What to Do If Your Uber Crashes

TL;DR: If you are in an Uber accident, your first priority is safety. Check yourself and others for injuries and call 911 immediately to report the collision and request medical assistance. After ensuring safety, gather as much information as possible at the scene. This includes taking photos of the vehicles and the surrounding area, getting the contact and insurance information from all drivers involved, and speaking to any witnesses. Report the incident to Uber through the app and seek a full medical evaluation, even if you feel fine. Finally, contact a personal injury attorney who specializes in rideshare accidents to understand your rights and the complex insurance policies involved.

Key Highlights

• Prioritize Safety: Immediately call 911. Your health is the most important thing.
• Document Everything: Take photos of vehicle damage, license plates, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
• Exchange Information: Collect names, phone numbers, and insurance details from all drivers. Get contact information from any witnesses.
• Report to Uber: Use the “Help” section in the Uber app to report the accident. This officially documents the event with the company.
• Get Medical Care: See a doctor right away. Some injuries, like whiplash or concussions, may not show symptoms for hours or days.
• Consult an Attorney: Speak with a lawyer experienced in rideshare cases before talking to any insurance adjusters.

The rise of ridesharing services has fundamentally changed urban transportation. Millions of people every day rely on companies like Uber for convenient travel. According to a 2019 Pew Research Center study, the share of Americans who use ridesharing services has more than doubled since 2015. This convenience, however, introduces unique situations when things go wrong. A car accident is a jarring experience under any circumstances, but being a passenger in a for-hire vehicle adds layers of complexity regarding insurance and liability.

Unlike a crash in your personal vehicle, an accident in an Uber involves multiple potential insurance policies. There is the driver’s personal auto insurance, Uber’s corporate insurance policy, and the policy of any other driver involved in the collision. These policies are governed by state-specific regulations for Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), the legal term for companies like Uber and Lyft. Understanding which policy applies depends on the driver’s status at the exact moment of the crash, a detail that can significantly impact a passenger’s ability to recover compensation for injuries and other damages.

The moments following a collision are critical for protecting your health and your legal rights. The steps you take at the scene, the information you collect, and the way you report the incident can all influence the outcome of your claim. This guide provides a clear, step-by-step process for passengers to follow. It moves beyond basic advice to explain the specific insurance rules that apply to Uber accidents and clarifies how to secure the support you need to handle the situation effectively.

1. Immediate Steps to Take at the Accident Scene

Your actions in the first few minutes after an Uber crash are the most important. Adrenaline and confusion can make it difficult to think clearly, so focusing on a simple sequence of priorities is essential for your safety and for preserving the facts of the incident.

Check for Injuries and Call 911

Before doing anything else, assess your physical condition. Are you in pain? Are you bleeding? Can you move without severe discomfort? Check on the other passengers in the Uber, your Uber driver, and the occupants of any other vehicles involved.

Your health is the absolute priority. Even if you believe injuries are minor, call 911 immediately. There are two critical reasons for this:

• Medical Response: Paramedics can provide immediate medical care at the scene. Some serious injuries, such as internal bleeding or head trauma, are not always immediately apparent. A professional medical evaluation is crucial.
• Official Police Report: When you call 911, police officers will be dispatched to the scene. They will create an official accident report, which is a vital piece of evidence. This report will contain the officer’s objective assessment of the scene, statements from drivers and witnesses, and often a preliminary determination of fault.

When you speak to the 911 operator, be clear and calm. State your location as precisely as possible, mention that you were a passenger in an Uber, and report any known injuries.

Move to a Safe Location

If the vehicles are in a dangerous position, such as the middle of a busy intersection or on a highway, and you are physically able to move, get to a safe place. This could be a sidewalk, a shoulder of the road, or a nearby parking lot. Do not stand between cars or in the direct path of traffic. If moving someone who is injured could cause further harm, it is best to wait for emergency responders to arrive. Turn on the vehicle’s hazard lights to alert other drivers.

