Uber Accident
Lawyer Big Auto

Based in San Francisco, CA, Uber is a ridesharing company founded in 2009. Uber drivers usually drive their own vehicles to provide rides to passengers or deliver food. These drivers aren’t actually Uber employees; instead, they are independent contractors.

Through the Uber app, drivers and passengers can connect. Prices for rides can fluctuate depending on demand and the pickup and drop-off locations.

There are approximately 1 million Uber drivers in the United States, with around 14 million Uber trips taking place daily. With so many drivers and trips, it’s no wonder that Uber cars are involved in accidents.

Uber states that it vets drivers through a background check. This check looks at criminal and driving records.

Vicarious liability, when applicable, can hold an employer responsible for the actions of its employees. However, Uber is not responsible for driver actions through vicarious liability because these drivers don’t technically work for the company.

Uber drivers must carry their own car insurance policies, and those policies are responsible when the driver is offline, or their app is turned off. These drivers should check with their insurance companies to see if they need additional rideshare insurance to ensure that they’re adequately covered.

Uber passengers benefit from the company’s $1 million insurance policy. Uber also provides insurance for its drivers and delivery people in certain circumstances.

When drivers are available or waiting for a delivery or ride request, Uber maintains third-party liability insurance if the driver’s personal auto policy doesn’t apply:

• $50,000 bodily injury per person
• $100,000 bodily injury per accident
• $25,000 property damage per accident

Uber also maintains third-party liability insurance for both rideshare and delivery drivers if their personal coverage doesn’t apply when they are en route to pick up riders or deliveries and during trips:

• $1 million third-party liability coverage
• Contingent comprehensive and collision coverage up to the actual cash value of a car

Rideshare drivers also benefit from uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury and/or first-party injury insurance.

What does all of that information mean? Who is responsible for paying the damages caused by an Uber accident differs, depending on the driver’s status at the time of the accident.

Another potential complication is that insurance companies may deny your claim. This might happen if:

• The driver doesn’t have a policy that covers ridesharing
• The driver’s carelessness or negligence causes the accident
• You’re a third party, and the Uber driver wasn’t carrying a passenger or delivery

The fact that Uber has a $1 million insurance policy sounds great, but that doesn’t mean the insurance company wants to pay you. Unfortunately, many carriers routinely offer minimal settlement amounts, and injured accident victims accept them because they don’t realize they can negotiate.

Especially when an accident involves more than one responsible party, the insurance companies often try to shift the blame onto another party. You’ll be forced to wait and watch them fight when all you want to know is that you will receive compensation.

Uber accident attorneys know how reluctant insurance companies typically operate. We won’t let them use underhanded tactics with our clients. In fact, we will negotiate with them aggressively to obtain the maximum amount of compensation you’re eligible to receive.

Not necessarily. Other vehicles can cause accidents that involve Uber cars. Malfunctioning traffic lights and potholes can also cause accidents. Pedestrians or animals can dart in front of an Uber car, and slick roads can cause Uber drivers to lose control. Uber cars are no different from other vehicles: any number of factors can cause a crash.

A thorough investigation into the cause of your accident likely needs to be performed to determine who caused it and, therefore, who is responsible for paying the damages. Additional complications arise in some situations.

Hiring a competent Uber accident lawyer takes the pressure away from you. You don’t have to perform the investigation, worry about complexities, or who is ultimately responsible for paying your damages. You can focus on healing and let your attorney take care of your claim.

Commercial Vehicles

Tractor-trailers and other kinds of vehicles used in business are generally considered to be commercial vehicles. That fact means that several parties might be liable if the vehicle causes an accident:

• The driver
• The driver’s employer
• The vehicle’s owner or leasing company
• Those responsible for vehicle maintenance
• Parts or vehicle manufacturers
• Cargo loaders, owners, and shippers

Tire blowouts, for instance, cause many tractor-trailer accidents. Any or all of the listed parties may be partially liable.

Government Involvement

Whether a government agency owns a vehicle that causes a collision or a crash happens due to other kinds of government fault, such as poorly maintained roads or malfunctioning traffic lights, your claim is about to get even more complex. Laws vary by state, but you’ll typically have a very short timeframe to file your claim. You’ll also need to follow strict guidelines and procedures.

