Uber has become a staple in the rideshare market with over 91 million customers recording as active every month. The company has long advocated both its own drivers and the public practice safe driving behaviors, but unfortunately their words are not always followed to the letter and accidents, resulting in accidents, injuries, and the harrowing prospect of fighting with insurance companies to get compensation. The North Hollywood Uber accident lawyers at Walch Law this process can be complex and stress-inducing, so we are here to save you the headaches of dealing with insurers and fight for you to receive the compensation you need now. Contact us today to discuss your situation and get started!
Risk for Uber Accidents in North HollywoodNorth Hollywood, located in the San Fernando Valley, is convenient to destinations across the Los Angeles Metro area thank to being sandwiched between the crowded, dangerous 5, 101, and 134 freeways. When residents aren’t busy commuting to work on these busy freeways, they and visitors alike flock to the eclectic cocktail lounges, casual cafes, eclectic vintage shops, galleries, and playhouses such as the El Portal Theatre. Rideshare services like Uber are a convenient alternative for riders here to avoid the hassle of searching for parking, resorting to inconvenient public transportation options, and get to and from social occasions responsibly. However, the popularity of Uber also contributes to the number of cars in an already-crowded area, raising the risk of accidents and injuries occurring. The threat of injury and death isn’t unfounded – Uber reported 58 fatal crashes in the span of a year, with untold numbers of unreported accidents, injuries, and damages passing under the public’s radar.
Who Pays for Damages when an Uber Driver is Involved in an Accident?If you’re injured in a car accident while you are an Uber passenger, your injuries should be covered by another party’s insurance company. However, whether the Uber driver’s insurance, another motorist’s insurance, or Uber’s insurance pays depends on the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Uber requires that all its drivers get and maintain a personal auto insurance policy at all times they are affiliated with Uber and driving on their behalf. At certain points when the driver is logged in and available for Uber rides, Uber will provide what is known as “contingent liability” insurance coverage. This coverage only applies if an insurance claim is filed with the driver’s personal insurer first and is denied by the company.
Uber’s insurance doesn’t cover damages the Uber driver, vehicle occupants, or the driver’s vehicle suffer if they are involved in a car accident before the driver is logged into Uber’s driver app and available to accept passenger trip requests. From the moment the driver logs in until they log off, however, different levels of Uber insurance coverage apply based on the driver’s status when the accident occurs.
Period 1: Driver Has Logged into the App, is Available for Trips, but is Not MatchedDuring the period, there is no passenger in the vehicle; this means the victim making a claim will be a pedestrian, another motorist, or a bicyclist. Uber’s insurance applies for injury victims – not including the driver – up to the limits of:
The Uber driver is now acting at the direction of Uber because they accepted a request, so anyone injured in an Uber accident at this point is covered under an increased Uber insurance policy with total liability limits of $1 million instead of $100,000.
Period 3: From the Time the Driver Has Picked Up a Rider Under They End the Trip on the AppWhen a passenger is in the Uber and an accident occurs, Uber’s insurance coverage increases yet again. If an accident occurs, victims may benefit from:
Uber accidents can leave you hurting physical, emotionally, and financially – and that’s before the headaches of dealing with difficult insurance companies to get the compensation you need to pay bills and focus your recovery. The skilled North Hollywood Uber accident lawyers at Walch Law know that getting a check quickly ad a sense of closure will help you get back on your feet, so we will start fighting the moment we’re hired to recover the maximum compensation possible. Contact us today to have your questions answered, learn about the process, and see how we can put Robert and Gary’s 40 plus years of experience and 95+% success rate to work for your benefit.