Do Not Leave the Scene

Leaving the scene of an accident, especially one involving injuries, can have serious legal consequences, even for a passenger. Stay until the police and paramedics have arrived, you have been medically cleared or transported, and the police have indicated you are free to go. The police will want to take your statement as a passenger, which provides an unbiased account of what happened.

What to Say (and Not to Say)

When speaking with the Uber driver, the other driver, and police, stick to the facts. State what you saw and experienced as a passenger. However, it is important to avoid certain statements:

• Do not admit fault or apologize. Even a simple “I’m sorry” can be misinterpreted as an admission of guilt or responsibility.
• Do not speculate on the cause of the crash. You may think you know what happened, but you do not have all the information. Let the police conduct their investigation.
• Do not downplay your injuries. Avoid saying “I’m fine” or “I’m not hurt.” Adrenaline can mask pain. Instead, say “I’m not sure if I’m injured, I’d like to be checked by a professional.”

Your role is to be a factual witness. Provide your name, contact information, and a clear account of the events leading up to the impact from your perspective as a passenger.

2. Understanding Uber’s Complex Insurance Policy

The most confusing part of an Uber accident for a passenger is figuring out whose insurance pays for their medical bills and other losses. The answer depends entirely on the driver’s activity at the time of the crash. Uber and other TNCs have a multi-layered insurance system that provides different levels of coverage during different “periods” of the driver’s work.

The Three Periods of Rideshare Insurance

Insurance coverage for an Uber driver is not a single, constant policy. It changes based on their status within the Uber app. As a passenger, you were in the car during “Period 3,” which offers the highest level of coverage. However, understanding all three periods helps clarify why these cases are so different from a standard car accident.

• Period 1: App is On, Waiting for a Ride Request
  
  • The driver is logged into the Uber app and is available to accept a ride.
  • During this phase, the driver’s personal auto insurance is usually the primary coverage. However, most personal policies have a “business-use exclusion,” meaning they will not cover accidents that happen while the driver is working.
  • To fill this gap, Uber provides contingent liability coverage. This typically includes:
    • $50,000 in bodily injury liability per person
    • $100,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
    • $25,000 in property damage liability per accident
  • This coverage only applies if the driver’s personal insurance denies the claim.
• Period 2: Ride Request Accepted, Driving to Pick Up Passenger
  
  • Once the driver accepts your ride request and is on the way to you, Uber’s full commercial insurance policy kicks in.
  • This is the same level of coverage that applies once you are in the car.
• Period 3: Passenger is in the Vehicle
  
  • This is the period that applies to you as a passenger in an Uber crash. From the moment your ride begins until you are dropped off, you are covered by Uber’s substantial commercial insurance policy.
  • This policy includes:
    • $1 million in third-party liability coverage: This covers injuries and property damage your Uber driver causes to other people (e.g., the driver and passengers of another car, pedestrians).
    • $1 million in uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage: This is extremely important for you as a passenger. If your Uber is hit by a driver who has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover your injuries, this policy steps in to pay for your damages.
    • Contingent collision and comprehensive coverage: This covers damage to the Uber driver’s own car, but only if they have this coverage on their personal policy. This part does not directly affect you as a passenger.

Why This Matters for You as a Passenger

Because you were in the car during Period 3, you are protected by Uber’s $1 million liability and $1 million UM/UIM policies. This is a significant amount of coverage designed to protect passengers.

• If your Uber driver was at fault: You can file a claim against Uber’s $1 million liability policy for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
• If another driver was at fault: You would first file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance. If that driver is uninsured or their policy limits are too low to cover your full damages, you can then file a claim against Uber’s $1 million UM/UIM policy.

This structure ensures that, as a passenger, there is a substantial insurance policy available to you regardless of who caused the accident. This is a key protection that TNCs are required by law to provide.

3. Gathering Crucial Evidence to Support Your Claim

The evidence you collect at the scene and in the days following the crash forms the foundation of any potential insurance claim or legal action. While the police will create a report, their investigation may not capture every detail relevant to your specific situation as a passenger. Being proactive in documenting the incident is a powerful step.

