Did you know that each year over two million people are injured in car accidents? Anyone who’s been in an accident knows that dealing with the insurance companies afterward can be a headache.
Sadly, the rising popularity of ridesharing apps like Uber makes resolving car accidents even more complicated. That’s why we made this guide.
In it, we’ll walk you through everything you should do immediately following an Uber accident. That way, you can get any compensation that you’re entitled to. Let’s get started!
Make Sure Everyone Is Safe
Immediately following the accident you want to make sure that everyone is all right. Start in your car. Check yourself for immediate injuries and move on to any passengers.
If everyone is okay in your vehicle, then get out and ask the other parties if they’re okay. If anyone needs medical attention call 911 immediately. In the meantime, you should make sure that your vehicles are in a safe location.
If there’s a lot of traffic and you can still drive, then consider pulling off the side of the road. Alternatively, you can turn your hazard lights on and set up any cones or traffic triangles.
Even if no one is injured you’re still going to want to call the police so they can fill out an accident report. If you skip this step, then there’s a good chance your claims process will be a lot more complicated.
Record Relevant Evidence If You Can
Uber will want a lot of relevant evidence of your car crash. Specifically, you must take pictures of all four sides of your vehicle.
You should also take pictures or record videos of the surrounding accident site, other cars involved, and their license plates. Besides pictures, the most important piece of evidence you can get is a police accident report.
This is important because the police represent an objective party to the accident. Ideally, there will also be some witnesses that saw the accident take place.
If any of these individuals are around, then consider asking for their contact information. This can come in handy later if you need to seek additional damages.
Go To the Hospital
Even if you feel fine after an accident, it’s still important to visit a hospital or urgent care facility. This is especially true of a serious car accident. Why?
Because certain injuries, like concussions, sprains, and fractures, can be difficult to diagnose without a CAT scan or an x-ray. Documenting any potential injuries is important if you decide to seek damages for them.
Make sure you keep copies of your bill and doctor’s notes on any injuries you may have sustained.
Notify Uber
Next, it’s time to notify Uber. It doesn’t matter if you’re an Uber driver, passenger, or person hit by an Uber driver, you should always report the accident to the app.
The good news is that Uber makes this pretty straightforward. They have a dedicated help section for individuals that were involved in an accident with one of their drivers.
Once you report the accident an Uber team member should reach out to you fairly quickly. You, and everyone involved, will need to fill out an incident report for Uber.
Then, Uber’s insurance providers will begin the process for liability claims. We’ll go more into how Uber claim coverage works for drivers, passengers, and any other parties involved in a different section.
Get In Touch With Your Insurance Company
In addition to Uber, you should also notify your own auto insurance company. This is true even if they don’t cover Uber accidents.
Provide any details to the insurance representative. They’ll then give you more information in terms of filing claims.
How Much Coverage Does Uber Provide For Accidents?
The amount of coverage that Uber provides for a ride share accident depends on what the driver is doing. If they were involved in an accident on the way to pick up, or during the drive, then they get significant commercial coverage.
Specifically, up to $1,000,000 in third-party liability coverage, uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage, and comprehensive collision coverage that will cover the cost of your vehicle.
However, if the driver was just waiting for requests, then their coverage goes down. In this scenario, you will get third-party liability coverage that includes $50,000 per person for bodily injuries (up to $100,000 per accident) and $25,000 for property damage.
If the driver was off duty during the accident, then Uber will not cover anything. In this scenario, the driver’s regular insurance takes over.
When Should You Contact a Lawyer?
Like any other insurance company, Uber’s providers are out to make money. That means there’s a good chance they’ll offer you a low settlement, or try no liability claim at all.
Whether you’ve been low-balled, or you want to seek additional damages for injuries, you must get in touch with a good auto lawyer. Ideally, you should look for an Uber accident lawyer that specializes in these types of rideshare accidents.
For example, the Law Offices of Ramtin Sadighim has extensive experience with both traditional auto accidents and as well as rideshare ones.
Once you find a good Uber accident attorney, then you can schedule a consultation. From there, they’ll advise you as to the best course of action.
Appreciate Learning About An Uber Accident? Keep Reading
We hope this article helped you learn what you should do immediately after an Uber accident. We know it can be hard to remember these things after being hit by an Uber driver.
But, that’s why it’s so important to memorize them beforehand. That way, you’re prepared in the event of an unexpected crash.
Did you learn something from this article? If you want hundreds more educational topics like it, then keep exploring our site.
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