What Should You Do After an Uber Accident?

Uber drivers, in many cases, have little more experience behind the wheel than the average driver. They do not receive professional driver training or a change in their license; instead, they are private drivers who choose to use their vehicles to transport others. While Uber drivers will do their best to avoid accidents, sometimes, accidents still happen–and if they do, you need to know how to handle it.

Step One: Call 911

If you suffered injuries in an Uber accident or see that there is significant property damage, call 911. This single call will summon both police and medical assistance to the scene. If you have serious injuries due to the accident, go to the hospital and allow a doctor to evaluate you. Medical attention should always be your first priority since failure to take care of your injuries could make those injuries worse or cause future problems.

Step Two: Collect Insurance Information

If you are able to move around the scene of the accident or can communicate with the driver responsible for the accident, collect insurance information from both drivers. One quick tip: snap a photo of the drivers’ licenses and insurance cards with your phone. Then, you’ll have easy access to that information later. Uber typically provides insurance for its drivers if they cause an accident while a passenger is in the car; however, Uber drivers may also carry additional private insurance to help with their costs if they’re in an accident while not actively transporting a passenger or while they’re participating in another activity. Make sure you have all the relevant insurance information. If you’re not able to collect it, you may be able to contact the police for a copy of their report after the accident, since it will contain vital contact information for everyone in the car.

Step Three: Prepare Your Statement

As a key witness in the accident, you may need to issue a statement to the police or to the insurance companies. Do your best to prepare your statement as soon after the accident as possible. The longer you wait, the more foggy details may become in your mind. Did the Uber driver really pull out too soon? Did the other driver run a red light? As you wait, especially as you listen to others’ accounts about the accident, you may struggle to put together what really happened as you saw it.

When you prepare your statement, don’t be afraid to be honest. If you were looking at your phone at the time of the accident and didn’t see anything, let the police and your driver know. While this may prevent you from giving credible evidence, it’s also the truth–and you don’t want to issue misinformation.

Step Four: Keep All Information About the Accident

Because you weren’t driving, you won’t be expected to pay for the aftermath of the accident regardless of what happens next. You will, however, have medical bills and other expenses related to your accident. Start a file with all of this information, from the bills for your emergency room visit to ongoing physical therapy. Add in any time missed at work due to your injuries as well as other expenses associated with the accident. The responsible party’s insurance company will typically pay for most or all of those bills, especially if you suffered serious injury in the accident.

Do you need a lawyer after an Uber accident? Are you having trouble getting the responsible party to pay for your medical bills or wrestling with the insurance company to get the help you deserve? Contact us today to learn how we can help with the legal process.