Uber offers accident insurance to riders at no extra cost

Kolkata: Uber on Wednesday launched rider insurance at no extra cost, a one-of-its-kind initiative which will cover all riders in cars up to a maximum of Rs 500,000 in case of an accident on a trip.

The insurance provides cover for physical injury during any accident that might occur while on trip with Uber, from the point the rider enters the vehicle until the end of the trip.

The step has been taken to ensure safety and security of the passengers. Pavan Vaish, Head of Central Operations (Rides) for India and South Asia said: "At Uber, we always keep the safety of all our riders in mind and their wellbeing will always be our top priority.''

Vaish added that he expects the initiative to be "well-received by the rider community and their families, giving them a greater sense of security and assurance when they take an Uber ride.''

In case of accident death, the service provider will provide a compensation of Rs 5,00,000 to the next kin of the victim. In case of an accident disability, the victim can avail a compensation up to Rs 5,00,000. In case of hospitalisation the victim will get up to Rs 2,00,000, including OPD benefit upto Rs 50,000.

To report an accident to Uber, riders can go to the 'Past Trips' section in the app and provide feedback on the ride. To navigate further, riders need to go to the following options one after the other — Menu and select Help > Trip and Fare Review > I was involved in an accident. Uber's 24x7 support team will then reach out to the rider and coordinate with the insurance partner to take them through the claim processes.