What To If Your Uber Crashes: 4 Steps

What To Do After an Uber Car Accident

Car accidents are an unfortunate yet all-too-common part of driving. In 2020 alone, there were nearly 4.7 million accidents involving passenger cars.¹When on the road, it’s important to know how to handle the aftermath of a crash—even if you’re not the driver.

In the age of ride-sharing apps, it’s possible to get involved in a car crash without touching the wheel. However, your backseat position is far from passive. Every step you take after an Uber accident can have a massive impact. 

If your Uber trip went slightly off track, take control of the aftermath with our guide on what to do after an Uber car accident.

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1. Address Any Medical or Safety Needs

No matter what, safety comes first. Before checking for damages, ensure that you and everyone involved in the rideshare accident receives the medical care they need. If you’re physically able, take these crucial steps after an accident to protect all parties:

• Check your own body for any possible injuries or medical needs.

• Check all other parties for any possible injuries or medical needs.

• Assess your area’s safety for risks like oncoming traffic.
• Call an ambulance if any party needs medical assistance. All 50 states have a Good Samaritan law that will protect you from any legal action when providing care after an accident.²

2. Report the Incident

When driving your own car, the accident clearly involves you. But what if you’re not the one driving the car? Are you responsible for any follow-up?

The safe answer is yes. Your Uber driver should file professional and legal reports of their own, but it’s always smart to file your own reports as well. That way, you can have proof to make any possible claims or receive damages (like financial losses from the accident).

Police Reports

You might wonder, what do the police have to do with a car crash? As it turns out, quite a lot. 

Police reports are the legal proof behind all car accident investigations. In fact, some states even require a police report following a car accident. By filing a report, you can build a case for any damages, insurance claims, or court settlements—which may be useful to you as a passenger. 

Most police reports for car accidents require the following information:³

• All details of the incident, including:
  - Date and time
  - Location
  - Vehicle models
  - License plate numbers
  - Weather status
  - Road signage
  - Property involved
• ID information of all involved parties (names, addresses, and phone numbers)
• Insurance policies held by all parties 
• Descriptions of any vehicle damage or injuries
• Visual evidence of the accident (photos or camera footage)
• A diagram or drawing of the car accident
• Statements from drivers, passengers and witnesses
• Any law violations or citations
• Any official conclusions for the accident’s cause

While knowing how to get a police report for a car accident is important, you should also try to keep notes of the important information in case you’ll need it later on.

Uber Reports

In an Uber car accident, there’s one party that may not be present but is always involved: The corporation of Uber.

Both you and your Uber driver should immediately report the rideshare accident to Uber. This will improve your case for receiving any possible damages from their company. According to Uber, you can report any accident under the “Help” section on their app or by contacting Customer Support.⁴

3. Document All Uber Accident Details

While Uber passengers are rarely liable for a crash, it never hurts to stay involved. Every detail of a crash can support any future accident claims.

To file a possible Uber accident claim or just to have the information, you'll want to do the following. First, gather as much information as possible for the police report, including everything from insurance policies to the time of the crash. After collecting all information, you’ll need to provide one more crucial detail: The timeline of the Uber accident.

Uber requires all claims to report if your accident took place before a request (for drivers or pedestrians only) or during your pickup or trip. Why? The timing directly affects Uber’s liability coverage for any damages. Currently, Uber holds these liability coverage limits for third parties (passengers or pedestrians):

• Before ride request – $75,000 in bodily injury per person OR $150,000 in bodily injury per accident, PLUS $25,000 in property damage per accident

• During pickup or trip – Up to $1,250,000 in damages PLUS $50,000 for personal injury protection

4. Take Legal Action (If Necessary)

Knowing when to get an attorney for a car accident may also benefit you. If you’re not seriously injured in the event of an accident in an Uber vehicle, then legal action may be unnecessary. However, it’s best to consult a car accident attorney if you suffered any losses during an accident—no matter how small.

Since Uber has a high-coverage corporate insurance policy, you have a very high chance of receiving any damages directly from Uber (not the driver). With the advice of a lawyer, consider filing any Uber accident claim that covers damages from:

• Missed work time 
• Lost items or damaged goods
• Medical expenses and care or hospital bills
• Damaged property 
• Resulting conditions from the accident (PTSD, anxiety, chronic pain, etc.)

It's important to receive the compensation you deserve if you've been involved in a rideshare accident and choose to file a personal injury claim. Again, while you may not necessarily be at fault, you can still incur injuries, so it's crucial to keep note of important details to help file your claim. 

Get Help with Uber Accidents

Whether you’re a driver or a passenger, it’s never a bad idea to protect yourself with additional support from experts who know the necessary steps. 

For situations like Uber accidents, we created Mighty's Accident Attorney Directory. Head over to Mighty's Car Accident Attorney Directory to find a trusted attorney in your area today.

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Sources

1.  Statista. Number of vehicles involved in traffic crashes in the United States in 2020. https://www.statista.com/statistics/192097/number-of-vehicles-involved-in-traffic-crashes-in-the-us/
2.  NIH. Good Samaritan Laws. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542176/
3.  Forbes. Car Accident Police Report: When & How To Get A Report. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/auto-accident/car-accident-police-report/
4.  Uber. Help—Driving and Delivery. https://help.uber.com/driving-and-delivering/article/what-to-do-if-youre-in-a-crash?nodeId=ab1a5837-85ea-4680-9d63-df98e8036804