If you’ve been in an Uber accident in Florida, you’re likely to deal with two problems at once. Those being, your injuries and the confusing question of “who’s responsible?”. Here is what to do after an Uber accident and how to protect yourself.

Lots of questions flood your mind after an accident, and some of those are, “Was the Uber driver at fault, or the other driver?” “Does Uber’s insurance apply?”, “What if you were a passenger and had no control over anything that happened?” and the answer to all of those questions is a little complicated because, what you do in those first minutes and days after a rideshare crash, as well as the choices you make, can protect your health and your claim or unintentionally damage both. Our firm wanted to provide a clear, step-by-step checklist to help you move forward. At Tucker Law, our firm is always here to lend a helping hand. You can always call us at 1-800-TUCKERWINS.

Step 1: get to a safe location and call 911

Your first job is survival and medical help, not “figuring it out” on the side of the road. Avoid arguing “who’s at fault” at the scene, especially if you are not in a safe location (on the highway, etc).

Do this immediately:

• Move to a safe location if you can, away from traffic
• Call 911 and request law enforcement and medical assistance
• Accept paramedic evaluation even if you “feel okay.”

A lot of serious injuries don’t fully show up until later, especially injuries such as concussions, soft tissue injuries, and back/neck trauma.

 

Step 2: Document the scene like you’re building a case because you are

In Uber crashes, evidence disappears fast. Cars get moved. Drivers leave. App details change. A few minutes of documentation can make a HUGE difference later.

If you’re able, take photos/video of:

• All vehicles involved, including wide shots and close-ups
• License plates and any company markings, Uber decals, etc.
• Visible injuries, any bruising, cuts, or torn clothing. You want it all documented, even the “little” things
• Road conditions, skid marks, debris, traffic signals, and signage
• The driver’s information and insurance cards (all drivers involved)

Quick tip: If you’re a passenger, our firm recommends screenshotting the Uber trip details in the app right away. That includes: your driver’s name, the time your pick up took place, and drop off estimate, the route, the trip status, and the receipt screen.

Step 3: Get the right info from everyone, not just the Uber driver

Rideshare crashes often involve multiple insurance companies. Make sure you have complete details.

You’ll want to collect:

• Names, phone numbers, and addresses for all drivers
• Insurance info for all vehicles involved
• Witness names and contact info (even one witness can change everything)
• The police report number and responding agency

Step 4: Report the crash in the Uber app, keep it simple, and give yourself time to gather all your thoughts 

Uber has in-app crash reporting. Use it promptly, but keep your message brief and factual. Be careful giving recorded statements to Uber’s insurance rep or any adjuster before getting legal guidance. Those calls are designed to lock you into a version of events, and they are often before you understand your injuries, which can make the insurance company treat your first words as the “ceiling” of your claim. Meaning they usually won’t pay you more than what you told them in that initial statement.

Good approach:

• State the date/time/location
• Confirm a crash occurred
• Report injuries if you have them
• Request that they preserve all trip data

Again, our firm does not recommend giving recorded statements to Uber’s insurance rep or any adjuster before you have legal guidance. You may be putting yourself in a harder situation and not get what you need from the insurance company due to saying the wrong thing or using the wrong verbiage.

Step 5: Get medical care the same day, if possible

Injury claims rise or fall on medical documentation. If you wait weeks, insurance companies will often argue you weren’t really hurt or worse that something else caused your condition. Especially in Florida, early medical treatment can be critical for both health and insurance reasons.

What to do:

• Go to the ER, urgent care, or your doctor
• Tell providers it was a motor vehicle accident/rideshare crash
• Describe symptoms clearly (headache, dizziness, neck pain, numbness, anxiety, sleep disruption)
• Follow the treatment plan and attend follow-up visits

Step 6: Don’t “help” the insurance company build a defense.

This is where good people unintentionally sabotage valid claims.

Common mistakes after an Uber accident:

• Saying “I’m fine” at the scene (it gets repeated later as “no injury”)
• Posting on social media about the crash or your recovery
• Accepting a quick settlement before you know the full medical picture
• Skipping appointments or “toughing it out.”
• Giving recorded statements without legal advice
• Throwing away receipts and paperwork

Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. Even casual comments can be twisted into “proof” that you weren’t hurt or weren’t that impacted.

Step 7: Understand the big Uber insurance question: was the driver “on the app”?

Uber crashes are different because coverage can depend on the driver’s status in the app at the time of the wreck. To explain that differently, there are different coverage options for the driver and company depending on these three things:

• The driver was offline (personal auto insurance may apply)
• The driver was online, waiting for a ride
• The driver had accepted a ride or had a passenger in the car. This is often where larger rideshare coverage may apply

That’s why preserving trip data and app status is so important. It can affect what policies are available as well as how much coverage exists.

Step 8: Call a lawyer before you sign anything

The right legal representation isn’t about “making it a big deal.” It’s about making sure you’re not pressured into a small deal while you’re still hurting, confused, and focused on recovery. Many people get scared out of receiving attorney representation because they think it will “hurt their wallet,” but overall, it helps them in a massive way and helps them understand their rights.

Benefits of having an attorney after a Florida Uber accident:

• You don’t have to deal with the adjuster games
• You get help identifying every insurance policy that may apply
• Your medical documentation gets organized the right way
• Evidence gets preserved before it disappears (app data, vehicle data, surveillance, witnesses)
• Your damages get calculated fully, not just your first ER bill

How an attorney helps you understand your rights and maximize compensation:

A fair claim isn’t just “what the hospital charged.” It’s the full impact the crash had on your life, which a lot of people don’t realize or sometimes feel guilty asking for more, even though it’s well deserved. Most of it is due to communication and verbiage that you may not know or understand in a chaotic situation.

A lawyer can help build and prove damages, like:

• Past and future medical care. Including therapy, imaging, and specialists
• Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life
• Out-of-pocket costs (meds, medical devices, travel for treatment)
• Property damage and related expenses

Having a lawyer matters, especially in Florida, where multiple insurance policies can overlap in rideshare crashes and insurers move fast to limit what they owe. An attorney can take over communications, preserve the right evidence, find other evidence that you may not have known how to preserve, for instance, street surveillance, buying police reports, and helping you find any other app data or evidence that can be useful. A well-experienced lawyer, including myself, will also make sure your medical records and damages are documented the right way before you’re pressured into a quick, undervalued payout.

If you’ve been in an Uber accident, call Tucker Law at 1-800-TUCKERWINS to help you protect your rights and put the insurance companies on notice that you’re taking your recovery and your claim seriously.