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Uber Passengers Injured in an Accident

Uber Passengers Injured in an Accident

Uber and other rideshare companies are convenient. They are also often more affordable than cab companies, leading to these companies’ rapid growth. But as more passengers hail rides with Uber, more accidents happen. If you are an injured Uber passenger, it’s important to know how to protect your rights.

Fortunately, Pennsylvania requires these companies to provide liability insurance for passengers as a part of licensing requirements set forth by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC). This means that Uber’s insurance policy should cover your medical care and other crash-related costs, up to the limits of the policy.

Read on to find out more about what to do and how to get compensation if you’re an injured Uber passenger. Feel free to call Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers at (484) 351-0350 with any questions. We’ll help you navigate your insurance options and get compensation for your damages.

What should I do after suffering injuries in an Uber accident?

If an accident occurs during your Uber ride, you should:

  • Call the police and report the accident
  • Get emergency treatment for your injuries, if necessary
  • Get contact information from your Uber driver and any other drivers involved
  • Make sure to get your driver’s rideshare insurance information, in addition to his personal policy information
  • Stay at the scene until police arrive, and ensure the accident report states you were a passenger in the Uber vehicle at the time of the accident
  • Take photos of the scene and screenshots of your app to show you were an Uber passenger
  • Collect contact information from any witnesses

In many cases, injuries are not apparent immediately after an accident and the symptoms only appear hours or days later. These injuries are sometimes serious and require ongoing medical care. The costs add up quickly, especially if they prevent you from working. It is a good idea to seek medical care within the first day or so after a crash even if you do not believe you sustained any injuries. This is the best way to protect your legal right to compensation.

Once you are well enough to do so, call an attorney for help beginning your insurance claim.

What are my insurance options if I am injured as an Uber passenger?

In Pennsylvania, drivers must carry no-fault medical benefits coverage. Uber also carries this first-party benefit, which covers the Uber driver and passengers’ medical expenses up to policy limits, regardless of fault.

You also may be covered under Uber’s liability insurance policy. Once an Uber driver picks up a passenger, Uber provides $1 million in liability coverage ($1.5 million for trips that originate in Philadelphia) to cover injuries and property damage to all passengers in the vehicle. If your Uber driver causes an accident during your ride, this policy should kick in to cover any injuries you sustain. It would also cover injuries to the other drivers involved.
If your Uber driver was not at fault, the other driver’s liability insurance may cover your damages. To file a claim with the other driver’s policy, you must prove that driver was to blame for the accident. But in many cases, other drivers lack adequate insurance to cover the full scope of accident victims’ damages.

In such cases, Uber’s $1 million uninsured and underinsured motorist policy ($1.5 million for rides that originate in Philadelphia) could cover your injuries. This policy covers damages if another driver caused the accident, but does not have insurance, has inadequate insurance, or flees the scene.

Call Us for Help Filing Your Uber Accident Claim

If you sustained injuries in an Uber accident in Pennsylvania, call an attorney familiar with rideshare accidents. He or she can preserve your right to compensation. In many cases, Uber’s insurance company may deny accident claims or offer low settlements. When this happens, it helps to have a lawyer familiar with these cases on your side.

Our Uber accident lawyers work with Pennsylvania rideshare accident victims ensuring they get the compensation they deserve for their injuries. Call us today for a free case evaluation.