I was injured during an Uber ride, what are my options? Do I need Uber Accident Attorneys

Uber’s Insurance Policy

Uber has made use of a three-part insurance system that works to cover their passengers and drivers. When drivers are not picking up passengers – when they are not even available to take passengers, in other words – they are driving on their own personal time and are not covered by Uber’s insurance. They are, instead, covered by their own auto insurance. When drivers are available for work but have not yet picked up their passengers, they are covered both by their own insurance as well as contingent liability coverage through Uber. Finally, drivers with passengers are covered via Uber’s insurance policy. This policy offers $1 million in liability coverage and the same amount in underinsured and uninsured driver coverage.

Does this mean that your injuries are definitely covered? Well, maybe. The water here is a bit murkier than it seems.

Uber Driver Status

Uber drivers are not technically classified as “employees” but rather as independent contractors. This essentially limits their liability for the actions of their drivers by quite a bit. Whereas employees can sometimes be held responsible for car accidents even if they are not technically working at the time they occur, Uber’s drivers are not liable unless they are on a fare or are on the way to pick up a fare.

Uber and Car Accidents

With the above in mind, what really happens if you are injured by an Uber driver? Are you covered? The answer to this really depends upon the specifics of your case. Theoretically, if you are a passenger with an Uber driver who is on duty when the car accident happens, your injuries and damages should be covered up to $1 million. Note that this means, according to Uber, that you can’t sue them for more than that, even if the driver that shows up is intoxicated and crashes the vehicle on the way to your destination. In reality, the outcome would depend upon how the courts classify Uber’s drivers. If they are deemed to be employees rather than independent contractors, for example, then you could possibly sue Uber for your full damages.

If you have been injured by an Uber driver, you need to speak with uber accident attorneys experienced with these kinds of cases. The lines are not always clear, and it will take someone knowledgeable about the ins and outs of these cases to help maximize your potential compensation.