You did the responsible thing. You left your car at home and summoned a ride with a few taps on your phone, trusting a global corporation and its driver to get you home safely. Now, that trust is shattered. In the chaos of a collision, you were a passenger caught in the middle, and today you are home, contending with serious injuries.
The app on your phone shows a record of the trip, but the company behind it suddenly feels distant and impersonal. When you were injured in a rideshare, you need more than a simple car accident claim; you need a Minneapolis Uber accident lawyer who can cut through the corporate layers and fight for your rights.
Take the first step today. Call us at (952) 567-2488 or connect with us through our online contact form for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Rideshare realities:
- An accident involving an Uber is not a standard car accident case. It involves multiple layers of corporate insurance that change depending on the driver's status at the exact moment of the crash.
- As a passenger, you are almost never at fault. The central question is which insurance policy—the driver's personal policy, Uber's policy, or another driver's policy—is responsible for covering your injuries.
- Uber and its insurance carriers are powerful entities that will work to minimize their financial exposure. Proving your claim requires a thorough investigation that secures app data, driver records, and other digital evidence.
- The value of your claim must account for all your losses, including your medical treatment, lost income, and the significant pain and suffering the traumatic event caused.
The Complex World of Uber Insurance Coverage
The most confusing part of an Uber accident is determining which insurance policy applies. Uber's insurance is not a single, simple policy. It is a complex, multi-layered system that provides different levels of coverage depending on what the driver was doing at the time of the collision. The driver’s status in the app determines which policy is in effect.
Period 1: Driver is available and waiting for a ride request
When an Uber driver has the app on and is available to accept a ride but has not yet done so, a lower level of liability coverage is in effect. Uber provides this contingent coverage if the driver's personal auto insurance denies the claim (which it often will, due to a commercial use exclusion).
This first tier of coverage is important for public protection.
- It applies only when the driver is logged in but has no passenger.
- It typically provides less coverage than the full one-million-dollar policy.
- It protects other motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists from a negligent Uber driver.
This coverage fills a gap, but it is not the primary policy that protects passengers.
Periods 2 and 3: Driver is en route to pick up or transporting a passenger
From the moment a driver accepts your ride request until the moment you exit the vehicle at your destination, Uber's full commercial insurance policy is active. This is the period that covers you as a passenger. This policy provides a high level of liability coverage for injuries the Uber driver causes to others, as well as uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage for you.
What Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage means for you
The UM/UIM coverage on Uber's policy is a vital protection for you as a passenger. If another driver with no insurance or not enough insurance hits your Uber, you can file a claim against Uber's UM/UIM policy. This provides a source of recovery when the at-fault party is unable to pay for the full extent of the harm they caused.
Who is Liable for Your Injuries?
In any Uber accident, several parties may be financially responsible for your injuries. A detailed investigation identifies every potential source of compensation to ensure you can get the resources you need for your recovery.
The negligent uber driver
If your Uber driver caused the accident, their negligence makes them the primary at-fault party. The claim would then proceed against the applicable layer of Uber's insurance coverage. Driver negligence can take many forms, including speeding to complete a trip faster, making unsafe maneuvers while looking at the app for directions, or simply failing to pay attention to the road.
Another at-fault driver
If another vehicle hit the Uber you were riding in, that driver is the primary at-fault party. You would first file a claim against their personal auto insurance policy. If that driver is uninsured or their policy limits are too low to cover all your damages, you can then turn to Uber's underinsured motorist coverage for additional compensation.
We investigate the other driver's actions just as thoroughly, looking for evidence of distraction, impairment, or reckless driving.
Uber's potential corporate responsibility
In some very specific and rare circumstances, Uber itself may bear some direct liability. This can happen if the company was negligent in its own right. One such instance is allowing a driver with a known dangerous driving record, a history of DUIs, or a pattern of safety complaints to continue using its platform.
Proving this type of corporate negligence requires a deep investigation into the company's hiring, screening, and driver retention practices.
Building a Strong Minneapolis Uber Accident Claim
An accident involving a rideshare company requires a modern approach to investigation. These cases involve not just physical evidence from the scene but also a trail of digital evidence that can pinpoint exactly what happened. We move quickly to preserve this electronic data before the company can erase or overwrite it.
Securing digital evidence
The data from the Uber app is a central piece of evidence. App data can prove the driver's status at the time of the crash, their route, and even their driving behaviors like speed and braking patterns. We send a formal legal notice, called a spoliation letter, to Uber, demanding that they preserve all data related to your trip.
