Posted in California,Personal Injury on September 18, 2019
Ten years ago, you may have thought Uber was just a funny word, but now nearly everyone has taken at least one Uber ride. Many people use Uber as their regular mode of transportation while others use it for things like designated drivers after a night out. Whatever way you use Uber, there are things you need to know about what happens in the aftermath of an Uber accident.
Determining the amount of an Uber accident settlement is complicated and depends on a variety of factors. The goal in any settlement is to ensure all of your economic and non-economic losses are covered. An Uber car accident can be worth as much as $500,000 to $1 million, depending on the circumstances of the crash.
Are Ubers covered with insurance?
Yes, but the insurance coverage is complicated and varies depending on the status of the Uber driver at the time of the crash.
- If an Uber driver does not have a passenger and is not logged into the system to work, then they will be covered by their personal insurance carrier in the event an accident occurs.
- If an Uber driver is logged in but does not have a passenger but is waiting for a fare when an accident occurs, the driver’s personal insurance is the primary provider. If the driver’s personal insurance does not cover the costs of denies the claim, Uber will cover costs up to $50,000 per injury ($100,000 max).
- If an Uber driver is logged into the system and has a passenger or is on the way to pick one up, Uber’s full $1 million coverage extends to the Uber driver, the Uber passengers, and other parties affected by the crash. It will cover both injuries and property damage.
Uber passengers and drivers have different rights
Looking at the insurance coverage, you can see that Uber passengers and third-parties affected by a crash have more options when a crash occurs. They will almost always be covered by Uber’s insurance policies. Uber drivers, however, will face scrutiny in any crash, whether they are at-fault or not. To make things worse for Uber drivers, they are not covered by workers’ compensation insurance. Drivers have to rely solely on their personal auto insurance policy or Uber’s if it applies.
Does speed limit affect an Uber accident settlement amount?
Sure. If the Uber driver was speeding or driving too fast for conditions at the time an accident occurs, this could place the fault on them. When an Uber driver is clearly the one at fault for a crash, it will make it harder for Uber to deny a settlement amount. However, that does not mean they will simply hand over the money. As we said above, the goal of Uber and their insurance carrier will be to reduce the settlement amount.
How long will Uber take to settle your case?
There is no hard and fast rule to how long an Uber car accident settlement will take. As with any car accident, there are many variables that come into play. The negotiations between you (or your personal injury attorney) and the other side may take some time. You want to be sure you receive a fair amount. If a fair settlement cannot be reached and a lawsuit is necessary, the case could take much longer. You may need to secure a qualified Long Beach car accident attorney to help guide you through this process.