Uber is one of the fastest growing companies in America and has revolutionized the transportation industry. In many major cities, Uber has effectively replaced taxis as the primary method of transport.
But, with that many drivers on the road, it increases the potential for a car accident involving an Uber operated vehicle. If you do find yourself involved in such an accident, the first thing that you will want to do is to understand the insurance coverage that will be afforded to you for your injuries.
Scope of Uber Insurance Coverage
There are two types of Uber insurance coverage that would be applicable to an auto accident involving an Uber operated vehicle: (1) liability insurance and (2) uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) coverage.
Liability insurance would apply if the driver of an Uber operated vehicle negligently caused injuries to somebody else. This could be a claim by the occupants of another vehicle or the passengers in the Uber. Either way, liability coverage would be triggered and would provide insurance for the resulting injuries. When an Uber driver is en route to a fare or is carrying a passenger, Uber provides $1 million worth of liability coverage.
UM coverage, on the other hand, applies when injuries are caused by the negligence of a driver who either has no insurance or does not have enough insurance. If you are a passenger in an Uber and are involved in an accident, assuming that the Uber driver was not negligent, you may be able to make a claim on Uber’s UM policy, which also has $1 million in coverage.
Insofar as UM coverage is concerned, it is also important to note that you may be able to take advantage of your own UM coverage in the event of an Uber accident. Louisiana does not allow you to “stack” multiple UM policies, but if you are a passenger in a vehicle, you can take advantage of your own UM policy once you have exhausted the vehicle’s UM policy.
Call a New Orleans Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in an auto accident or truck accident, The Mahone Firm can help. For a free consultation, call (504) 564-7342 today. There is no charge to talk about your potential case with an injury lawyer.