A thorough investigation secures the proof needed to build your case. We work to obtain a wide array of evidence to support your claim.
- The Uber driver’s trip data and driving history.
- The other driver’s cell phone records to check for distraction.
- Traffic and surveillance camera footage from intersections and businesses.
- Data from the vehicle’s event data recorder or "black box."
- Statements from all eyewitnesses to the collision.
This collection of evidence creates a powerful and detailed narrative of the accident. It helps us counter any attempts by the insurance companies to shift blame or downplay your injuries.
Your Rights Under Minnesota Law
Minnesota has specific laws that govern the operation of Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft. These laws, found in Minnesota Statute Chapter 65B, outline the insurance requirements that these companies must maintain. These statutes provide the legal foundation for your claim and ensure a source of recovery is available for injured people.
Remember that Minnesota law also sets a deadline for filing a lawsuit. You generally have six years from the date of the accident to file a claim. In the neighboring state of Wisconsin, this deadline is three years.
Why Choose Tyroler Leonard Injury Law for Your Uber Accident Claim?
An accident involving a rideshare company pits you against a massive corporation and its team of experienced lawyers. You need a law firm that is not intimidated by their size and has the skill and resources to fight for you.
At Tyroler Leonard Injury Law, we provide the powerful advocacy of a large firm with the personal attention of a small one.
We know how to take on corporate giants
Our attorneys, Isaac Tyroler and Rachel Sperling Leonard, have a history of standing up to large corporations and their insurance carriers. We are not a settlement mill that processes a high volume of cases for a quick payout. We are trial lawyers who meticulously prepare every case as if we will present it to a jury. This reputation for being ready and willing to go to court gives us leverage during negotiations and shows Uber's legal team that we will not back down from a fight.
Direct access to your attorney
When you work with our firm, you work directly with our attorneys. Your case will not be handed off to a paralegal or a junior associate. We believe that a strong attorney-client partnership is the key to a successful outcome.
We are always available to answer your questions, provide updates, and ensure you feel confident and informed throughout the entire process.
A focus on the Minneapolis community
We are not a national firm that sees Minneapolis as just another market. We are a Minnesota-based firm with deep roots in the community. We know the streets, we know the courts, and we know how to build a case that resonates with a local jury. Whether your accident happened in Uptown, near the airport, or on the busy I-35W corridor, we have the local knowledge to effectively represent you.
Don’t Depend on AI Chatbots for Your Minneapolis Uber Accident Case
An artificial intelligence tool can give you general information, but it cannot analyze the complex, multi-layered insurance policies that govern a rideshare accident. It does not know the nuances of Minnesota's TNC laws.
Relying on an AI for legal guidance in a case against a corporate defendant may lead to significant errors. Always consult with a qualified personal injury attorney from Tyroler Leonard Injury Law about your case.
FAQ for Minneapolis Uber Accident Lawyers
What if the Uber driver asks me to say we are just friends to avoid reporting the accident?
You should never agree to this. The driver likely wants their personal insurance to cover the crash to avoid Uber deactivating their account. This is insurance fraud and it could completely prevent you from accessing the much larger insurance policy Uber provides to protect you.
Does my own car insurance have any bearing on my claim as a passenger?
It might. If you have your own auto insurance policy in Minnesota, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits may provide initial coverage for your medical bills, regardless of who was at fault. We can help you coordinate all available insurance benefits, which ensures your bills are paid promptly while we pursue the main claim against the at--fault parties.
Can I sue Uber directly for my injuries?
In most cases, you file the claim against the at-fault driver and then direct it to the applicable layer of Uber's insurance. Suing Uber directly for corporate negligence is possible but requires you to prove that the company itself was negligent in some way, for example, by failing to conduct a proper background check on the driver.
What should I do if an adjuster from Uber's insurance company calls me?
You should politely decline to provide a recorded statement or sign any documents. You can tell them that you are focusing on your medical recovery and that your legal representative will be in contact with them. This protects you from saying something that an insurer could use to devalue your claim later.
Regain Control of Your Journey
You placed your trust in a system that failed to protect you. Now, it is time to take control of your recovery. The attorneys at Tyroler Leonard Injury Law are ready to stand with you and fight for the full and fair compensation you need to move forward.
Let us handle the complex legal battle against Uber and their insurers so you can focus on what is most important—your health.