An Uber accident leaves you in a terrible position. You're hurt, the medical bills are piling up, and you can't work. Meanwhile, you're trying to figure out who's responsible and how you'll pay for everything. The good news is that you can recover compensation for your losses. The challenge is that rideshare accidents aren't like regular car crashes. Multiple insurance policies might be in play, and what you can recover depends heavily on what the Uber driver was doing when the collision happened.

Medical Expenses And Treatment Costs

Your medical bills typically make up the largest part of your claim. And you're not just limited to what you've already paid. You can seek compensation for:

  • Emergency room visits and ambulance transport
  • Hospital stays and surgical procedures
  • Diagnostic tests like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Prescription medications
  • Medical equipment such as crutches, wheelchairs, or braces
  • Follow-up appointments with specialists

Future medical care matters just as much. If your doctor says you'll need ongoing treatment, those projected costs belong in your settlement. A Phoenix Uber Accident Attorney can help you calculate what that long-term care will actually cost, so you're not stuck paying out of pocket years down the road.

Lost Wages And Earning Capacity

Missing work hurts. You're already dealing with injuries, and now you're watching your paycheck disappear. You can recover compensation for all the income you've lost. That includes your regular wages, overtime, commissions, bonuses, and any other employment benefits you would've received if the accident hadn't happened, but what if you can't go back to your old job? That's where lost earning capacity comes in. Some injuries prevent you from doing the same work or force you to take a lower-paying position. You deserve compensation for that difference. It's not just about the paychecks you've already missed. It's about the income you won't be able to earn in the future because of someone else's negligence.

Pain And Suffering

Physical pain doesn't come with a receipt. Neither does emotional distress. But Arizona law recognizes these damages as real and compensable. Pain and suffering cover the physical discomfort you've experienced during recovery and any permanent limitations you're facing. It also addresses the emotional toll. Anxiety about driving again. Depression from not being able to do things you love. Sleep problems. The loss of enjoyment in daily activities that used to bring you happiness. How much you can recover depends on your injuries. Severe, permanent disabilities typically result in higher compensation than injuries that heal completely within a few months. Disfigurement and scarring also increase the value of this portion of your claim.

Property Damage

If your car took a hit, your phone shattered, or your laptop broke, those losses count. You're entitled to compensation for repairs or replacement costs for anything damaged in the collision. If your vehicle can be fixed, you get the repair cost. If it's totaled, you receive the fair market value. Don't forget about rental car expenses while you're waiting for repairs. Those add up quickly, and you shouldn't have to cover them.

Uber's Insurance Coverage

Uber maintains different coverage levels depending on what the driver was doing at the moment of impact. If the app is off, the driver's personal insurance applies. Once the app is on but no ride's been accepted yet, Uber's contingent coverage provides $50,000 per person for injuries. That's better than nothing, but it's often not enough for serious accidents. The coverage jumps significantly when a driver has accepted a ride request or has a passenger in the car. At that point, Uber provides $1 million in liability coverage. Understanding which policy applies makes a massive difference in how much compensation you can actually recover.

Building Your Claim

Documentation is everything. Keep your medical records. Save every bill. Hold onto pay stubs that show your missed work. Get repair estimates for your vehicle. Take photos of your injuries and the damage to your car. This evidence demonstrates the full extent of what you've lost. Without it, you're asking an insurance company to take your word for it, and they won’t. Arizona follows comparative negligence rules. Which means that if you're found partially at fault for the accident, your compensation decreases by that percentage. Were you 20% responsible? Your total damages get reduced by 20%. That's why having strong evidence to prove the other driver caused the collision is so important.

Getting Help With Your Case

Rideshare accidents involve layers of insurance policies and corporate procedures that most people have never dealt with before. You're already recovering from injuries. You shouldn't have to become an insurance expert too. Wyatt Injury Law Personal Injury Attorneys handles these claims regularly. We understand how Uber's insurance works, what tactics their adjusters use, and what it takes to recover fair compensation. Contact us today.