Pittston Uber Accident Lawyer
Determining who is liable for accidents that occur while using a ride-share service, such as Uber, can be extremely complicated, as liability depends on a number of factors, including whether the injured party was a driver, passenger, pedestrian, or the occupant of another vehicle. Because these types of claims are so difficult to navigate, it is important for those who are injured in a collision involving an Uber driver, to retain an experienced Pittston Uber accident lawyer who can advise them.
Insurance Policies
In typical car accidents between two drivers, each party usually collects the insurance information of the other and then files a third party claim against that individual’s insurer, although it is also possible for some policyholders to file first party claims against their own insurers. In either case, the insurance companies will be tasked with attempting to determine fault and will pay out the claim accordingly.
Accidents involving Uber drivers are no different, in that the company insures all of its drivers. The difficulty arises when determining which of these policies apply in a specific case. For instance, when an Uber driver’s application is off, he or she will only be covered by a personal insurance policy. This means that any accidents between an off-duty Uber driver and another vehicle occupant or pedestrian would be handled the same as any car accident claim and the at-fault party would be held liable. If, on the other hand, the driver is available or waiting for a ride request at the time of an accident, he or she will be covered by the company’s policy, which applies regardless of fault and provides:
- $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per person involved in the accident;
- $100,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident; and
- $25,000 to cover any property damage resulting from a single accident.
Finally, if an Uber driver is en route to pick up a passenger or has already done so, the driver will be covered by a $1,000,000 third party liability policy, which applies when the driver is at fault for the accident. If, however, another driver was at fault for the crash, the injured party will need to seek compensation from that individual first.
Filing a Claim
In any car accident claim that involves an Uber driver, the person filing the claim will need to be able to prove two things: liability and damages. The former involves demonstrating who was at fault for the accident. If, for example, the Uber driver was negligent, the injured party will most likely be referred to that at-fault driver’s insurer. At this point, the claimant will need to provide proof of his or her injuries, including medical bills, treatment records, and evidence of lost wages. The ability to provide this evidence is especially important in certain types of cases, namely those that involve catastrophic injury, where the injured party’s claim exceeds Uber’s supplemental coverage policy and when Uber refuses to apply its coverage to an at-fault driver. Unfortunately, these types of lawsuits come with a number of difficulties, making it especially important for Uber customers who sustain serious injuries to speak with an attorney before filing a claim.
Contact Our Office by Phone or Online Message
Please call 570-821-5717 to learn more about your own options following an Uber accident from one of the dedicated car accident lawyers at the O’Donnell Law Offices today.
