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Uber Accidents: What do I do?

Posted by Josh Valentine | Jan 17, 2017

What to Do Immediately after an Uber Accident

An Uber vehicle becomes involved in a car crash while transporting a passenger. What should the passenger do if:

(A) The car is damaged but there is no serious personal injury, or
(B) The crash causes personal injury?

In both scenarios, the passenger should:

(1) Stay on the scene.
(2) Present identifying data to the police.
(3) Describe any injuries suffered.
(4) Obtain medical attention treatment right away if necessary.
(5) The passenger should call Uber customer service, tell them what happened, and ask for insurance contact information.

In scenario A, the Uber vehicle collides with another vehicle, causing only property damage. The drivers trade insurance information, and their insurers attempt to resolve the property damage claim.

In scenario B, the Uber crash causes personal injury, the injured passenger sues Uber, and its liability insurer settles the claim. However, insurance carriers tend to minimize settlement offers to unrepresented claimants acting on their own. This is why it's better to consult with a personal injury lawyer Washington DC trusts and best to have the attorney's assistance. Having their legal representation throughout the legal settlement negotiation process is important. Very often it can break down. In legal matters, there is no substitute for the advice and advocacy of a skilled, experienced attorney. 

Uber Liability Insurance

Uber drivers who are not available to pick up passengers must have their own auto insurance coverage. However, when they are working as an Uber driver the insurance coverage automatically changes:

  • When they available but do not have a passenger, they have personal insurance coverage plus additional Uber contingent liability coverage of up to $50,000 per injury for a total of $100,000 and up to $25,000 in property damage for what the driver's personal insurance doesn't cover.
  • Drivers with passengers are covered by a $1 million liability policy and a $1 million uninsured/underinsured motorist policy.

Passenger Injuries

Uber's insurance covers up to $1 million for passenger injuries if caused by another driver who is uninsured or underinsured. Uber insurance won't cover passenger injuries, however, if caused by the Uber driver's negligence. In that scenario, the driver would be held liable for the passenger's injuries.

Third-Party Injuries

If a pedestrian or an occupant of another car suffers an injury in a crash with an Uber driver working as an independent contractor, Uber insurance covers the personal injury claim for as much as $1 million. If the driver is an Uber employee, Uber is responsible for damages they occur on the job while the driver is acting on their behalf.

If you have been in an accident involving an Uber driver, because every situation is unique, it's wise to consult a car accident attorney to protect your rights.

Thanks to our friends and contributors from Cohen & Cohen, P.C. for their insight into what to do if your uber has been in an accident.

About the Author

Josh Valentine

You could say Josh has a God-given ability for sustaining long-term relationships. He and his wife first met in elementary school and went to Gardner Webb University (GWU) together, where they tied for number 1 in their class. Then, they both started law school on the same day of their graduation and got married during their first semester. He has also known his law partner Blake Caulder since Kindergarten. Theirs is the perfect partnership. “He’s the brake; I am the accelerator,” Josh says. Both Josh and his wife attended an innovative program at Charlotte Law School that allowed them to complete law school in two years instead of the typical three. His wife graduated and passed the North Carolina bar at age 20, becoming one of the youngest attorneys in the state. He readily admits she’s smarter than him. Of course, Josh went on to pass the North Carolina State Bar himself and later the South Carolina State Bar. While in school, he was Associate Editor of the Law Review and received accolades like Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society membership, Order of the Crown, Pro Bono Honors, CALI Awards (highest grade). In his career as a lawyer, he has been admitted to the United States Federal Court for the Western District of North Carolina, is a member of the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys, and completed training for DWI Detection & Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. Josh has also been named to the Top 40 Under 40 for Criminal Defense by The National Trial Lawyers, the Business North Carolina 2019 Legal Elite for Criminal Defense, and the 10 Best Attorneys for Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys three years in a row (2016, 2017, and 2018). Community involvement has been important to Josh all his life. In high school, he participated in building a Holocaust museum that has become internationally regarded. He and his wife are actively engaged in animal rescue, which currently means seven cats and two kittens. He served in prison ministry and assisted with fundraiser banquets there, and he provides pro bono and reduced fee legal services to those in need. As if all of that weren’t enough, Josh also mentors high risk youth and helps with his church’s youth group. He participates in other community volunteer projects involving construction, remodeling, drywall, painting, and landscaping. He’s an active student of the Bible and has traveled to Israel, Brazil, and Europe for mission work. No one can say Josh isn’t a well-rounded individual. In his spare time, he likes to play softball, basketball, and tennis, and he can play the piano and trombone. Sometimes on weekends, believe it or not, he enjoys pouring and finishing concrete with friends who own a concrete and grading business. In his law practice, Josh has made it a point to develop positive relationships with officers, clerks, and district attorneys, which has proven invaluable in delivering positive results for his clients. It’s important to him to both listen to his clients and fight for them. Law enforcement officers have important responsibilities to keep our communities safe and uphold the law, but one of the responsibilities of attorneys is to make sure officers do their job correctly. Josh considers it his job to hold them accountable for their actions. Josh is a person of deep faith. He knows that the established order of our universe and strength of America’s Judeo-Christian influenced court system is built on God’s word. His passion to serve each client with innovation, excellence and integrity is a byproduct of his faith. When asked why he became a lawyer, Josh says, “All through my life, I have personally witnessed family members and very close friends endure divorce, child custody battles, bankruptcy, civil lawsuits, and even fraudulent criminal accusations. I both saw and experienced the stress such events can place on an individual, and I realized that everyone, at some point in their life, needs hope, comfort, and encouragement. In each one of those situations, the person who was best situated to provide that vital support was their lawyer. So that’s why I became an attorney. I understand what you are going through, and I’m here to help you. Our office is focused on meeting your needs and guiding you through what may be the most difficult time of your life.” Education: Charlotte School of Law J.D., Magna Cum Laude Class Rank – 21 of 328 Associate Editor of Charlotte School of Law Law Review Certification and Concentration in Employment Law Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society Order of the Crown Pro Bono Honors CALI Awards (Highest Grade)—Lawyering Process I and Contracts I Full Scholarship Gardner-Webb University B.S. in Accounting, Summa Cum Laude Distinguished Senior Student Award – Highest GPA Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honorary Society Bar Admissions: North Carolina State Bar

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