What Happens After My Uber Is Involved in a Car Crash?
It is safe to say that ridesharing has transformed the transportation industry forever. Industry giants such as Uber and Lyft provide willing passengers with thousands of drivers that are available with the push of a button. However, not all these drivers receive proper training or are safe drivers. Many will make critical mistakes and errors in judgment that lead to severe car accidents. If your Uber or Lyft driver is involved in a crash while you are a passenger, you need to learn how to file a claim with the company’s insurance company. You should not have to cover your own medical expenses and other damages after being injured as a passenger in a rideshare accident. Contact a New Jersey car Uber accident attorney at Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC in order to get more information on your legal options after a rideshare accident.
What Does Uber Cover Following an Accident?
When you are riding as a passenger at the time of an Uber crash, the company’s $1 million insurance policy is in effect and should cover any resulting damages. The coverage limits of this policy can vary by state, but it should work to cover bodily injuries and damages suffered by passengers. Regardless of if the Uber driver was at fault for the accident, Uber will use its $1 million policy to compensate victims for damages if the driver was in the middle of your ride at the time of the collision. This insurance can cover many different kinds of damages:
- All accident-related medical costs.
- Any property damage or loss.
- Lost income if the accident made you miss work.
- Disability benefits, when applicable.
- Wrongful death damages in a deadly car crash.
Uber has property damage and bodily injury coverage for passengers who are in the middle of a ride. It also carries insurance coverage for Uber drivers that cover damages sustained by the driver if he or she was logged into the app at the time of the collision and is not at fault. If the rideshare driver was not using the app or was at fault for the accident, the driver’s personal insurance coverage will come into play, not the insurance policy of the company.
In order to receive coverage from Uber after a crash, you must report the collision to the company immediately. Uber has a customer service line as well as a place in the app for passengers to report collisions. Provide a description of your accident and wait for an Uber representative to contact you for further information. You need to answer all questions honestly, but never admit responsibility for the crash. You have to provide proof of your injuries and other damages and consult with a New Jersey Uber/Lyft crash attorney for help negotiating a fair insurance settlement from the rideshare company.
Can I File a Lawsuit Against Uber After a Crash?
In a typical car crash case in New Jersey, you have a right to bring a negligence claim against the driver responsible. A negligence case is a personal injury lawsuit, not an insurance claim. A personal injury lawsuit could result in increased compensation for damages, particularly if you have suffered a devastating or lifelong injury. If your Uber driver acted negligently or recklessly and caused the collision, you should consider filing a claim against him or her for your losses.
Although an employer will be somewhat responsible for the negligence of an employee, this does not necessarily apply to cases involving Uber crashes. Uber uses independent contractors — not employees — as drivers on their platform. Every ber driver is actually his or her own boss, shielding Uber from responsibility for driver-related auto accidents. In a typical Uber crash case, which means you could bring a lawsuit against the Uber driver, but not the company, you intend to recover compensation through the court system.
You may be able to pursue against Uber in some cases if the company itself is partly liable by contributing to the crash. For instance, if the company negligently hired a driver with a history of drunk driving, you may have a valid case against Uber following a DUI collision. It is not typical for an Uber passenger to have the basis for a case against the company, but you should consult with a New Jersey rideshare crash attorney before just assuming it is not possible. Your attorney can help you go up against a big corporation like Uber or Lyft in New Jersey.
Uber/Lyft Collisions in New Jersey
All drivers on the roads of New Jersey are at risk of causing catastrophic accidents, including those who are tasked with transporting passengers from place to place.
There have been recent studies establishing a link between the creation of Uber and an increase in roadway fatalities in the United States. Across the country, traffic fatalities have increased, with some sources claiming a 2 to 3% rise. This means an additional 1,100 people are dying annually. Why this is the case isn’t exactly clear at this time. However, more Uber drivers mean that there are more cars on the road and more miles being driven. Also, many drivers for Uber and Lyft aren’t provided the necessary training to make sure that they will not put their passengers in danger.
Those who are injured in a crash involving a rideshare vehicle should consult with an Uber/Lyft crash lawyer in New Jersey immediately in order to better understand their legal options. The legal team at Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC is here to help you make sure that your case is treated fairly and that the liable driver is held accountable for his or her actions. We will fight to make sure that you recover the compensation you deserve so that your life can get back on track. Contact our personal injury law offices today at (201) 997- 0030 if you or a loved one has been unfairly injured in a crash involving a rideshare driver.