Rideshare companies such as Uber provide their drivers with partial insurance coverage while they work for the company. When Uber employees are not actively working, they must still have their own auto insurance. These overlapping insurance policies can make things confusing if you are involved in an accident with an Uber driver.
Because the state follows the strict contributory negligence policy regarding accidents, if a court finds you to be even partially responsible for the accident, you cannot recover damages. It is important to contact an experienced rideshare attorney for information about insurance policy requirements for Uber drivers in Knoxville to protect your legal rights.
Rideshare employees in Knoxville must carry minimum liability insurance for their personal vehicles, just like other drivers. When a driver is not looking for passengers and not using their Uber app (that is, on the app), the law treats them the same as any other driver.
Uber drivers must have liability insurance with at least:
If a driver is logged into the app and waiting for a passenger, their primary coverage is their personal insurance. Uber’s policy covers anything the driver’s insurer does not, and it increases the driver’s liability coverage to $50,000/$100,000/$25,000.
Finally, if the driver has a passenger, Uber must provide a $1 million third-party liability coverage.
This is an at-fault state, meaning the party responsible for the accident pays for the other driver’s injuries and property damage. However, the at-fault party in an Uber accident depends on what the driver was doing at the time of the accident.
You must determine whether the driver was on the app when the accident occurred. If the Knoxville rideshare employee was running personal errands, then you can only file a claim with their personal insurer, and their policy limits will determine how much you can recover. If they had logged in and were waiting for a passenger or had one onboard, then you must file your claim with both the driver’s insurance company and Uber.
Uber has an online accident claim form. If you do not know for certain if the driver was heading for a pickup, you may want to file with the company and let them determine the validity of your claim. You should discuss this with an attorney before filing anything with either insurance company.
After an accident, your first step should be seeking medical care. Your next step should be contacting a personal injury attorney. At Dennis Injury Law, we understand the insurance policy requirements for Uber drivers in Knoxville, and we help you gather the evidence you need to file your claim with the driver’s insurance company and send your accident claim to Uber.
To get the compensation you deserve, you must prove you had no responsibility for the accident. Our legal team works with you to collect the proof necessary to show who caused the accident. Since an Uber claim may involve several insurance companies and their attorneys, we will negotiate settlement offers to ensure you receive the best outcome. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we do not receive payment until we settle or win the case. Contact us for a free consultation today.