Who pays if I’m an Uber passenger and another car causes the accident?
A passenger riding in an Uber when a third vehicle causes the wreck sits in a strong coverage position under Georgia law, because two separate pools of insurance can be reached. The at-fault outside driver’s liability policy is the first target, and Uber’s commercial coverage stands behind it.
The at-fault driver pays first ¶
When another motorist runs a light, rear-ends the Uber, or otherwise causes the collision, that driver’s liability insurer is primarily responsible for the resulting injuries. Georgia drivers must carry at least the state minimum auto liability limits, and an injured rideshare passenger can present a claim against that policy the same as anyone else hurt by a negligent driver. Fault is the controlling question, and the passenger, having no control over either vehicle, normally bears none of it.
Uber’s coverage when the outside driver is underinsured ¶
The practical problem is that minimum limits often fall short of real medical bills. That is where the rideshare company’s policy matters. Under O.C.G.A. § 33-1-24, while a driver is engaged in a prearranged ride with a passenger aboard, the transportation network company must keep $1,000,000 in coverage available for death, injury, and property damage. That coverage also includes uninsured and underinsured motorist protection, which Georgia set at $300,000 for all persons injured in one accident, capped at $100,000 for any one person.
For a passenger struck by an underinsured at-fault driver, the sequence usually looks like this:
- Recover the at-fault driver’s available liability limits.
- Turn to the rideshare policy’s UM/UIM coverage to make up the shortfall, up to the statutory amounts.
The bottom line ¶
A passenger injured because another car caused the Uber crash generally collects first from the at-fault driver’s liability insurer, with Uber’s § 33-1-24 coverage, including its underinsured-motorist component, available to fill any gap. Because timely notice and documentation affect both claims, an injured passenger gains nothing by delay and may lose options by waiting past Georgia’s two-year deadline for injury claims.
This article is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship, and Georgia law may change. For advice about a specific situation, consult a licensed Georgia personal injury attorney.