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Getting Help in an Uber Accident: What to Do, Insurance Claims, and Coverage

Knowing the steps to take immediately after an Uber accident and how the insurance coverage works is essential. Learn what to do if this happens to you.

Key Takeaways

  • Uber Accident Steps: After an Uber accident, check for injuries, take photos, report the crash to local authorities, notify Uber, gather evidence, and file a claim.
  • Insurance Coverage: Uber provides insurance when online on the app, covering bodily injury, property damage, and vehicle repairs, with coverage varying by state and trip status.
  • Offline Accidents: Accidents while offline from the Uber app must be handled through personal auto insurance.
  • Optional Injury Protection: Available in select locations, it offers financial support for injuries, including disability payments, medical treatment coverage, and accidental death benefits.

What Should I Do After an Uber Car Accident?

Immediately after being involved in an Uber accident, you should:

1. Check for Injuries

If you’re in a car accident while traveling, the first step is to check yourself and your passengers for injuries. When you’re sure exiting the vehicle is safe, do so and seek immediate medical assistance by calling 911.

2. Take Photos

You should take photos of any damage to the vehicles, including yours, as well as the accident scene if it’s safe to do so.

You should also get the contact details of everyone involved, such as the drivers, passengers, and other car owners.

Uber recommends that you report the crash to them using the claims form in the app or by calling or emailing them. More on it next.

3. Report the Uber Crash

Whether you’re using Uber or not, reporting an accident to the local authorities is a must.

It’s crucial to file an accident claim with Uber’s assurance, so cooperate with the police and provide them with accurate information about the incident, no matter how minor it is.

4. Reach Out to Uber

Once you’ve checked that you’re not injured and filed a police report, your next step is to notify Uber of the accident using the app, phone, or email.

Their job is to assist you with the insurance and investigation processes; all Uber rides are insured, and there’s a support team to guide you through the crash reporting and claims process with the insurance coverage provider in your state.

You’ll need to provide details and proof of the incident, such as photos, names, and contact information of the parties involved. You don’t have to talk to your personal insurance company.

You can get help through the Uber app by:

  • Navigating to the “Help” section
  • Selecting “Trip Issues and Adjustments”
  • Tapping “I was in a crash”

The Uber accident support team is also accessible via call on the Safety Incident Reporting Line at 1-800-354-8237 or via email at support@uber.com. You can submit a crash report form via the Uber website when you log in with your driver details.

If you opt to submit a crash report form, ensure that you include the relevant details and select the correct trip you were on when the vehicle accident happened.

A member of Uber’s trained support team will reach out to ensure everyone’s safety and gather any needed information.

5. Gather Evidence

To get the benefits you deserve from Uber’s insurance, you need to seek medical attention as soon as possible after the accident.

You also need to collect and keep any documents and records that support your injury claims: video footage of the crash, medical bills, and a copy of your police report.

Medical reports, specifically, can help strengthen your claim by proving your liability and ensuring you receive the compensation you need.

6. File a Claim

Uber’s insurance policy covers you for vehicle accidents while you’re using the app.

The coverage may vary depending on the type and severity of the accident, as well as your state’s laws. It may include liability, personal injury, property damage, and car repair costs.

Before filing an insurance claim with Uber’s insurance, it’s crucial to understand how it works and what it covers in your state.

Brett’s Take: Thoughts From an Expert

Just remember, if you’ve gotten into an accident while driving a passenger, it is okay.

While there might be a fair amount of procedures to jump through, you’re not the first Uber driver to get into an accident. There are procedures in place for this very reason.

It can be easy to get overwhelmed and start thinking with a fatalist mentality. Instead, reframe your perspective into a positive one and just let the Uber team do their thing.

Get the Uber team, as well as your insurance company, what they need in order to quickly work through the issue.

Understanding Uber Insurance Coverage

Uber provides insurance coverage for you when you drive with the app.

You can check the insurance limits and rules for your state in your driver app by accessing the “Certificates of Insurance.”

What Happens If You’re Offline?

You’re only covered by Uber’s insurance when you’re online on the app. If you have an accident while you’re offline, you must resort to your personal auto insurance.

In this case, it’s best that you follow the legal procedures and requirements of your state to resolve any issues with the other party.

What Happens If You’re Online and Available for a Trip?

When you’re online and have an accident with another party, Uber’s insurance covers you for bodily injury and property damage. The coverage limits are:

  • $50,000 per individual and $100,000 per accident for injuries
  • $25,000 in property damage per accident

Depending on local laws, Uber may maintain additional coverage for you and your riders, including:

  • Car accidents caused by an underinsured or uninsured hit-and-run driver
  • Personal injury protection, including lost wages and medical expenses, regardless of who’s to blame
  • Medical payments coverage

What Happens If You’re Online on a Trip?

If you suffer a car crash while you’re online and en route, Uber provides additional insurance on top of your own car insurance.

  • Property damage and injuries to passengers are covered up to $1,000,000 if you’re at fault in the accident. It doesn’t cover injuries to yourself as the driver.
  • Car repair costs are covered up to the actual cash value of your vehicle with a $2,500 deductible, but only if your personal insurance also includes comprehensive and collision coverage.

Remember, Uber’s insurance is secondary to your own. It varies depending on your location, so check whether your personal policy can extend to rideshare-specific coverage for extra peace of mind.

What Is Optional Injury Protection?

Optional Injury Protection (OIP) is an optional insurance program for Uber drivers.

It’s available in select locations, and it provides financial support in case of car accidents involving medium to severe injuries. Benefits include:

  • Up to $500 per week in disability payments to replace lost earnings while recovering.
  • Coverage up to $1,000,000 with no deductible or copay for medical treatment related to covered accidents.
  • Up to $150,000 for your family in case of accidental death.

Additional benefits may include payouts for accidental death (up to $50,000) and dismemberment (up to $200,000).

Wrapping Up

Driving for Uber can be risky, no matter what type of vehicle you have. Accidents can happen anytime, and they can be stressful and confusing for you and your passengers. That’s why you need to know what to do if you’re in a car crash while using the app.

Following the right steps will help you secure the most benefits from Uber’s liability insurance coverage and ensure the safety of everyone involved.

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