If you have suffered an injury as a passenger in an Uber taxi, you should be entitled to make an Uber accident claim for personal injury compensation.
We are a trusted claims management company helping people make personal injury claims for over 15 years.
Uber Accident Claims
You may be eligible to claim compensation if you were injured in an Uber accident. A specialist solicitor can help you make an Uber accident claim and recover compensation for your pain, suffering and any financial losses.
Uber accidents can happen due to driver negligence, other road users, or external factors such as poor road conditions. These can lead to a wide range of injuries, from cuts and bruises to fractures, whiplash and serious head injuries with permanent consequences.
Our team of solicitors can quickly confirm whether you have a valid claim for compensation during a free initial consultation and explain your legal options. To get started, call 0800 470 0472 or use our online claim form to request a call back.
Key points about Uber accident claims
- Eligibility: You can claim if you were injured while travelling in, driving, or hit by an Uber due to someone else’s negligence.
- Liability: Depending on the circumstances, the Uber driver, another road user, or a third party may be at fault.
- Time Limit: Claims must generally be made within 3 years of the date of the accident, although there are some exceptions.
- Compensation: Can cover physical injuries, emotional trauma, time off work, and vehicle or travel costs.
- No Win, No Fee: Your solicitor will offer a no win, no fee arrangement, so you only pay if your Uber claim is successful.
Table of Contents
What are Uber compensation claims?
While Uber rides are generally very safe and smooth, accidents can sometimes occur, and could lead to injuries, suffering and financial losses.
An Uber claim is a type of personal injury claim that can be made to recover compensation for the damages linked to the accident. You may be able to make an Uber accident claim if:
- You were a passenger injured in an Uber.
- You were an Uber driver injured by another road user.
- You were a pedestrian, cyclist or another road user hit by an Uber vehicle.
Am I eligible to make an Uber accident claim as a passenger?
Yes. If you were injured during an Uber ride, you might be able to make an Uber passenger claim if the following can be proven:
- Another party, such as the Uber driver, owed you a duty of care legally.
- They breached this duty through negligence.
- Their actions or omissions caused a road traffic accident.
- You were injured in that accident within the past three years.
If these apply to your case, a personal injury solicitor may be able to help you secure compensation for your pain and suffering.
What is the duty of care of Uber drivers towards customers?
All Uber drivers have a duty of care towards passengers to protect their safety and well-being, which includes:
- Drive safely and responsibly, following all traffic laws, speed limits and traffic signals.
- Maintain their vehicle in a safe condition, regularly checking brakes, tyres, lights, and other essential components.
- Help passengers enter and exit the vehicle safely, especially those with mobility issues.
- Act professionally at all times, avoiding aggressive driving, inappropriate behaviour or harassment.
Uber drivers must also take out a private hire taxi insurance policy, also known as hire and reward insurance, to cover any injuries or losses caused by their negligent driving.
Who else could be responsible for a car accident involving an Uber?
Not all Uber accidents are caused by the Uber driver. Depending on how the crash happened, liability could fall on:
- Your local council – If the accident was due to poor road conditions, inadequate signage, or faulty traffic lights.
- A manufacturer – If a car defect, such as faulty brakes, tyres, or steering issues, contributed to the accident.
- Another driver – If they broke the Road Traffic Act 1988 and caused the accident by acting recklessly or negligently.
- Another road user – Another road user, such as a pedestrian or cyclist, whose careless or unpredictable actions caused the accident.
Is there a time limit for starting a claim against Uber?
The time limit for making an Uber compensation claim is typically 3 years from the time of the accident. There are a few exceptions, and you should seek legal advice about how the time limit applies in your circumstances:
- In accidents involving children, the three-year countdown only begins on the child’s 18th birthday if a claim has not already been made on their behalf.
- If the injured person has suffered a brain injury or has a pre-existing condition affecting their mental capacity, the time limit is suspended.
- If you were the victim of an assault by an Uber driver, you have two years to start a compensation claim through the CICA.
- If you lost a loved one due to an accident in an Uber, you can start a claim within three years of their death.
What should I do if I want to start an Uber accident claim for compensation?
There are several steps you should take if you want to make an Uber accident claim for personal injury:
- Take photos or videos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
- Visit the A&E, a minor injuries unit or your GP as soon as possible to ensure your injuries are correctly diagnosed and treated.
- Get the contact details of the Uber driver and any other drivers involved in the accident, as well as their licence plate and insurance details.
