A side hustle is supposed to be how you make extra money. There are times when it can actually end up costing you money, however. If you are doing Uber as a side hustle and get into an accident this can really set you back financially.
Besides the fact that your primary means of income just got sidelined, you can also see some serious bills arise out of the accident. There could be time lost to your primary job so lost wages and medical expenses. It is very tempting to try to find a car accident attorney to sue Uber, but it isn’t that simple a situation.
In this article, we will go over what happens if you find yourself in an accident while driving for Uber.
When Was The accident?
There are many policies that Uber has with regard to its drivers. One of them is third-party liability protection that many states require them to have. This is in addition to the private insurance policy each driver has to have.
When the accident occurs is going to determine how the accident compensation is paid and who will pay it. So the timing of the accident is essential in how the rest of the story is going to play out. For instance, if your accident comes under premises liability. Your attorney will consider the compensation based on how much loss has occurred and what further complications will come up for you; see more here. It will include everything from wages to car repair and medical expenses.
If You Are An Uber Driver And Get Into An Accident?
In one scenario, you are driving around and waiting for a fare and the app is running. While distracted for a moment looking at the app, you rear-end a car in front of you. The third-party liability kicks in and will pay for damages to the other car and for any medical expenses the driver and passengers are entitled to recoup. How much gets paid is going to depend on the state statutes where the accident occurred.
Another scenario is that the same thing happens where you rear-end a car but are either driving to pick up a fare or have one in your car already. The same situation applies as far as third-party insurance goes.
The thing to remember here is that in neither scenario is your damage or medical expenses covered by that liability insurance from Uber. Your own insurance is going to have to pay for yours or you will pay out of your own pocket. It only covers the other driver in these situations.
How To Protect Yourself
To make sure you don’t find yourself in either of the above scenarios, there are some steps to take for personal protection. Uber offers Optional Injury Protection insurance that you can buy to make sure that you are also compensated for an accident while you are on the app. In California, this is paid for by the company, but in other states where it is available, you will have to pay a certain rate per mile.
If it isn’t available in your state then look into special rideshare coverage from your private insurance company. This will give you extra protection in case you are injured while driving.
