What Happens If Your Uber Gets in an Accident?

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Last modified on June 3, 2024

What Happens If Your Uber Gets in an Accident

In a recent year, 101 people lost their lives in Uber-related crashes, and many more suffered injuries. If you’ve been injured in an Uber crash, having an experienced South Carolina Uber accident attorney work on your case can maximize your chances of recovering the compensation you deserve.

Seeking Medical Care

Whether you are an Uber driver, a passenger, or an occupant of another vehicle, seeking prompt medical treatment is one of the most critical steps you can take after suffering injuries in an Uber accident. Receiving an early assessment from a doctor can optimize your chances of recovery. Furthermore, it can create a solid link between the accident and your injuries, which you will need as evidence whether you file a claim to recover compensation through auto insurance, workers’ compensation, or a lawsuit against the at-fault party itself.

Reporting the Uber Accident

Reporting the crash swiftly can establish a solid foundation for your claim. Be sure to:

  • Contact the police to file a report – South Carolina law requires anyone involved in a traffic accident to report it to the police if the crash resulted in injuries or death. The responding officer will file a crash report noting the key details of the collision and an initial assessment of who was at fault.
  • Report the incident to Uber – Passengers and Uber drivers should file a report of the collision with Uber. By reporting the accident immediately to the rideshare company, you increase your chances of receiving compensation from Uber’s insurance company. You can report the accident via the app’s “Help” section or by contacting Customer Support.
  • Provide details – Include all parties’ names, contact information, and insurance details. You will also need to note whether the collision occurred when the Uber driver was logged into the app and whether the driver was carrying a passenger during the crash.
  • Take photos of injuries and vehicle damage – Visual evidence of the crash site and your injuries can strengthen your claim. 

Insurance Claims

The insurance claims process after an Uber accident differs depending on whether you were a passenger, another driver, or the Uber driver.

Passengers

If you were a passenger, you would file a claim with Uber’s contingent rideshare insurance. It provides up to $1 million in coverage for injuries to passengers.

Drivers

If you were the Uber driver and caused the crash, you would file a claim with your auto insurer. You would file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company if someone else caused the crash and injured you. You could file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver if no settlement can be reached. Murphy Crantford Meehan has experience working for injured Uber drivers in this scenario.

Other Vehicle Occupants 

Your insurance claim will depend on the status of the driver. If you were a driver or passenger in another vehicle and the Uber driver was not logged into the app at the time of the accident, you would file a claim against the driver’s insurance. If they were logged in, you would file a claim with Uber.

Determining Fault and Liability in an Uber Accident

The police report will state who the officer believes was at fault for causing the collision. But blame, and liability questions can quickly become complex when a rideshare corporation like Uber is involved.

Uber drivers are considered independent contractors rather than employees. However, plaintiffs may still argue that Uber is liable by claiming negligent hiring, retention, training policies, or failure to maintain vehicles. An attorney can help build the strongest case possible against whichever liable parties have the greatest capacity to pay damages.

Factors in Settlement Amounts

What Happens If Your Uber Gets in an AccidentPotential settlement or court award amounts depend chiefly on the severity of injuries/losses, available insurance coverage, and specific state laws. Key factors include:

  • Ongoing and future medical costs
  • Income lost due to inability to work
  • Pain, suffering, and disability
  • Property damage
  • Findings of negligence and liability

South Carolina follows “comparative negligence” rules, meaning a plaintiff’s compensation may be reduced if they are partially blamed for the collision.

Contact Murphy Crantford Meehan Today

Suffering injuries in an Uber accident can turn your life upside-down in an instant. Although filing a compensation claim may feel overwhelming, working with an experienced South Carolina Uber accident lawyer can increase your chances of a favorable result.

The seasoned Uber accident attorneys at Murphy Crantford Meehan have the skills, resources, and knowledge to secure the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at (843) 396-3840 for a free case evaluation to learn more about how we can help you.

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