an Uber accident.
Gather Information
Take down the names of the other people involved in the accident: drivers, injured parties, and witnesses, at the very least. You will also need contact details for these people. Make sure to get the other driver’s insurance details.
Seek Medical Assistance
Get a medical exam immediately after the accident, and again, if any late-breaking symptoms develop. If you don’t, then the insurance company is likely to claim that your injuries didn’t occur until after the accident.
Refuse Any Premature Settlement Offers
After a serious accident, you are likely to be emotionally distraught and mentally foggy. The opposing party will take advantage of these infirmities if they can. Once you accept a settlement, it will be almost impossible to back out later.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
A lawyer for an Uber accident will likely be able to negotiate a generous settlement for you. If necessary, they can file an Uber car accident lawsuit. More than anyone else, your lawyer should know what to do in an Uber accident.
Tips for Handling an Uber or Lyft Accident
If you suffer a car accident in an Uber vehicle (as a passenger), observe the below tips:
- Schedule a consultation with a car accident attorney, even if you don’t plan on retaining a lawyer. A consultation can provide you with a lot of valuable information.
- If you suffer a car accident while in an Uber vehicle, make sure to get a copy of the police report.
- File a claim with the appropriate insurance company, and push for the resolution of your claim.
- Don’t settle for less than what your claim is worth. Retain a lawyer if you are not sure how much your claim is worth.
Always remember, claims do not enforce themselves. You must fight for your rights.
What Should You Know as a Passenger in an Uber Car Accident?
If you are an Uber passenger who got hurt in a car accident, you will need to know certain things. You should know, for example, that:
- As a passenger injured in an accident while riding Uber, you are not liable yourself except under the most extreme and unusual circumstances.
- You may suffer a soft-tissue injury such as whiplash, especially in a rear-end accident. Always seek medical attention immediately, even if you don’t think you were injured.
- You should file a third-party personal injury and property damage claim with the insurance company held by the at-fault driver. Uber accident compensation should be generous because Uber insurance can certainly afford to pay.
What You Should Know as a Driver for an Uber Involved in a Car Accident
Does Uber cover car accidents for drivers? Yes. If you suffer an accident while driving Uber, you won’t be eligible for workers’ compensation in Indiana, but you can claim for your own injuries as well as your third-party liability using your own insurance policy and your Uber insurance policy.
Benefits vary according to whether you were carrying an Uber passenger or on your way to pick one up, or your Uber app was on, and you were awaiting an assignment.
Are Uber Drivers Required to Have Insurance?
Yes. You must maintain ordinary auto insurance coverage as required by Indiana law, and you must carry Uber supplemental coverage. Uber accident insurance is quite generous, but it does not apply when you are not on duty. Uber also covers your car in an accident, in some cases up to the full value of the car (a $1,000 deductible sometimes applies).
Take Immediate Action to Secure Legal Assistance
If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident that was someone else’s fault, you can secure generous compensation. Call Stracci Law Group at 219-525-1000, or simply contact us online. We serve clients in Crown Point [46307, 46308], Hammond [46320, 46323], Merrillville [46410, 46411], and everywhere else in Northwest Indiana.
