What happens when you get in an Uber crash?

Traffic accidents can happen anywhere, especially in busy cities like the ones in South Florida, where driving anywhere feels like an eternity. Many locals opt for a ride in Uber, where, for $0.21 per minute and $0.97 per mile, they can click away to their destination in the app's standard service. It doesn’t sound like such a bad deal, even though the prices are higher now than when the platform was making its way into our lives.

Initially, the corporation did not adhere to the regulations imposed on other regular taxi enterprises. Nonetheless, over time and with the large-scale evolution of Uber — which today offers food delivery, package delivery, luxury rides, and pet-friendly travel, to name a few — laws to protect drivers and passengers have been established with greater clarity.

Uber's policies have improved over time; however, it remains essential that if you are involved in a collision while using the company's services, you seek the guidance of a car accident lawyer. This will help protect your rights and get you reasonable compensation.

Services and Screening Process

It is fundamental to understand how the process of filing a claim works and under which umbrella Uber functions. This ride-sharing company employs freelance drivers who use personal cars to transport clients with a highly convenient and cost-effective smartphone app.

It has revolutionized how individuals commute daily, but there are crucial facts one should be aware of when discussing this mode of transportation: issues relating to driver screening and customer security.

Uber's driver screening process has different layers and limitations. For background checks, the company partners with third-party services.

These cover:

• A criminal background check of the previous seven years.
• Review driving records to ensure applicants comply with essential safety measures.

It is worth noting that these investigations do not include fingerprint scanning which can mean that individuals using false identities or those with criminal backgrounds outside the scope of traditional records, might bypass these assessments.

This stands in marked contrast to the practice observed in many cities that put taxi drivers through considerably more stringent examination processes: where fingerprint-based background checks are cross-referenced against databases maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This dramatically decreases the probability of unqualified or unsafe drivers being passed.

Can I lose Uber access after filing a claim?

Many individuals believe that if they file a claim against Uber, they will not be able to use them again and will lose their privileged position. You should not suffer because you have a legitimate demand against Uber. Remember that already with each fair, Uber pays a fraction of it to its insurance company for this very reason. These are big insurance corporations that cover these types of expenses.

Of course, if your complain is valid and documented correctly and includes all the required information you should be ok; nevertheless, the insurance companies show more respect for someone with sufficient legal representation by a Miami personal injury attorney. Gallardo Law Firm has an excellent team of counselors with experience in these situations, so we will be ready to help you as soon as you contact us.

Is it just an app?

Uber connects individuals who need a ride with someone willing to give them a ride. In other words, it doesn't operate as a commercialized vehicle company. Uber drivers don't have to register or insure their vehicles as commercial automobiles. They offer the same services as taxi entities but will follow different guidelines. However, many rideshare drivers work full-time, which exposes them to the same dangers as taxi drivers.

Florida’s laws regarding Uber

In 2015, House Bill 509 passed in a vote of 10 to 1. The law mandated that rideshare companies meet basic insurance measures. So now, coverage applies to drivers from when they log on to the Uber app until passengers are dropped off.

As of right now, Uber has several policies in place to enhance the safety of both users and drivers, not just in Florida but in every city or country where they operate:

1. Insurance Coverage: Different insurance policies apply when a driver is actively transporting passengers, en route to picking up a passenger, or just logged in but not on a trip. This includes:
   • Third-party liability scope up to $1 million.
   • Coverage for uninsured or underinsured motorists during trips.
2. Safety Features in the App:
   • Emergency Button: Passengers can contact emergency services through the app.
   • Trip sharing: Live sharing of trip information to 'key' friends or close acquaintances.
   • Driver and passenger ratings: Helps maintain accountability and transparency.
   • Ongoing Background Monitoring: Permanent supervision of all the drivers' arrest records or convictions over traffic policy violations.

What about if I am an Uber passenger?

If you are injured in an Uber crash, your auto policy may not help with the damage caused by the wreck. Private insurance policies don't work in an accident where the vehicle was performing a commercial enterprise. However, the platform provides several insurance policies for passengers and drivers in consonance with the rideshare process:

1. While the driver is offline or the app is off, Uber does not provide coverage, so the driver’s personal insurance policy applies.
2. When the driver is online but there is no active ride request, the app grants third-party protection that goes up to $50,000 per individual for bodily injury, $100,000 per incident for physical injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
3. While the driver will pick up a user during the trip, Uber extends the highest benefits. In a third-party liability case, the insurance company can offer up to $1 million in compensation for bodily harm and property destruction caused to others. At the same time, they cover injuries to the driver and passengers if an at-fault involved has poor or no insurance at all. Uber also has a collision insurance policy that applies to the driver’s car, regardless of fault, with a deductible of $2500.

What should I do?

As you can see, these regulations have become much more comprehensive since the platform was first launched. However, they remain complex, so we strongly recommend contacting a Miami car accident lawyer if you or a family member are involved in an Uber accident. Whether you are a driver or a passenger, our team at Gallardo can help you evaluate the best options and guide you toward the best course of action.

Knowing who to turn to and knowing what one's rights are is complicated in the case of an Uber-related incident due to their independent contractor status. You are covered, though, should this happen while you are on the application. It is difficult to sort these situations out, but getting the right legal help will preserve your rights and secure an acceptable settlement for you.