Uber ensures driver partners are covered

Uber recently announced that drivers and delivery-partners will benefit from partner injury protection.

The company announced that they will extend their injury protection that currently covers the riders that use the app to their driver and Eats delivery partners.

Last year, Uber secured injury protection cover for riders from Chubb for every ride requested on the app. To further their commitment of the safety and security of their users, Uber driver-partners and Uber Eats delivery-partners will now benefit from the same cover at no additional cost. This will from the moment they accept a trip or delivery request, while driving to pick up a rider or on the way to a restaurant, and until the trip ends.

In the unfortunate event of an accident or a crime-related incident resulting in an injury during a trip, drivers and delivery-partners will have access to benefits.

Benefits include:

• Emergency medical treatment: If an accident happens on-trip, this cover reimburses drivers for emergency medical treatment costs they have incurred in the first 48 hours following the accident up to a capped sum. In addition, this cover reimburses ambulance service costs and provides drivers with an immediate small lump sum payment to cover their basic expenses following the accident.

• Death and final payments: In the unfortunate event that a driver dies as a result of an accident on-trip, their dependents or heirs will benefit from a lump sum payment. They will also obtain an additional lump sum amount which can be used as they deem fit.

• Permanent disability payments: In the unfortunate event that a driver suffers a permanent disability as a result of an accident on-trip, they will benefit from a lump sum payment. The amount depends on the severity of the disability, as determined by Chubb Insurance.

• Daily confinement payment: If a driver is hospitalised for more than 24 hours they will receive a daily payment for up to 30 days for each day that they have to remain in hospital. This is a non-medical expense cover as a result of hospitalisation and not a substitute for medical aid cover.

• Daily payment benefit (injury): If a driver is hospitalised for more than 48 hours as a result of an accident that happened on-trip and are thereafter unable to drive because of those injuries, they will receive a daily payment for up to 30 days whilst they are medically certified by a doctor as unfit to work.

Alon Lits, general manager Sub-Saharan Africa at Uber explained, “We are proud to announce Partner Injury Protection together with Chubb to show our commitment to being a better partner to the driver and delivery-partners who are the heart of the Uber experiences.

“We’ll carry on taking drivers’ feedback onboard to ensure we further improve their experience so they can face the future with more confidence.”

Gary Jack, country president for Chubb Insurance in South Africa explained, “We are pleased to be extending our partnership with Uber to provide access to injury protection for drivers whilst on an Uber trip. We are confident that this new product offering will give peace of mind to drivers.”

In addition to the partner injury protection, Uber’s partnership with RoadCover for riders, will also now be extended to driver and delivery-partners. RoadCover will provide assistance and legal representation to drivers and other third parties with their submission of claims submitted to the Road Accident Fund at no additional cost. RoadCover removes the complicated process that drivers face when processing a claim with the Road Accident Fund.

Lits added, “We believe this partnership with Chubb and RoadCover will play a huge role in achieving our goal of reliable, affordable and safe transportation options for all South Africans.”

What do you think about this added benefit for Uber drivers? Share your views with us on the Sandton Chronicle Facebook page.

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