The average settlement for an Uber accident depends on several factors, including the extent of injuries, the status of the Uber driver at the time of the crash, and the amount of insurance coverage available, if any.
Since Uber drivers are often classified as independent contractors, your accident claim might involve multiple insurance policies and complicated liability issues. While there’s no universal settlement amount, understanding how compensation is determined can provide insight.
If you were hurt in an Uber accident, a Kansas City car accident lawyer can explain how the state’s law applies to your case and how to proceed. Your attorney will act as a reliable resource when it comes to figuring out your Uber passenger accident settlement amount.
Understanding Uber’s Insurance Structure
A major factor in any Uber accident case is the insurance policy that was in place at the time of the collision. Essentially, Uber provides a layered insurance model that depends on what the Uber driver was doing when the incident occurred. Let’s take a look at these three phases.
Period 0: The Driver Is Offline
If the Uber driver is not logged into the Uber app at the time of the collision, then Uber’s commercial insurance does not apply. In this case, any damages or injuries resulting from a crash would be covered by the driver’s personal auto insurance policy.
Missouri state laws require drivers to carry minimum liability coverage in the following amounts:
- $25,000 for bodily injury per person
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $10,000 per accident for property damage
However, these minimums often fall short in cases that result in severe injuries or wrongful deaths. Your car accident attorney in Kansas City can help you pursue other avenues of compensation if these limits apply to your circumstances.
Period 1: The Driver Is Online But Hasn’t Accepted a Ride
If the Uber driver is logged into the app and awaiting a ride request at the time of the crash, your Uber passenger accident settlement amount could include the following coverage from Uber’s insurance:
- $50,000 in bodily injury per person
- $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 for any property damage
This coverage acts as secondary insurance, so it typically only goes into effect if the driver’s personal insurance denies your claim. It might also kick in if your insurance policy does not cover the full extent of the damages you sustained in a collision that wasn’t your fault.
Periods 2 and 3: En Route to Pick Up or Transporting a Passenger
Once the driver has accepted a ride, they will be either en route to the passenger or actively transporting them. Either way, if one of these two scenarios is true, Uber’s commercial liability policy applies. This could include the following:
- Up to $1 million in third-party liability coverage
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
- Contingent comprehensive and collision coverage
This elevated level of insurance coverage during active rides means you’re looking at a higher settlement potential, especially in cases that involve catastrophic injuries or multiple claimants.
Factors That Influence Uber Passenger Accident Settlement Amounts in Missouri
No two accident claims are the same, but certain elements consistently influence Uber passenger accident settlement amounts. Let’s look more closely at some factors that influence Uber accident settlements in Missouri.
Severity of Injuries
In general, the more serious your injuries, the higher the potential settlement. While this is not always the case, the physical pain, mental turmoil, and emotional distress that you endure will be considered when calculating your total settlement amount.
These are injuries commonly sustained by victims of Uber-related crashes:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord damage or paralysis
- Internal organ injuries
- Multiple fractures
- Soft tissue injuries and whiplash
Status of Victim at the Time of the Incident
In Uber accidents, several parties may be injured, including:
- The Uber passenger
- The Uber driver
- Occupants of another vehicle
- Pedestrians or cyclists
Passengers in particular benefit from Uber’s commercial coverage, especially if they are injured during an active ride. In contrast, third parties may need to pursue a claim against both the Uber driver and potentially Uber itself, depending on the circumstances.
Liability and Comparative Fault
According to RSMo § 537.765, Missouri adheres to a pure comparative fault system. This means that personal injury victims are legally allowed to recover damages even if they are partially at fault for the incident that caused them to get hurt in the first place. However, their recovery will be reduced by their percentage of fault.
For example, perhaps the calculations show that a victim is owed $100,000 in damages, but they are also found to be 30% at fault for the collision. In that case, they would only receive $70,000. It’s worth noting that this system can impact the value of your settlement, especially if liability is disputed.
Economic vs. Non-Economic Damages
Missouri recognizes both economic and non-economic damages in personal injury claims. For starters, economic damages refer to quantifiable losses like these:
- Emergency room and hospital bills
- Follow-up medical care and physical therapy
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses, such as transportation or prescriptions
While non-economic damages are harder to calculate, here’s what they typically include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement or permanent impairment
In high-impact accidents, non-economic damages can make up a large portion of your Uber passenger accident settlement amounts.
Contact our Kansas city personal injury lawyers now.
Statute of Limitations for Uber Accident Claims in Missouri
Missouri state laws give victims of these collisions five years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. It’s also important to note that wrongful death claims must be filed within three years of the date of death, so two years sooner than other cases.
While these timeframes may seem rather lengthy at face value, you should still operate urgently. It’s important to act quickly when it comes to securing legal counsel because failing to file on time could result in you losing your right to recover any compensation at all.
Contact Our Uber Accident Law Firm in Missouri for More Information About the Average Settlement For an Uber Accident
If you or a loved one has been hurt in an Uber accident, the impact likely extends far beyond the injuries themselves. It’s not unusual for survivors to be left grappling with steep medical expenses, time away from work, emotional trauma, and uncertainty about what comes next.
Collisions involving Uber drivers can turn your life upside down in an instant, but you don’t have to pick up the pieces on your own. At Foster Wallace Personal Injury Lawyers, we know how overwhelming this experience can be, but we’re here to help.
Our Missouri car accident lawyers have more than 45 years of combined experience helping people like you through the fallout of Uber-related crashes. You’ve already been through enough—let us help you fight for accountability and much-deserved compensation.
