
If you have suffered an injury in an accident while riding as a passenger in an Uber, you may be wondering - who is responsible for paying for my injuries and damages? The answer depends on the specific circumstances of the accident. In many cases, you will need to contact an experienced Uber accident attorney to help determine liability and fight for the compensation you deserve.
The growth of ridesharing services like Uber has been a convenience for many people. But what happens if something goes wrong and you suffer an injury in an Uber accident? Figuring out who is liable can be tricky.
If you find yourself in this difficult situation, one of the most important things you can do is contact a skilled Uber accident lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can launch an investigation, gather evidence, deal with the insurance companies on your behalf, and work tirelessly to get you the financial recovery you are owed. Let's take a closer look at how liability works in Uber accident cases.
Uber's Insurance Coverage

The good news is that Uber does provide substantial insurance coverage in case of accidents. Here are the key details of their policy:
- $1 million in third-party liability coverage per incident. This covers the Uber driver's liability to passengers, pedestrians, and occupants of other vehicles.
- Underinsured/uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of $1 million per incident. This covers you if you are in an accident caused by another driver who doesn't have insurance or doesn't have enough insurance.
- Contingent comprehensive & collision coverage up to the actual cash value (ACV) of the car ($1,000 deductible).
This coverage applies as long as the Uber driver is logged into the app and on their way to pick up a passenger or has a passenger in their vehicle. If the accident occurred when the driver did not have the app turned on, Uber's insurance likely will not apply. Instead, the driver's personal auto insurance policy will provide coverage (which may be more limited).
While Uber provides this insurance, actually recovering money from them is not always easy. Insurance companies, even Uber's, may still try to limit payouts and avoid liability whenever possible. They may dispute the severity of your injuries or argue that their driver wasn't really at fault. One key reason why having an experienced Uber accident attorney on your side is so important - to firmly advocate for your rights and fight for full compensation.
Proving the Uber Driver Was At Fault
One of the main issues in any Uber accident case is proving that the Uber driver was at fault for causing the crash. Some of the most common ways Uber drivers cause accidents include:
- Distracted driving, such as using their phone or GPS
- Fatigued driving from working long hours
- Speeding, tailgating, or driving recklessly to get to their next fare
- Unsafe lane changes or turns
- Stopping suddenly or in unsafe locations to pick up or drop off passengers
- Unfamiliarity with the area leading to last-minute maneuvers
If the Uber driver's negligence led to the accident, you will likely seek compensation through Uber's $1 million liability policy. You will need to present strong evidence of the driver's fault, such as:
- Police accident reports
- Photos and video of the accident scene and vehicle damage
- Eyewitness statements
- Testimony from accident reconstruction experts
- The Uber driver's history of accidents or traffic violations
An Uber accident lawyer can help gather all of this necessary proof to build a strong case on your behalf. An attorney can also help calculate the full extent of your damages, including medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, long-term impairment, and more. Without a lawyer fighting for you, you risk the insurance company minimizing or denying your claim.
When Another Driver is At Fault

In some cases, your Uber accident may have been caused by another driver on the road, not the Uber driver. For example, your Uber may have been rear-ended by a speeding or drunk driver. Or another car may have run a red light and t-boned your Uber.
In these situations where a third party is at fault, you will likely file a claim against that driver's auto insurance policy first. However, many drivers carry only minimal liability insurance or may be uninsured altogether. If the at-fault driver has insufficient insurance to cover all of your damages, then Uber's $1 million uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) policy should kick in to make up the difference.
However, don't expect Uber's insurer to simply hand over a check right away in a UM/UIM situation. They will still likely fight to minimize your payout. An Uber accident attorney can apply legal pressure and use proven negotiation tactics to get the maximum possible recovery. If needed, they can even file a lawsuit and take Uber and the other driver to court to demand proper compensation.
The Importance of Hiring an Uber Accident Lawyer
Uber accidents can be extremely difficult cases to resolve, with multiple insurance policies in play and potentially shared liability among parties. Trying to take on a large corporation like Uber and its insurers by yourself can be incredibly daunting and stressful, especially when you are also trying to recover from painful accident injuries.
That's why hiring a seasoned Uber accident lawyer is one of the smartest decisions you can make in this situation. An attorney who has specific experience with the unique issues involved in Uber accident claims will give you the best chance of recovering maximum compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Thorough, Independent Investigation of the Crash
One of the most important things an Uber accident lawyer can do is conduct a thorough, independent investigation of the crash to uncover critical evidence of fault. While police will conduct an initial investigation, they are not working for you and may miss key details.
An attorney can dig deeper, often with the help of professional investigators and accident reconstruction experts. They can interview eyewitnesses, subpoena surveillance footage from nearby businesses, analyze vehicle damage, obtain the Uber driver's personnel file and driving history, review the Uber driver's app data to determine if they were distracted, and much more.
Building this body of evidence is essential for proving the full extent of the Uber driver's or third party's fault for the crash. The more evidence your attorney can gather, the stronger your case for maximum compensation will be. Without an aggressive investigation, you may lack the proof needed to hold Uber fully accountable.
Identifying All Potential Sources of Compensation
Uber accident cases can involve multiple layers of insurance coverage, including the Uber driver's own policy, Uber's $1 million liability and UM/UIM policies, and policies for any other at-fault drivers. Navigating this complex web of policies and insurers is not something you want to handle alone. An Uber accident attorney can unravel these insurance issues and identify every potential source of recovery.
In addition to Uber's insurance, your lawyer may uncover additional policies that can provide compensation, such as:
- Your personal injury protection (PIP) or other no-fault coverage
- Commercial insurance policies for other involved parties, such as the employer of the other driver if they were working at the time
- Government entity insurance if poor road conditions were a factor
- Umbrella policies held by at-fault individuals for high-value claims
Uber accident lawyers understand how to spot these additional coverages that you may not be aware of. They can navigate the claims process and pursue all available insurance money on your behalf.
Full, Fair Calculation of Your Damages

