Rideshare applications are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. Although there are different ridesharing apps, such as Lyft, Waze Carpool, and Curb, Uber dominates the industry with a global market value of $72 billion. The company has over three million drivers in the United States alone, and their drivers fulfill over 40 million rides a month.

There are obvious advantages to rideshare applications, but, unfortunately, Uber drivers and other rideshare employees sometimes fail to exercise sufficient caution when operating their vehicles, contributing to numerous traffic accidents. 

If you’re ever injured in a traffic accident involving an Uber or another rideshare employee, you need to know who is liable in an Uber accident and how you can recover the money you deserve. 

Uber Accident Statistics

A study conducted by the University of Chicago and Rice University in 2018 indicated some alarming statistics related to ridesharing services. They found a correlation between the rise of ridesharing services and the number of road fatalities from 2011 to 2016. 

Leading up to the increased popularity of ridesharing services, traffic fatalities were actually on the decline according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The popularity of ridesharing services reversed this decline, and over five years, ridesharing services were associated with a 2-4% increase in road fatalities. 

Although the study specifically dealt with fatalities, it’s safe to assume that these ridesharing services also contributed to an increase in traffic accidents and non-fatal injuries.  

Many, if not most, Uber drivers and other rideshare employees operate their vehicles reasonably compared to others on the road, but, of course, there are some dangerous rideshare drivers. Like other reckless drivers, they may speed, drive while distracted, or break certain traffic laws and signals to save time. Additionally, these drivers may operate their vehicles while fatigued, especially if they work late or for long hours. 

With these different risk factors and the statistics indicating that rideshare drivers contributed to increased fatalities, it’s critical to know how Uber driver insurance works. 

Does Car Insurance Cover Uber Drivers?

Many insurance companies do not cover rideshare drivers when they’re on the job. Some insurance companies argue that car insurance is for personal protection and doesn’t cover commercial driving, such as transporting customers, but their insurance should protect Uber drivers if they are not working. 

If you’re involved in a traffic accident caused by an off-duty rideshare driver, they or their car insurance should be responsible.  

Who Is Liable in an Uber Accident?

Rideshare companies generally provide their employees with insurance, but this coverage may only takes effect while the driver uses the application. This may include having the app on to wait for rider requests, driving to pick up a customer, or transporting a customer. 

Sometimes, the amount of potential coverage per claim depends on what the rideshare driver was doing at the time of the wreck. 

For example, if the driver is using the application but has not yet accepted a ride request at the time of the wreck, some companies might provide $50,000 of coverage per person involved in the wreck or $100,000 of coverage per accident for bodily injury in addition to $25,000 in property damage. 

Usually, a rideshare company’s amount of insurance coverage increases significantly when drivers are en route to pick up a customer or are transporting paying passengers. The coverage may increase to $1 million per accident. 

Why You Need a Personal Injury Attorney After an Uber Accident

Although Uber and other rideshare companies may have good insurance coverage for on-duty drivers, that does NOT mean you’ll be able to recover everything you’re owed after an Uber traffic accident. Like other insurance companies, Uber’s insurance company will do whatever it takes to save money, meaning they will attempt to deny you a fair settlement.

After traffic accidents, insurance companies often offer lowball settlements to victims. Sometimes these settlements sound reasonable or even lucrative, but in reality, they probably owe you a lot more. 

To avoid being taken advantage of by insurance companies, you need personal injury attorneys at your side. Enlisting the expertise of personal injury lawyers is critical for getting the compensation you deserve after a traffic accident. Depending on your case, you may be able to recover damages compensating you for medical bills, lost wages, loss of future earnings, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and more.   
For experienced Indiana personal injury lawyers, contact the offices of Poynter & Bucheri Accident Recovery Attorneys at Law. We’ll work to help you recover the money you deserve for your Uber accident injuries. Call us today at 1-800-265-9881, or you can click here to schedule a FREE case review.