Photographic and Video Evidence

Your smartphone is your most important tool for evidence collection. Take more photos and videos than you think you need, from multiple angles and distances. Capture the following:

• Vehicle Damage: Take wide shots showing all vehicles involved and their positions relative to each other. Then, take close-up photos of the damage to each car, including dents, scratches, and broken parts.
• License Plates and VINs: Get clear photos of the license plates of all vehicles. If possible, also photograph the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which is usually visible on the dashboard through the windshield on the driver’s side.
• The Accident Scene: Photograph the entire area. Capture traffic signals, stop signs, road conditions (e.g., wet pavement, potholes), skid marks, and any debris on the road. These details can help accident reconstruction experts determine how the crash occurred.
• Your Injuries: If you have any visible injuries like cuts, bruises, or swelling, photograph them immediately after the accident and continue to take photos over the following days as they develop.
• Driver Information: Take pictures of the other driver’s license and insurance card. This is often faster and more accurate than writing the information down by hand.

A short video can also be helpful. Walk around the scene and narrate what you are seeing to capture the overall context of the crash.

Information from Drivers and Witnesses

While the police will collect this information, it is wise to gather it yourself as a backup. Use your phone’s notepad or a pen and paper to record:

• All Drivers:
  • Full Name
  • Address
  • Phone Number
  • Driver’s License Number
  • Insurance Company and Policy Number
  • Vehicle Make, Model, and Color
• Witnesses:
  • Full Name
  • Phone Number
  • Email Address
  • Ask them what they saw and if they would be willing to provide a brief statement to the police or an insurance adjuster later. Witnesses provide an independent perspective and can be incredibly valuable to your case.

The Official Police Report

The police report is one of the most authoritative pieces of evidence. It contains the responding officer’s observations, a diagram of the accident, statements from parties and witnesses, and sometimes a citation issued to the at-fault driver.

• Get the Report Number: Before you leave the scene, ask one of the police officers for the police report number and the name of their department (e.g., city police, county sheriff, state patrol).
• How to Obtain a Copy: You can typically request a copy of the report from the law enforcement agency a few days after the accident, either online or in person. There may be a small fee. Your attorney can also obtain this report for you.

Documenting Your Uber Trip

Preserve the digital record of your ride. Take a screenshot of your Uber trip details within the app. This screenshot should show:

• The driver’s name and vehicle information.
• The pickup and drop-off locations.
• The route taken.
• The time the ride began and ended.

This information definitively proves you were a passenger in an active Uber trip when the accident happened, which is essential for triggering Uber’s Period 3 insurance coverage.

4. Medical Attention and Documenting Your Injuries

Nothing is more important than your health. Seeking prompt and thorough medical care after an Uber crash is not only critical for your recovery but also for creating an official record of your injuries. Insurance companies require medical documentation to connect your injuries to the accident.

Why You Must See a Doctor Immediately

Even if you feel you only have minor bumps and bruises, or no pain at all, you should be evaluated by a medical professional.

• Adrenaline Can Mask Pain: The shock of a car crash causes your body to release adrenaline, which can temporarily hide the pain of serious injuries. You might feel fine at the scene but wake up in severe pain the next day.
• Delayed-Onset Injuries: Certain common car accident injuries, like whiplash (a soft tissue injury to the neck), concussions, and internal injuries, may not present symptoms for hours or even days. A doctor can perform tests to identify these issues early.
• Creating a Medical Record: If you wait weeks to see a doctor, an insurance adjuster may argue that your injuries were not caused by the accident. Seeing a doctor on the same day as the crash establishes a clear timeline and a direct link between the incident and your physical condition.

You can go to an emergency room, an urgent care clinic, or your primary care physician. Be sure to tell the doctor that you were a passenger in a car accident and describe the details of the impact (e.g., “We were rear-ended,” “The impact was on the passenger side”).

Follow All Medical Advice

Your recovery depends on following your doctor’s orders. This is also important for your legal claim.

