Uber has been around for many years. Therefore, the more hours Uber drivers put into Uber, the higher the car accidents. As an Uber driver, there are fundamental tips you need to understand about insurance and accidents even though it’s not sure that you will get into one.
As a rideshare driver, there are various concerns you need to understand;
– What will happen in case of an accident
– Insurance status of the car and occupants
– If there are any exclusions
What you should do if you have an accident
You should be familiar with Uber periods.
Uber company gives rideshare insurance to drivers for commercial purposes. However, insurance coverage does not happen when you turn on the application. The driver’s time divides into three periods. Uber determines when rideshare insurance will apply in case of an accident using these three periods;
When the Uber application is on, and the driver is waiting for requests
Uber rideshare does not cover this period. Because drivers are not considered employees but contractors. Therefore, there is no responsibility taken by the company when the driver is not working.
When the driver is on the way to pick a customer
When you receive a request, and you get into an accident before picking the customer, he/she may cancel. It becomes hard to determine if the accident happened before cancellation. Rideshare policy may not cover this.
When the passenger is in the vehicle
You will be covered for this as the customer is already in the car. And as a driver, you’re considered to be “on duty.”
Check if the passenger/s is/are okay
Upon getting into an accident, you must ensure that everyone is okay. If the passengers are not, you should call paramedics on immediate effect. As a driver, you should also stay at the roadside to prevent more accidents. Finally, always see a doctor.
Accident documentation and gather evidence
Beware that the 2nd period might prove to be hard for insurance coverage by Uber. Therefore, you should take screenshots for proof. Even when not in the third period, as a driver, you should document the incident well. You should also record witnessed statements, collect their contact information and ask for a police report.
Be in contact with personal insurance
When only your car gets damaged, you should first contact personal insurance. However, if it involves a lot of vehicles, other party insurance may come into play. All insurance companies involved need to receive the accident details and do their investigation.
Contact Uber
You should thoroughly explain the situation to Uber. If everyone is okay, Uber may need to send another car to pick the passengers. You may be suspended for a while, usually some weeks, while investigations are ongoing from this incident.
Hire a lawyer
Rideshare partners can find insurance claims tricky, and insurance companies tend to use the driver’s professional status to deny claims. You need to hire a lawyer to file claims after an accident. Lawyers can talk to personal insurance companies and Uber on your behalf to make sure everything works out.
Baseline
Even though all drivers are at risk of accidents on the road, Uber drivers are at a higher risk. As a rideshare or Uber driver, you are considered a commercial driver, and probably need a commercial license. However, when it comes to insurance, they are precisely limited. Accidents have higher impacts on the driver because the incidents lead to loss of income, which is why drivers need affordable car insurance.
