If you study the fine print on Uber’s official website, you will find the words, ‘Uber is not a transportation provider.’ While this may seem ill-advised, considering you were probably on the site looking for transport, it’s a clever strategy the company uses to avoid liability.
Uber maintains that its drivers are independent contractors and not employees, which means the company can distance itself from driver negligence. So, who do you turn to when you get injured?
If you or a loved one has been injured in an Uber accident, contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone to discuss your legal rights and options with a knowledgeable Harrison Uber Accident Lawyer.
Uber’s $1 Million Insurance Policy
Uber has a $1 million insurance policy for its drivers that applies in certain instances, such as when the Uber app is on, or a driver is carrying a passenger. The coverage works in the following ways:
- Unavailable driver – Uber does not cover a driver if their Uber app is off, they are unavailable to accept passengers, or using the vehicle to run personal errands. Here, the driver’s policy covers any damages in the event of an accident.
- Available driver without a passenger – If the Uber app is on, and the driver is available to accept passengers, their policy is the primary coverage. Uber may provide additional coverage of $50,000 bodily injury per injury to a maximum of $100,000 per accident.
- Available driver with a passenger – The $1 million Uber policy covers a driver en route with a passenger.
- Uninsured/underinsured driver – When an insured driver causes an accident, Uber provides a $1 million UIM coverage.
Can You Sue Uber for Damages?
While most Uber accident claims settle out of court, you may maintain the right to sue if you believe you deserve more than is being offered. Uber considers Uber drivers as independent contractors, meaning it can deny liability for accidents caused by driver negligence.
Nonetheless, it does provide coverage for liability claims in instances where the Uber app was on, the driver was on their way to pick up a passenger, or en route to the passengers’ destination. You can sue Uber for damages if your claim satisfies any of these conditions.
When considering a lawsuit, most people worry about the verbal threshold, which limits the right to sue unless the victim has sustained serious injuries such as dismemberment, permanent injury, loss of a fetus, or death.
Because the verbal threshold is based on New Jersey’s no-fault system for car accident claims, it does not apply to rideshare accidents. You don’t need to meet the threshold to file a lawsuit against Uber.
Talk to a Harrison Uber Accident Lawyer
Harrison, a town in Hudson County, has a population of 13,620 as of the 2010 census. Many of these residents are turning to rideshare transportation services like Uber for their daily commute. However, not everyone understands how liability works in the event of an accident.
Anthony Carbone is an experienced Harrison Uber Accident Lawyer who has been representing accident victims in New Jersey for over 30 years. If you have been injured in an Uber accident in Harrison, contact him online today or at 201-733-2230 to discuss your legal right to pursue compensation.