• Attend All Follow-Up Appointments: Keep every scheduled appointment with doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, or any other specialists.
• Take Prescribed Medications: Fill and take all prescriptions as directed.
• Do Not Stop Treatment Prematurely: Do not discontinue your treatment plan until your doctor has released you. If you stop going to physical therapy because you feel a little better, the insurance company may argue that your injuries were not as severe as you claim.

Gaps in your treatment can be used by insurance companies to devalue or deny your claim. They will look for any reason to suggest you were not seriously hurt or that you have already recovered.

Keep a Detailed Injury and Expense Journal

From the day of the accident, start a journal to track your experience. This personal record can be powerful evidence, especially for demonstrating pain and suffering, which is a significant component of a personal injury claim.

• Daily Pain Levels: On a scale of 1 to 10, rate your pain each day. Note where you feel the pain and what it feels like (e.g., sharp, dull, aching).
• Physical Limitations: Document how the injuries affect your daily life. Can you no longer lift your child, walk the dog, participate in hobbies, or perform certain tasks at work? Be specific.
• Emotional and Mental State: Note feelings of anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, or fear related to the accident. Post-traumatic stress is a real and compensable injury.
• Track All Expenses: Keep a folder or spreadsheet for all accident-related expenses. This includes:
  • Medical bills (hospital, doctor visits, physical therapy, prescriptions)
  • Mileage to and from medical appointments
  • Lost wages from time off work
  • Any other out-of-pocket costs

This detailed documentation will be invaluable when calculating the full value of your claim.

5. Reporting the Incident and Initiating a Claim

Once you have addressed your immediate safety and medical needs, you must formally report the accident to the relevant parties. This process starts the official insurance claim and protects your rights.

How to Report the Crash to Uber

Uber has a built-in process for reporting accidents through its app. It is important to do this as soon as you are able.

1. Open the Uber App: Go to your trip history.
2. Select the Correct Trip: Find the trip during which the accident occurred.
3. Find the “Help” Section: Tap on the help or support option for that trip.
4. Choose “I was in an accident”: This is a specific option in the menu.
5. Provide the Details: The app will prompt you to provide information about the incident. Stick to the facts. State that you were a passenger, an accident occurred, and you have sought or will be seeking medical attention.

Reporting the crash through the app creates an official record with Uber and triggers their internal safety and claims process. An Uber representative will likely contact you. When they do, it is best to keep the conversation brief and factual. State that you are receiving medical care and that you will provide more information later. Avoid giving a recorded statement or accepting any early settlement offers until you have spoken with an attorney.

Dealing with Insurance Adjusters

Shortly after the crash, you will likely be contacted by insurance adjusters. This could be an adjuster from your Uber driver’s insurance, the other driver’s insurance, or Uber’s own insurance company (which is often a company like James River or Allstate).

It is critical to be cautious in these conversations. The adjuster’s job is to protect their company’s financial interests, which means minimizing the amount of money they pay out on claims.

• Do Not Give a Recorded Statement: You are not legally obligated to provide a recorded statement to an at-fault party’s insurance company. Adjusters are trained to ask questions that may get you to downplay your injuries or inadvertently accept partial blame. Politely decline and state that you will be consulting with legal counsel.
• Do Not Sign Anything: Do not sign any medical authorizations or release forms from an insurance company without having an attorney review them first. You could be signing away your rights to future compensation or giving the insurer broad access to your entire medical history, which they can use to argue that your injuries were pre-existing.
• Do Not Accept a Quick Settlement: The first offer is almost always a lowball offer. The adjuster may try to pressure you into accepting a small amount of money quickly, before you know the full extent of your injuries and medical expenses. Once you accept a settlement, you cannot ask for more money later, even if you need additional surgery or long-term care.

Your best strategy is to let an experienced attorney handle all communications with insurance companies.

6. When and Why to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

While some minor fender-benders may not require legal help, an Uber accident involving any level of injury almost always warrants a consultation with a personal injury lawyer who specializes in rideshare cases. The insurance landscape is too complex, and the stakes are too high to handle it alone.