Whether you’re an Uber passenger, the driver or passenger in another vehicle, or a pedestrian, you’re probably eligible to receive damages. Laws vary by state, so ask your Uber accident lawyer which categories you qualify for and how much your case is worth.

Economic Damages

Injured victims suffer financially after an Uber accident. Economic damages reimburse you for specific expenses resulting from the accident and your injuries, including those for:

• Medical treatments, hospital stays, rehabilitation, medications, necessary medical equipment, and transportation to and from medical appointments
• Lost wages due to time missed from work
• Certain daily expenses, such as costs associated with hiring a caregiver
• Property damage

Because these damages are directly related to your expenses, you’ll need to keep all bills, invoices, and receipts. Your attorney will use them when calculating your damages.

Non-Economic Damages

Some injuries don’t have a monetary value, but they can impact your life significantly. Non-economic damages attempt to compensate you for things like:

• Emotional, mental, and physical pain and suffering
• Permanent disfigurement or disability
• Losing your ability to enjoy life
• PTSD, anxiety, and depression
• Harm to personal relationships

Some victims suffer mildly from these things, while others suffer profoundly. The amount of compensation you can obtain depends, in part, on how severely they impact your life.

Opposing attorneys may say that the adverse effects are minimal or non-existent. Your Uber accident lawyer won’t let that happen. We can arrange for examinations by qualified professionals who can provide expert testimony proving your claims.

Punitive or Exemplary Damages

Sometimes, the responsible party behaves maliciously or with extreme carelessness or recklessness. Some states use punitive damages to punish the defendant further, while others use exemplary damages to compensate victims further. Regardless, this category of damages isn’t available for every accident. Ask your lawyer if your case qualifies.

Most personal injury claims, including Uber accident claims, are based on negligence. Anyone who operates a motor vehicle should drive safely in a well-maintained and safe automobile to reduce the risk of causing a collision and harming others. That’s known as a duty of care.

Most people understand that specific driver actions or behaviors, such as speeding, are likely to cause a collision. Reasonable people don’t speed because of that knowledge. If you don’t act in the way that reasonable people would in specific situations, you may be guilty of negligence.

To prove negligence, you must show that:

• Someone owed you a duty of care
• That party breached their duty of care
• The breach resulted in an accident
• The accident directly caused your damages

In any accident investigation, the fault for causing the collision is assigned to one or more guilty parties. Negligent behaviors usually indicate fault. Why is that important? The guilty party or parties are responsible for paying you compensation for your damages.

The majority of car accidents result from driver error and negligence. Examples of these behaviors include:

• Speeding
• Failing to yield the right of way
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Refusing to follow traffic laws
• Improper merging and following too closely
• Aggressive or reckless driving
• Fatigued driving
• Distracted driving

Distracted driving includes anything that takes a driver’s attention away from their job, which is driving safely:

• Using a cell phone
• Interacting with passengers
• Searching or reaching for objects inside your vehicle
• Eating, drinking, and smoking
• Grooming activities, like fixing your hair or applying makeup
• Daydreaming

Doing any of those things can take your focus away from driving, your attention away from traffic, and your hands away from the steering wheel. Those actions can delay your reaction speeds, and that can cause accidents.

As you can see, Uber accidents have many potential complications. While you’re probably not familiar with the applicable laws and procedures you’ll need to follow, an experienced Uber accident attorney in your area deals with them on a daily basis. Rather than struggling with confusion or a lack of time and resources, many injured accident victims hire an attorney to represent them.

Not only can having legal representation give you peace of mind, but your lawyer can also perform many tasks for you. These include:

• Giving you information and legal alternatives
• Completing and submitting paperwork related to your accident
• Conducting a thorough accident investigation
• Gathering evidence to support your claim
• Speaking to insurance company representatives and investigators on your behalf
• Negotiating favorable settlements
• Taking your case to trial, if needed

Would you prefer to accomplish these tasks alone or let your attorney handle them for you so you can recover from your injuries? It’s your choice, but think carefully.

A further benefit of hiring an Uber accident lawyer is that victims typically receive higher amounts of compensation when they have an attorney on their side.