A key role your Uber accident attorney plays is calculating and fighting for the full, fair value of your claim. It's common for those without legal representation to greatly underestimate what their case is worth, focusing only on current economic losses like medical bills and lost income. But your lawyer will know to dig deeper.
In addition to your existing costs, your attorney will calculate your likely future accident-related needs and expenses, such as:
- Ongoing medical treatment like follow-up doctor visits, surgeries, medications, and physical therapy
- Long-term nursing care or assistance with daily tasks if you suffered permanent impairment
- Future lost earning capacity if your injuries will prevent you from working in the same occupation
- Pain and suffering and mental anguish damages, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of consortium for the damage to your spousal relationship
An experienced Uber accident lawyer can put a proper dollar value on these more subjective damages and include them in your claim. An attorney can also bring in expert witnesses like doctors, psychologists, and vocational specialists to testify about your long-term prognosis. Without accounting for these often significant future damages, you can end up with a fraction of what you truly need and deserve.
Protecting You from the Insurance Companies
Another service your Uber accident attorney can provide is dealing with the insurance companies on your behalf. Insurers are notorious for employing tactics to limit payouts and take advantage of unrepresented accident victims. They may ask you to provide a recorded statement about the accident, intending to get you to say something damaging to your claim. They may request your full medical history, hoping to blame your injuries on pre-existing conditions. Or they may pressure you to accept a lowball settlement before you know the full extent of your losses.
Having an Uber accident lawyer as your intermediary can protect you from these underhanded insurance tactics. Your attorney can handle all communications and negotiations with the insurers, making sure you don't say or sign anything that can hurt your case. Your attorney can deal with the endless paperwork, records requests, and red tape.
With your lawyer advancing your claim, the insurance companies will know they won't get away with lowball offers. Your attorney can negotiate aggressively for a settlement that provides full and fair compensation. If the insurers still refuse to make an acceptable offer, your lawyer can escalate the matter and file a lawsuit. Having a skilled Uber accident attorney levels the playing field with the insurance giants.
Preparing Your Case for Trial

While most Uber accident claims are settled out of court, insurance companies don't always cooperate. If they are digging in their heels and disputing liability, your lawyer can prepare your case for trial and file a lawsuit.
Building a case for litigation requires extensive legal legwork and attention to detail. Your attorney can handle important steps such as:
- Drafting and filing the formal complaint and other pleadings
- Gathering your medical records and bills and preparing your damages demand
- Interviewing lay and expert witnesses and obtaining their testimony
- Subpoenaing evidence from Uber, the other driver, and third parties
- Attending depositions and other pre-trial proceedings
- Researching case law and statutes and drafting trial motions and briefs
- Presenting a persuasive case to the jury at trial
- Cross-examining the defense witnesses and challenging their evidence
Very few non-lawyers have the skills and training to accomplish these complex litigation tasks on their own. Trying to do so will be overwhelming, especially when you are already coping with serious injuries. However, an Uber accident trial lawyer can shoulder this burden and fight fiercely on your behalf in court.
While there are never any guarantees in litigation, having an experienced Uber accident attorney build your strongest possible case can put meaningful pressure on the insurance companies to offer a higher settlement. Insurers don't want to risk a sympathetic jury giving you a large verdict at trial. In many cases, the sheer threat of litigation is enough to get the insurance company to increase their offer and reach a fair out-of-court resolution.
Consult with an Uber Accident Lawyer ASAP
Being injured in an Uber accident due to someone else's negligence is an incredibly stressful and difficult experience. Determining liability and recovering fair compensation in these cases is rarely easy. The smartest thing you can do to protect your rights is to consult with a knowledgeable Uber accident lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can handle the legal process of going up against Uber and their insurers while you focus on healing.
If you've suffered an injury in an Uber crash, contact an experienced personal injury attorney today for a free consultation. You deserve dedicated legal guidance and the maximum compensation possible.