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Uber is perhaps the most popular ridesharing service in the world. It has millions of users who love it for its convenience and accessibility. As a disruptive force in the transportation industry, however, it has faced intense scrutiny from not only its competitors, but also its users. Some riders who have been injured in Ubers are frustrated that they are unable to get legal satisfaction from injuries they received in their Uber rides. That’s why it’s important to call experienced Uber accident lawyers.
If you or your loved one has suffered an accident during an Uber ride or with an Uber driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 for a free consultation with one of our lawyers.
A Rideshare and Uber Accident Lawyer
Uber and rideshare lawsuits are relatively recent compared to traditional automobile personal injury lawsuits. As a result, personal injury lawyers have had to familiarize themselves with the legal intricacies of Uber and ridesharing.
In ridesharing accidents, there often are three insurance agencies involved: the ridesharing corporation’s insurer, the rideshare driver’s private insurance, and the insurance companies of any other drivers involved. Because of the many insurance companies involved, filing a lawsuit against Uber without a lawyer specializing in ridesharing would be difficult.
How Zinda Law Group Can Help
Zinda Law Group prides itself on being at the forefront of legal innovations. Though lawsuits involving Uber are relatively new, we have taken the necessary steps to familiarize ourselves with the necessary law and trained our attorneys in how to deal with claims against Uber.
One way a Zinda Law Group Uber accident lawyer can help you is by preventing insurance companies from shirking responsibility. Because Uber does not hire drivers as employees but as independent contractors, an insurance representative of Uber may claim that they are not responsible for the actions of an independent contractor. We may fight on your behalf to hold all responsible parties accountable.
Common Causes of Uber Accidents
The causes of Uber accidents are the same as other car accidents. Below is a list of some of the causes of Uber accidents.
Texting While Driving
Texting while driving is one of the primary reasons for car accidents. Some Uber drivers are not professional drivers, and they may be relatively new or inexperienced, so it’s possible that they will act unprofessionally. This means that they may text while driving.
Distracted Driving
Texting is not the only distraction that may cause an accident. Though Uber drivers are supposed to act like professional drivers, do not expect them to be held to the same standard as an employee of a professional driving service. After all, Uber saves costs by not employing extensive background checks on its drivers. As a result, you may have drivers who are not very professional. Some may be talking on the phone, some may be shuffling through their music, and some may not check their blind spots. Distracted driving actually is estimated to cause 50% of all serious car accidents.
Speeding
Speeding is another common cause of Uber accidents. Driving over the speed limit may mean that you will not be able to react in time to avoid a collision with another vehicle.
Injuries from Uber Accidents
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Bone fractures
- Internal injuries
- Amputation
- Permanent disfigurement
- Head injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Death
What to Do After a Rideshare Accident
1. Seek Medical Attention
First, you should always be sure to seek medical attention immediately after an accident. Even if you feel fine, do not make the mistake of delaying a physical examination with a doctor. Your body may mask pain with adrenaline and trick you into thinking that you are all right. It is important to have any injuries recorded as an insurance claims adjuster will be all too willing to not give you a fair settlement offer if he or she finds that you have no evidence to back up your claim. Having your injuries recorded in a medical record may help avoid this situation.
2. Report the Accident
If your Uber gets in an accident, it is important to report the accident as soon as possible. Be sure to call the police as soon as you get into an accident. The police will make an accident report that can be used in a lawsuit or settlement.
3. Collect Evidence
If your body permits you to do so, take photographs of the scene of the accident. Photographs should be taken from several angles. Do not forget to also take pictures of the injuries you incurred. If you were not a rider, but a driver of another vehicle that was hit by an Uber driver, take pictures of your vehicle as well. You should also collect identification and insurance information from the driver.
4. Report the Crash to Uber
You should also notify Uber of your accident. You can make a report through your smartphone application or Uber’s website. If you have trouble contacting Uber or you do not receive helpful communications, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible.
5. Get a Uber Accident Lawyer
Because Uber accidents are not like ordinary car accidents, you may wish to have the assistance of an experienced lawyer. An experienced lawyer can help you avoid the pitfalls that inexperienced people have when filing an insurance claim. Furthermore, hiring an experienced lawyer may increase the compensation you receive from a claim, as they know the tricks that insurance adjusters may try to use to devalue a claim.
CASE RESULTS
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Uber drivers are not Uber employees. Uber drivers are known as independent contractors. There are several differences between an employee and an independent contractor, but one important difference is whether the company will be held liable for the actions of the driver. The general rule of thumb is that an employer is responsible for the actions of an employee who acted within the scope of his or her job, but an employer is not necessarily responsible for the actions of an independent contractor.
However, just because Uber is generally not responsible for the actions of its independent contractors, it does not mean that you are out of luck. Uber does carry. However, its liability depends on whether the Uber driver was in driving mode or matched with a passenger prior to the accident.
If an Uber driver was in driving mode before the accident, Uber is liable for up to $50,000 per person for bodily injury, up to $100,000 total for bodily injury, and up to $25,000 total for damaged property.
On the other hand, if the Uber driver was in matched mode before the accident, Uber is liable for up to $1 million crashes for crashes caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist, up to $1 million of total liability coverage, and the actual cash value or repair cost of the vehicle, whichever is less.
Do not forget that you may independently hold the driver liable for the accident as well. In such cases, you would file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company as if you had gotten into an accident with a regular driver.
Read More: Uber Driver Hurt on the Job
Economic vs Non-Economic Damages
Generally, there are two types of compensation or damages a successful personal injury claimant may receive: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are given for tangible and objective economic losses, while non-economic damages are given for subjective and unquantifiable non-monetary or non-economic losses. A simple example of an economic loss would be if you broke your car’s front bumper after hitting an Uber. In that case, you would ask to be compensated for the repair of that front bumper. Clearly, this kind of damage would be easily quantifiable, as a mechanic could tell you the cost of the repairs.
If an Uber accident caused you to suffer from chronic pain from your leg, this may qualify as a non-economic loss. There is no easy way to put a dollar value on pain. Pain is, after all, subjective.
Simply speaking, economic damages are for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred due to the personal injury while non-economic damages are for losses that cannot be objectively calculated in monetary terms.
Below is a list of some types of losses that economic damages compensate:
- Lost earnings
- Medical expenses
- Lost business opportunities due to injuries
- Costs associated with damaged property or for repairs
Below is a list of some types of losses that non-economic damages compensate.
- Disability or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of enjoyment of life
CONTACT AN UBER ACCIDENT LAWYER
The experienced attorneys at Zinda Law Group may be able to help you with your personal injury claim. After an Uber accident, our personal injury lawyers may help you navigate Uber’s complicated insurance scheme and put you on track to seek compensation for your injuries. You don’t owe us anything unless we win your case. That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.
Call us today at (800) 863-5312 for a free consultation with one of our Uber accident lawyers.
Meetings with attorneys by appointment only.
Learn More:
- Texas Rideshare Accident Lawyers
- Colorado Rideshare Accident Lawyers
- New Mexico Rideshare Accident Lawyers
- Arizona Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Our Awards
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA BY THE NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (2016-2020)
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA (2009, 2011-2012, 2014-2021), & NEIL SOLOMON (2020-2021)
AWARDED TO JACK ZINDA (2016-2020)
LIFETIME MEMBERS JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA
