Crashes took 35,092 lives in the U.S. in 2015 according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Transporting yourself in a car always carries the risk of an accident.
Private transport vehicles like Uber are not exempt from this risk and if you travel frequently in them it is best that you know the legal landscape of this type of transport.
What are Uber’s responsibilities?
Uber’s popularity has grown significantly in recent years as an additional transportation option. However, with this growth several questions have arisen regarding Uber’s regulation and the coverage offered by this means of transport. For example, what happens if the Uber vehicle you are traveling in is involved in an automobile accident or if an Uber hits your vehicle? Does Uber offer coverage in case of a car accident? Should you count on the Uber vehicle having sufficient insurance coverage to pay for the injuries and damages you suffered? The answer to these questions is yes, however, the coverage limit depends on whether at the time of the accident the Uber ride was rendering services and had a customer inside the vehicle.
Although Uber can be seen as a taxi-like service, Uber has different options that allow passengers to select the vehicle in which they want to travel, according to the size and level of luxury. Before a driver obtains authorization to operate an Uber vehicle, he must provide documentation and information on his particular insurance, coverage, and meet a number of requirements. As soon as a particular person is authorized to operate an Uber vehicle, the company provides them with different insurance ranges depending on whether the driver is working and whether they are rendering services to a customer.
Uber allows drivers to choose their own schedules. Whenever a driver is not working or is “off-line,” he or she will only be covered by your individual or commercial insurance policy. Uber insurance applies only when the driver is providing transportation services. Each time a person requests the services of an Uber, the vehicle that is closer will receive and accept the request to take the customer to the desired destination. Each time a driver is in “active” mode, most individual policies will protect you. In case the policy specifically excludes it, Uber insurance covers the driver up to an amount of $ 50,000 for each person and event up to a total amount of $ 100,000, and up to an amount of $ 25,000 to cover material damages.
From the moment an Uber driver accepts to provide the service and picks up a customer, until the driver arrives at his destination, Uber provides a higher coverage. Both the driver and the customer are covered by a commercial policy with coverage of up to one million dollars per event.
Uber provides additional coverage of up to one million dollars in case the other vehicle does not have insurance or insufficient insurance coverage. If a driver outside the Uber company causes an accident involving an Uber driver while the latter is performing, and the other driver does not have sufficient coverage, the Uber insurance policy will cover all those who are inside the Uber vehicle.
An accident in an Uber vehicle can be a complex experience. Although Uber provides coverage to its drivers and customers, a personal injury lawyer can help you resolve your situation more efficiently. The legal team of P&M Law has vast experience in the field of insurance and has the necessary knowledge to help victims of car accidents receive the compensation they deserve. In the event that you or a loved one has been in an automobile accident involving an Uber vehicle, we can assist you. Get in touch with us so we can evaluate your case for free.