Who Is Responsible for an Uber Accident?

Ridesharing has become extremely popular, but it raises some questions. It is unfortunate, but there are hundreds of car accidents in the state every day. What happens if you are in an accident as a rideshare passenger? Who is financially responsible? The answer may not be as cut and dry as you think. Here are three possibilities.

The Rideshare Driver

If the Uber driver was responsible for the accident, their car insurance should be the first to cover your injuries. However, there may be some instances in which the driver may not have the appropriate policy to cover your injuries. In order to be covered, the driver must have a commercial-use policy or a personal policy that has provisions for ridesharing. Unfortunately, many rideshare drivers only carry the car insurance typically required of drivers in the state. When the driver is at fault and does not have the appropriate insurance, you may still be able to easily get compensation from Uber.

Uber Itself

Uber has its own liability insurance that covers injuries for accidents up to one million dollars. These policies that Uber has do not take effect until the driver’s insurance has been exhausted or if they do not have the appropriate insurance coverage. In these cases, Uber will cover your injuries if the driver was at fault.

A Third Party

If the accident you were in was caused by another driver’s negligence and not by the Uber driver, the other driver’s car insurance must pay for your injuries. If the third party driver does not have appropriate car insurance, they will have to pay for your injuries out of their own pocket. In any case, the person responsible for an accident also must be financially responsible or face severe legal consequences.

If you have been injured in a car accident while ridesharing in an Uber, we can help you navigate the muddy waters to get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment.