Can You Sue After an Uber Accident in New Orleans? Here’s How to Recover Compensation

By Peirce A. Hammond II

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Uncategorized

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Last Modified on Apr 14, 2025

Get the Justice You Deserve After an Uber Crash

Rideshare services like Uber are a part of daily life in New Orleans. If you’re injured in an Uber accident, you may not know your rights. A New Orleans Uber accident attorney can guide you through the legal process to seek compensation. It’s important to understand who may be liable and when you can file a claim.

If you’re injured in an Uber accident, you may qualify for compensation based on fault and Uber’s insurance. Due to Louisiana laws and Uber’s policies, these cases can be more complex than regular car accidents. Protect your rights by seeking medical care, collecting evidence, and consulting a lawyer. Compensation may cover medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Quick Summary:

• Rideshare services like Uber differ from taxis as drivers use their own cars, set their schedules, and face variable pricing. A driver’s personal insurance applies unless they are actively using the rideshare app. At this point, company insurance may cover accidents. Determining liability in Uber accidents can be complex, involving the driver, company, other motorists, passengers, or pedestrians. A New Orleans ridesharing accident lawyer can help manage these challenges and protect your rights.
• Uber’s insurance coverage depends on the driver’s app usage at the time of an accident. When transporting passengers or accepting rides, Uber provides up to $1 million in liability coverage and supplements the driver’s insurance. If the driver is online but waiting for a ride, Uber offers limited liability coverage. When the driver is offline, only their personal auto insurance applies.
• If you’re injured in an Uber accident in New Orleans, you can sue if negligence caused your injuries. Take key steps like calling 911, seeking medical care, and reporting the accident to Uber. Consulting a rideshare accident attorney can help you protect your rights and seek compensation.
• If you’re hurt in an Uber accident, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Liability can involve both the driver and Uber, making the claims process complex. An Uber accident lawyer can help you determine the damages you deserve and handle the legal process.

How Do Rideshare Services Differ from Traditional Taxis?

Traditional taxi or vehicle services work differently than ridesharing services like Uber. These companies consider their drivers independent contractors, meaning they drive their own cars and shoulder the cost of maintenance and fuel. In contrast to taxis, which have fixed rates, rideshare prices can change based on several variables, including the time of day and the number of passengers.

Furthermore, rideshare drivers have more flexibility because they create their schedules. One significant difference is that a driver’s personal insurance, not the company’s, is the only form of insurance that applies while not using the rideshare app. For drivers using Uber, this information is important because the stage of app usage dictates whether the company’s insurance applies and, if it does, what kind of coverage is offered.

Who Can Be Held Liable in an Uber Accident?

Determining who is liable in a typical car accident that results from a driver’s negligence is typically simple. However, accidents involving rideshare drivers, including those who work for Uber, can pose more difficult legal issues. While some states recognize Uber drivers as independent contractors, others consider them to be the company’s employees.

Liability determination may become complicated because of this discrepancy, but a knowledgeable New Orleans ridesharing accident lawyer can guide you through these challenges and defend your rights. In the event of a ridesharing accident, the following parties could be held liable for your damages:

• The rideshare driver and their personal insurance.
• The rideshare company, such as Uber.
• Another motorist was involved in the accident.
• A passenger whose reckless behavior distracted the driver.
• A pedestrian who caused a roadway hazard.

The rideshare company is frequently the center of attention in many rideshare accidents. For instance, Uber drivers connect with passengers and rely on a smartphone app for directions. To accept trips and follow instructions, drivers must use this app while keeping their phones on their dashboards and constantly interacting with the system. Although this technology increases productivity, it also causes a great deal of distraction, which raises the possibility of accidents.

What Happens When an Uber Accident Occurs? Your Rights and Coverage

The extent of coverage is determined by the driver’s actions at the time of the accident, and Uber’s insurance policies offer coverage based on situations involving the driver’s use of the app. The main distinction is whether the driver is waiting for a trip request or transporting passengers, as well as the coverage amounts.

Accidents While Driving a Passenger or After Accepting a Ride Request

Uber offers up to $1 million in liability coverage for third-party injuries and losses when a driver accepts a ride or is actively transporting a passenger. In addition, the driver’s personal auto insurance is supplemented by extensive and collision insurance for their vehicle.

Accidents While Logged Out of the App

Uber’s insurance kicks in only when the driver is actively using the app—waiting for or finishing rides. The driver must rely on their own auto insurance policy for coverage in the event of an accident that happens when they are not online.

Accidents While Logged in but Waiting for a Ride Request

If the driver is online but hasn’t yet accepted a ride, they are still covered by Uber’s insurance for liability. This includes:

• At least $50,000 in injury liability per person.
• Up to $100,000 in total liability per accident.
• $25,000 in property damage liability per accident.

The legal process resembles a standard car accident claim for individuals injured in accidents involving an offline Uber driver, as Uber’s insurance does not apply in these cases.