- Ask for the names and contact details of any witnesses to the accident.
- Keep a diary of how the accident has affected your daily life.
- Keep financial records for all the out-of-pocket expenses and losses incurred due to the accident.
- Contact an experienced solicitor to start the personal injury claims process as soon as possible.
How much Uber accident compensation could I receive?
Your compensation payment will be calculated based on two types of damages caused by the accident:
- General damages cover the physical injuries you suffered and how these have affected your life (pain, suffering and loss of amenity).
- Special damages cover the financial losses and expenses you incurred due to your accident and injuries, such as the cost of private medical treatments and loss of earnings.
Our personal injury compensation calculator can let you know within minutes how much you could receive for your injury based on the 18th Edition of the guidelines from the Judicial College.
Can I make a personal injury claim using a No Win No Fee service?
Yes. If you are entitled to make a claim for compensation, one of the road traffic accident lawyers we partner with will offer you a 100% no win no fee agreement.
This means you can make an Uber claim regardless of your financial situation. You do not have to pay any upfront legal fees, and you only have to pay your solicitor a success fee, capped at 25% of certain parts of your compensation, if your case is successful.
What types of negligence could lead to an Uber passenger accident claim?
Many types of negligence on the part of your Uber driver can lead to an accident claim, including:
- Distracted driving – Eating, drinking, using a phone, or adjusting the GPS while driving.
- Speeding – Driving above the speed limit or too fast for the road conditions.
- Failure to follow traffic laws – Ignoring traffic lights, signs, or right-of-way rules.
- Driver fatigue – Driving while overly tired, leading to slow reaction times and poor judgment.
- Impaired driving – Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or certain medications.
- Poor vehicle maintenance – Worn brakes, faulty tyres, broken lights, or other defects that should have been fixed.
- Unsafe lane changes – Switching lanes without signalling or checking blind spots.
- Tailgating – Following another vehicle too closely, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions.
What are the most common types of Uber taxi accident claims?
The most common types of Uber accident claims involve:
- Rear-end collisions caused by tailgating, sudden braking, or distracted driving.
- Side-impact collisions at junctions when drivers fail to give way.
- Head-on collisions due to dangerous overtaking or impaired driving.
- Passenger injuries inside the Uber caused by sudden braking or swerving.
- Accidents caused by poor road conditions, such as potholes or missing signage.
- Accidents with cyclists at junctions or in urban areas with heavy bike traffic.
- Loss of control of the vehicle resulting in collisions with a stationary object, such as a tree or fence.
What injuries could you suffer in the event of an accident involving an Uber?
Like any other road traffic accident, an accident in an Uber can result in a range of injuries, including:
- Whiplash injuries, resulting in neck pain, stiffness, and restricted movement.
- Puncture wounds from shattered glass, broken metal parts, or debris.
- Head injuries such as bruises, fractures or more severe brain injuries causing disability.
- Back injuries ranging from strains and sprains to spinal cord damage.
- Broken bones in various parts of the body, including the arms, legs, ribs, and pelvis.
- Soft tissue injuries resulting in pain and limited range of motion.
- Psychological trauma, such as anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Internal injuries, including organ damage or internal bleeding.
Frequently asked questions
You may also have grounds to bring a claim directly against Uber or another party if:
- The company failed to carry out proper background checks.
- There were previous warnings or complaints about the driver.
- Uber did not take appropriate steps to protect your safety.
To be able to start a road traffic accident claim, you must be able to prove the Uber driver’s negligence, such as reckless driving, speeding, or failure to obey traffic laws.
For this, you must gather evidence from the accident scene, such as pictures, dashcam footage or witness statements. A solicitor can assess the merits of your case and help you pursue any compensation you may be entitled to.
However, the amount of compensation awarded to you may be reduced by a percentage to reflect your degree of contributory negligence. For example:
- 25%, if your injuries would have been avoided altogether by wearing it.
- 15% if the injuries would have been less severe if you were wearing a seatbelt.
Remember that wearing a seatbelt is a legal requirement in the UK, and you can be fined up to £500 if you don’t wear one when you’re supposed to.
- They are a child under 18.
- They lack mental capacity due to a brain injury, PTSD or a pre-existing condition.
Read more: What is a litigation friend?
If you were involved in an accident during an Uber ride, you may be able to start a personal injury claim. To verify your eligibility, do not hesitate to contact us for a free consultation with a legal adviser by calling free on 0800 470 0472 or using our online claim form.
