There are several key steps to follow after an Uber accident, including calling the police, taking screenshots of your Uber app and photos of the scene, obtaining medical care, and scheduling a free consultation with an Uber accident attorney. The aftermath of an Uber accident can be difficult. Uber accident cases involve multiple layers of liability and insurance coverage.
Although Uber has a $1 million insurance policy, it will employ tactics to minimize or avoid paying out on claims from its policy. Learn more about what to do after an Uber accident in Chicago to protect yourself from these tactics and preserve your right to compensation.
To find out if you have a valid case against an Uber driver or Uber itself, contact the Chicago Uber accident attorneys at Ankin Law by dialing 312-600-0000.
Steps to Take After an Uber Accident in Chicago
Uber and other ridesharing services have become increasingly popular in Illinois and the rest of the nation in recent years. According to the 2022 Uber investor report, Chicago is one of the five metropolitan areas from which Uber received 22% of its Gross Mobility revenue. Unfortunately, Uber accident rates are also higher in busy cities like Chicago. You may not know what to do after an Uber accident. Here are the most important steps to take to help protect your health and well-being, preserve crucial evidence, and recover compensation.
Take Screenshots of the Uber App
If you were an Uber passenger, take screenshots of your app as soon as possible after an accident. Uber can try to deny responsibility for your damages by claiming your ride had ended or hadn’t started yet, or you had a private arrangement for a ride with the driver. Taking screenshots while at the accident scene will help prove that you were a passenger in an active ride at the time of the crash, helping you to be eligible for compensation from Uber’s liability insurance.
Call the Police
It’s advisable to call the police even if the accident seems minor, or you don’t have immediate symptoms of an injury. If you’re severely injured, you can have someone else make the call on your behalf. The police officer who responds to the scene will speak to you and other people involved in the crash and create an official accident report. You could later use this report to substantiate your claim.
Document the Scene
Unless you’re too injured, it’s critical to gather as much evidence at the accident scene as possible. Evidence is still fresh and more accessible right after an accident.
Document the crash scene by taking photos and videos. Make sure you capture the vehicles involved, noting their positions and damages, the surrounding area, any nearby traffic signs and signals, debris, obstacles, road conditions, and your visible injuries. This visual evidence can help you prove your case. It will help your Uber accident attorney build a strong claim for your damages.
Gather Information
Obtain the Uber driver’s name, address, phone number, license and insurance information, and make and model of the vehicle. You could get some of this information from the Uber app. If you were a non-passenger, you could request the Uber passenger for a screenshot of the driver’s information from the rideshare app. Collect the names, contact details, and insurance information of other drivers involved in the crash. Avoid lengthy conversations. What you say could be later used against you to deny your claim.
If there were people who witnessed your Uber accident, be sure to get their full names and contact information. These individuals could give valuable testimony to support your case.
Seek Medical Treatment
Seeking prompt medical treatment is crucial, whether you have symptoms or not. Some injuries only become apparent after several hours or days. The adrenaline released into the body in response to an accident may mask injury symptoms. Minor symptoms could signify major injuries. Therefore, it’s essential to have medical professionals evaluate you as soon as possible.
Seeking medical attention allows you to get an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment to prevent more severe complications. What’s more, the documentation of your diagnosis and treatment will help prove the existence and severity of your injuries and build a link between the injuries and the Uber accident.
You should follow through on prescribed medical treatment and keep all subsequent appointments. Failing to do so could hurt your case. Keep a record of all your diagnoses, treatments, and expenses.
Report to Uber
Report your accident to Uber through the app’s “Trip Issues” section.
Consult With an Attorney
If you’re injured in an Illinois Uber car accident, it’s essential to reach out to a lawyer experienced in handling rideshare accidents in Chicago. Such a lawyer will evaluate your case and advise you on your best course of action. Uber car accidents may entail dealing with multiple insurance companies, including the Uber driver’s personal insurer, Uber’s insurer, and any other involved party’s insurer. An experienced lawyer will know how to work with Uber and all the insurance companies and rideshare representatives involved and ensure proper filing of all claims.
Aggressive insurance adjusters may reach out to you soon after your accident with a settlement offer, often a low one, or to take a statement. They could push you into saying something that could hurt your claim for compensation. Consult an Uber accident attorney before talking to a rideshare representative and insurance providers. Your attorney will handle all communications with rideshare and insurance representatives, submit supporting evidence, and negotiate for a fair settlement. If a favorable settlement can’t be reached, the attorney will move your case to court to ensure you get sufficient compensation.
Uber Insurance Coverage for Car Accidents in Illinois
After you’ve been involved in an Uber accident, it’s important to understand the rideshare company’s insurance policy. So, does Uber cover accidents? Uber has a $1 million policy that covers injuries and property damage. However, several conditions determine when and how the policy applies in Chicago.
Driver Logged in and Has Accepted a Trip
If the Uber driver has accepted a ride and is on the way to pick up the passenger or has a passenger in the vehicle, Uber’s $1 million liability coverage will apply. The policy covers injuries to a passenger and any other third party hit by the Uber driver. Other types of coverage that apply until the driver drops off the passenger include uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage and contingent comprehensive and collision coverage.
Driver Is Logged in, but Hasn’t Accepted a Ride
If the Uber driver is logged into the app but hasn’t accepted a ride request, Uber provides liability coverage of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. This coverage is available if the driver’s personal insurance is inadequate or doesn’t cover the crash.
Driver Is Off-Duty
Uber’s insurance doesn’t cover an accident that occurs when the driver isn’t logged into the app. You’ll file a claim against the driver’s personal insurance policy.
Despite the different accident scenarios where you should be able to recover from Uber’s policy, the at-fault driver’s insurance policy, or both, filing an accident claim isn’t usually straightforward. In addition to Uber’s complex insurance periods, Uber’s insurance provider and the driver’s insurer will be looking to pay out the least they can. Uber may dispute some aspects of your claim, such as the driver status or any liability for an accident caused by the rideshare driver.
Having a rideshare accident lawyer is crucial as he or she will act as your guide to Uber accident claims, fight tirelessly for your rights, and protect you from tricks commonly used by rideshare and insurance companies.
Damages You Can Recover
You can recover compensation for different types of damages, depending on your losses and the facts of your case. You could recover economic damages to compensate you for your monetary losses, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Rehabilitation costs
- Disability accommodations for your car or home
- Property damage
You could also recover non-economic damages for non-monetary losses experienced due to the Uber accident, such as pain and suffering, disfigurement, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. A more precise calculation of your economic and non-economic damages is part of how an Uber accident attorney can help you recover full and fair compensation.
Cases involving egregious behavior may qualify for punitive damages. If you lost a loved one in an Uber rideshare accident, you could recover compensation for other losses like funeral and burial costs and the cost of your loved one’s pre-death medical treatment.
If you’ve been in an Uber accident in Illinois, Ankin Law can help you navigate the claims process to earn the best possible settlement. We’ll investigate your accident diligently, gather critical evidence, establish liability, and skillfully negotiate with insurance companies to secure damages. Contact us today to explore your legal options and next steps.
