If you are like thousands of other Denverites, you may have decided to become an Uber driver as a way to earn some extra income or maybe even to earn a living. You enjoy the freedom of being your own boss, setting your own hours, and interacting with customers in the greater Denver metropolitan area. But what happens if you are involved in an accident while you “on the clock” driving for Uber?
Colorado has tried to put into place regulations to deal with accidents involving Uber drivers. However, many Uber drivers may not know what to do if they are involved in an accident. Should you report the accident to your own personal insurance or Uber's insurance? The attorneys at accidentdenver.com have represented Uber drivers in Colorado. Contact us today for a free consultation about your situation as an Uber driver.
Uber Driver FAQs
There are a lot of frequently asked questions (FAQs) you may have as an Uber driver if you've been in an accident. These questions can include the following.
When do I report an accident to Uber?
Under Colorado law, all drivers are required to report an accident that involves property damage or injury. If you are in an accident as an Uber driver, you should first call the police. The police will gather the information at the scene and file an accident report. If the police are not called to the scene of the accident, the driver can file an accident report online.
Most insurance policies generally require that the driver immediately report any accident. Uber drivers should contact their personal insurance company to report an accident as soon as possible, and they should also contact Uber right away. In fact, Uber drivers are required to report an accident to the company. You can contact Uber through their app to report an accident.
Whose insurance will cover my damages or my medical costs?
The short answer is, it depends.
To become an Uber driver, you had to provide proof of insurance to Uber as part of the application process. You had to prove that you had at least the mandatory minimum coverage required for all Colorado drivers, which includes:
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death to any one person in an accident;
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death to all persons in any one accident; and
- $15,000 for property damage in any one accident.
If you get into an accident and you were on your own time (meaning, you did not have a passenger in your car and you didn't have the Uber app open searching for a ride-match), your own personal insurance should cover you.
Colorado has laws to provide additional insurance coverage for drivers who work for Transportation Network Companies (TNCs)—like Uber and Lyft—that operate in Colorado. Under these TNC laws, Uber has different policies depending on when an Uber driver has a passenger, when an Uber driver is waiting to get a ride-match, and when the driver is on their own time.
As soon as you activate the Uber app to find a passenger but before you pick them up, there is a contingent window of Uber's insurance coverage that will apply if you get into an accident. Uber must provide coverage over the minimum individual liability during this window of time. Once you indicate you are available for a ride but you have not yet accepted a ride request, Uber must provide coverage for a minimum of:
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death to any one person in an accident; and
- $100,000 for bodily injury or death to all persons in any one accident
It is only when you have accepted a ride request, or are on your way to pick up the passenger, or you have a passenger in your vehicle that the highest level of liability coverage Uber provides goes into effect. At this time, Uber's highest liability coverage goes up to $1 million.
I did not have a passenger in my car at the time of my accident. Who will cover my damages or medical costs?
It depends if you had the Uber app open and were looking for a ride-match but had not accepted one yet. Your personal insurance would cover any damages to your vehicle or the other driver's vehicle, but if you or someone else is injured, Uber would provide coverage for a minimum of:
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death to any one person in an accident; and
- $100,000 for bodily injury or death to all persons in any one accident
If I am in an accident while not driving for Uber, do I have to report it to Uber?
As they say, honesty is always the best policy. Here's why: to become an Uber driver, not only did you have to provide proof of insurance, but you also had to go through a background check, which included looking at your driving record.
If you passed the background, then you must have had a clean driving record. If you are involved in an accident while not driving for Uber, you should still report it to Uber because when they do their annual re-check of your background, they will discover the accident on your driving record. If you were not responsible for the accident, then you should not have anything to worry about.
What is the statute of limitations for Uber driver accidents?
The statute of limitations for most car accident injury claims in Colorado is three years. A driver, passenger, or bystanders all have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim. However, the statute of limitations for a car accident may be longer or shorter in certain circumstances. You should contact your Denver accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident to make sure your claim is filed on time.
Denver Uber Accident Injury Lawyers
The easiest way to deal with Uber if you were driving for them and were involved in an accident is to contact an experienced Denver auto accident attorney. The attorneys at accidentdenver.com will be able to help you deal with Uber and Uber's insurance company so you don't have to. Your attorney will also advise you of your rights and options in filing a claim against Uber so you get the maximum compensation.
The attorneys at accidentdenver.com have successfully represented Uber drivers or other ride-share operators who have been involved in an accident. Our attorneys understand how to deal with Uber and their insurance companies, and we will fight to get the maximum compensation available for your injuries. Contact us today for a free consultation.