The brand, Uber, is synonymous with global travel. In many instances, traveling by Uber is more popular than catching a taxi.
However, the question that must be asked is, what do you do if you are traveling in an Uber and the driver has an accident.
Before we answer this question by citing a straightforward case study, it’s important to note that there are several practical differences between a taxi service and Uber.
- The taxi company owns, operates, and controls the motor vehicles and hires its drivers. Uber, on the other hand, does not own the cars, nor does it enter into an employment contract between itself and the vehicle drivers.
- It is possible to hail a taxi from the side of the road, but you need to download and use an Uber app to call an Uber to pick you up and drop you at your destination.
- The pricing structure is also different between the two models. Uber’s prices can increase in correlation with supply and demand, while a taxi’s rate per mile remains consistent.
- The motor vehicle accident insurance requirements are also different between these transport models. Taxis have three sets of insurance: total liability insurance, property damage, and personal injury insurance. Uber drivers, on the other hand, are covered by Uber, only when there is a passenger in the vehicle. Otherwise, the drivers need to pay their own insurance.
What to do when an Uber driver is caught in a road accident
Let’s consider the following scenario by way of answering the question posited above; ergo, what to do when caught in a road accident while taking an Uber.
I am an IT consultant and was on my way to meet with a new client. Because the client’s offices are in an extremely busy part of town where there is not a lot of parking, it was easier to take an Uber instead of driving myself. The Uber driver was caught in an accident. Not only did I miss the meeting, but I lost the work because of the resulting accident injuries. Finally, my laptop was destroyed in the accident, and as it is a high-end laptop and my primary working tool, it had to be replaced with a similar model.
How did I solve the negative implications of this accident? Here is a list of steps that I took:
Contact an attorney
I was admitted to hospital for a couple of days, and as soon as I was discharged, I consulted with a car accident lawyer near me. I needed advice on, and assistance with, filing the necessary accident insurance claims. It was also essential to claim for the loss of income because of the injuries sustained as a consequence of the accident.
Collect and collate required documentation
In order to file the different insurance and personal injury claims, I needed to collect the Uber driver details, witness statements, medical bills, invoices for the replacement laptop and accessories, as well proof of the lost income. My attorney needed these documents as evidence for the insurance claims.
Final thoughts
The steps highlighted are the two most important requirements for the successful filing of insurance and personal injury claims. Without them, there is very little chance of being remunerated for the losses incurred.
