Does Uber Contact Your Insurance?
If you plan on driving for Uber, the company will require that you provide proof of your insurance coverage before they will allow you to drive. That said, they will not contact your insurance company directly. Providing your proof of insurance is enough to satisfy Uber’s requirements.
Having the right insurance coverage is important. While Uber’s insurance policy will cover you while you drive for them in many cases, there are circumstances where your failure to obtain your own policy could come back to haunt you.
If you are injured by another driver while driving for Uber, you could have a viable claim for damages regardless of your insurance situation. Let a Los Angeles Uber lawyer review your case and advise you of your rights.
Is your car covered?
Many Uber drivers pay their insurance deductible each month oblivious to the fact that their policy does not cover rideshare operations. This could put you in a serious financial bind.
Basic auto liability insurance typically covers motorists that are driving for personal reasons like heading to work, school, or the store. These policies are not intended for professional drivers or commercial situations.
The good news is that most insurers offer “add on” policies that allow the insured driver to maintain their coverage even when acting as a rideshare driver. The bad news is that these add-on policies cost extra. If you fail to purchase these add-ons, you could find yourself without liability insurance in an Uber accident claim.
When Uber insurance is in effect
Uber advertises that they offer robust insurance coverage for their drivers during every part of a ride. Unfortunately, there are some grey areas where Uber coverage might not be available. If you have invalidated your personal insurance by operating as a rideshare driver without the necessary policy add-on, you could be without coverage in a crash.
Uber insurance is broken down into three periods. Period 1 begins when you turn on your app and are actively open for rides. This period continues until you turn off your app or accept a ride. During this period, Uber offers a maximum of $100,000 for bodily injuries per accident in liability coverage. The policy does not offer comprehensive coverage should you suffer injuries in the crash. While your comprehensive insurance could cover your own injuries, operating without a rideshare add-on could cost you the chance to file a claim.
Period 2 begins when you accept a ride and are en route to pick them up. Period 2 ends when you pick up the passenger. This leads to period 3. Period 3 lasts during the length of the ride, only ending when you drop the passenger off. During periods 2 and 3, Uber offers up to $1 million in liability coverage.
When to work with an attorney
Uber will only do the minimum amount of due diligence to determine if you have insurance coverage. While they will require proof that you have a policy, they do not ensure that your policy applies while operating as a rideshare driver. This could lead you to believe you have comprehensive coverage when you do not.
If your insurance company has rejected your claim due to your lack of a rideshare add-on, you might not be completely out of luck. If the other driver was at fault, you are entitled to pursue compensation from them through a civil lawsuit. At Ellis Injury Law, we are experienced in pursuing legal action directly against uninsured or underinsured motorists. If you have questions about your case, do not hesitate to schedule a free consultation today.