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What If I Am Involved in a Car Accident With an Uber Driver?

Published: May 8, 2019 in Auto Accident, Personal Injury

Edwardsville car crash lawyers represent victims injured in Uber car accidents.In a typical car accident case, the injured party sues the at-fault driver for damages in a personal injury claim. However, when an Uber driver is involved in a car accident, liability is unclear. Who is responsible for your damages? How will you obtain compensation? The answers to these questions largely depend on the circumstances of each case, as rideshare company liability is a new and developing area of law.

Protect Yourself After an Uber Car Accident

If you are injured in a car accident caused by an Uber driver, it is important to protect your legal interests. Those involved in Uber car accidents should take the same steps as those involved in non-Uber accidents, which includes:

  • Seeking immediate medical attention for any injuries
  • Calling the police/paramedics and documenting the accident with an official report
  • Taking photos of the crash scene, any damage to vehicles, the location and surroundings of the accident, and any physical injuries
  • Obtaining the other driver’s contact and insurance information, as well as the make and model of their car
  • Reporting the accident to your insurance company
  • Seeking the counsel of an experienced car crash attorney in your local area

Uber Car Accident Liability

Ridesharing companies are relatively new. Therefore, the law regarding liability in Uber car crash cases vary by state and are still developing. Illinois recently passed a bill requiring ridesharing drivers to carry commercial insurance, which becomes active when the driver is on the Uber application and either receives a passenger request, is driving to pick up a passenger, or is transporting a passenger to their destination.

Uber drivers are considered independent contractors, not employees. However, Uber does provide liability coverage for its drivers, unless they were not logged into the Uber application at the time of the accident. The amount of coverage available depends on when the accident occurred. Drivers who were logged into the application may receive up to:

  • $50,000 per person injured in an accident
  • $100,000 total injury liability per accident
  • $25,000 property damage liability

When an Uber driver has accepted a ride, Uber will also provide liability coverage of up to $1 million. However, this maximum coverage may only be available if the at-fault driver has insufficient bodily injury coverage, or if an Uber driver is involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver.

Edwardsville Car Crash Lawyers at The Cates Law Firm, LLC Represent Victims Injured in Uber Car Accidents

If you were injured in an Uber car accident, contact an Edwardsville car crash lawyer at The Cates Law Firm, LLC. We will fight to hold the negligent party responsible for your injuries and obtain the compensation you deserve. For a free consultation, please complete our online contact form or call us at 618-277-3644. From our office in Swansea, Illinois, our experienced attorneys fight for car accident victims in Belleville, Carbondale, East St. Louis, Granite City, Edwardsville, Chester, Waterloo, St. Louis, Madison County, St. Clair County, Monroe County, and Randolph County.