The Value of an Experienced Rideshare Lawyer

An attorney who understands the specifics of TNC law and insurance brings several key advantages to your case.

• They Understand the Insurance Maze: A skilled lawyer knows exactly which insurance policy applies (the other driver’s, Uber’s liability, or Uber’s UM/UIM) and how to pursue a claim against the correct party. They can cut through the insurance companies’ attempts to shift blame and deny coverage.
• They Handle All Communications: Your lawyer will become the point of contact for all insurance adjusters, medical providers, and other attorneys. This allows you to focus on your recovery without the stress of constant phone calls and paperwork.
• They Accurately Calculate Your Damages: An attorney knows how to value a claim beyond just medical bills. They will calculate the full extent of your losses, including:
  • Economic Damages: Current and future medical expenses, lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity.
  • Non-Economic Damages: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disability or disfigurement.
• They Gather Evidence and Build a Strong Case: Lawyers have resources to conduct a thorough investigation. They can hire accident reconstruction experts, subpoena cell phone records to check for distracted driving, and depose witnesses to build a powerful case on your behalf.
• They Negotiate a Fair Settlement: Most personal injury cases are settled out of court. An experienced negotiator can leverage the strength of your case to secure a much higher settlement than you could on your own. Insurance companies take claims from attorneys far more seriously.
• They Are Prepared to Go to Trial: If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, your attorney will be prepared to file a lawsuit and fight for you in court. The threat of litigation is often the most powerful tool for getting an insurer to pay what your claim is worth.

How to Find the Right Attorney

When looking for a lawyer, seek out a firm or individual with specific, demonstrable experience in rideshare accident cases. Ask them directly:

• “How many Uber or Lyft accident cases have you handled?”
• “What were the outcomes of those cases?”
• “Are you familiar with the TNC laws in our state?”

Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not pay any attorney’s fees upfront. The lawyer’s fee is a percentage of the settlement or verdict they obtain for you. If they do not win your case, you do not owe them a fee. This arrangement allows anyone to access high-quality legal representation, regardless of their financial situation.

What happens if your uber driver crashes?

If your Uber driver crashes, you may be covered under Uber’s insurance policy depending on what stage the ride was in at the time of the accident. If you were already in the car or the driver was on the way to pick you up, Uber typically provides liability coverage and injury protection for passengers, and you can file a claim just like in any other car accident. You should seek medical attention, collect evidence such as driver and vehicle information, and report the crash through the Uber app. In most cases, the claim may involve both Uber’s insurer and the at-fault party’s insurance. If the driver was off-duty and not using the app, then their personal insurance applies instead. Passengers generally have the right to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other damages resulting from the crash.

Conclusion

Being involved in a crash while riding in an Uber can be a disorienting and stressful event. The path to physical and financial recovery requires a series of deliberate, informed actions. Your first and most important response must always be to prioritize the health and safety of yourself and others by calling 911. From there, the focus shifts to documentation. Meticulously gathering evidence at the scene, from photos and witness statements to the official police report, provides the factual basis for any future claim. This evidence, combined with a screenshot of your Uber trip details, proves you were a passenger covered under the company’s robust commercial insurance policy.

Seeking immediate medical attention is non-negotiable. It is essential for your well-being and creates the necessary medical records to link your injuries directly to the collision. As you recover, diligently follow all medical advice and maintain a personal journal to track your pain, limitations, and expenses. This detailed record is crucial for demonstrating the full impact the accident has had on your life. When reporting the incident, use the Uber app to create an official record, but exercise extreme caution when speaking with insurance adjusters. Their goal is to minimize their company’s payout, not to ensure your complete recovery.

Ultimately, the most effective step you can take to protect your rights is to engage a personal injury attorney with specific experience in rideshare accidents. They can manage the complex insurance claims process, handle all communications on your behalf, and fight to secure the full compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost income, and your pain and suffering. Taking this step allows you to focus entirely on what matters most: your health and recovery. Do not delay in seeking professional legal advice; the decisions you make in the days following an Uber crash can have a lasting impact on your future. Contact us for free case evaluation.