How an Uber Accident Lawyer Can Help You – 7 Tips to Know

how an uber accident lawyer can help you - 7 tips to know

How an Uber Accident Lawyer Can Help You

What is an Uber Accident Lawyer?

An Uber accident lawyer is a lawyer who specializes in cases involving Uber drivers.

These lawyers are often hired by the victims of accidents involving Uber drivers to represent their interests. and help secure any damages they may have incurred.

The Uber accident lawyer will help you to make sure that you are not left unprotected in case of an accident.

Uber accident lawyers can help you with the following:

  • Getting medical attention for you and your passengers
  • Getting the insurance company to pay for your medical bills
  • Negotiating a settlement for damages
  • Representing you in court
  • Helping you recover your lost wages
  • Helping you find a way to pay for everyday necessities due to an injury

All of these are possible if you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident.

What is an Uber Driver?

An Uber driver refers to a person who drives for the company called ‘Uber’. This person is classified as an independent contractor. The company does not provide the location services in the car or perform background checks on their drivers.

Uber drivers deliver people and their goods for a fee (in some cases, an hourly rate) to or from commercial locations such as hotels, airports, hospitals and bars.

Can you sue Uber if you get in an accident?

Almost certainly yes. Before submitting a rideshare accident claim or communicating with an insurance company, passengers injured in an Uber or Lyft accident should contact a Los Angeles Uber accident attorney.

Make no concessions or accept any proposals. An expert personal injury attorney’s responsibility is to assist accident victims professionally and to manage some or all of the discussions with car insurance companies and rideshare firms.

Litigating a personal injury lawsuit is not easy or fruitful for the majority of citizens, even if they have legal experience and an understanding of the psychology and logic involved in identifying who is at fault and presenting persuasive evidence to win the case.

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Take Note: Bear in mind that an insurance company deals with incidents on a daily basis and investigates several claims made against them.

Certain actions or statements you make or make can result in them contesting your insurance claim, regardless of whether they are true.

These may include sharing photographs on social media, admitting in a recorded statement that you were at fault for the accident, or claiming that your injuries were pre-existing.

If you have sustained a serious injury as a passenger as a result of a Lyft or Uber driver’s negligence, contact a reliable Law Firm with loads of experience for a free case evaluation.

How Often Do Uber Accidents Occur?

Uber published a safety report in 2019. This research reported 49 fatalities in 2017, increasing to 58 accidents in 2018, totalling 107 deaths across those two years. 65% of those fatalities occurred as a result of crashes between Uber vehicles and other motor vehicles.

31% of accidents involved pedestrians or bikes colliding with Uber drivers. Lyft has not yet provided a safety report.

As you might imagine, the types of cars involved in these rideshare accidents are diverse, ranging from the most common automotive makes and models used as Uber vehicles in the United States (think Toyota Prius, Nissan Sentra, Chevrolet Tahoe) to the other 3rd vehicles involved, which can range from small and potentially unsafe cars (Hyundai i40, Chevrolet Spark, Audi A4) to large trucks and SUVs (Ford Explorer, Bentley Continental GT, Tesla Model X).

The Uber Insurance And Driver Company?

As you might think, both ridesharing firms provide commercial insurance coverage for their drivers.

This coverage is intended to protect Uber drivers and delivery workers from third-party liability, personal injury, and property damage.

This also implies that if you are an Uber driver and are involved in an accident, your auto insurance (such as your own Geico or State Farm policy) will remain unchanged, since Uber’s insurance for Uber drivers will kick in.

Additionally, you probably do not require additional insurance beyond what they require (such as liability coverage) for your own vehicle.

How Does Lyft Work?

Similar to Uber, Lyft is a ridesharing firm that instantly connects passengers with drivers using the Lyft app. The passenger, or passengers, will then be picked up by the Lyft driver and driven to their final destination. Occasionally, the same Lyft drivers will be logged into the Uber app concurrently.

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If you have been injured as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft accident, a Lyft accident attorney can assist you in obtaining compensation for your injuries.

What Is Responsibility For Care?

If you’re unfamiliar with the term “duty of reasonable care,” it simply means that California law requires Uber and Lyft drivers to exercise reasonable care when conducting activities that could reasonably cause injury to others (such as not driving recklessly, not falling asleep, being alert of other vehicles and pedestrians, among other standards).

Your personal injury attorney will examine if the defendant (negligent Uber driver) acted reasonably in the moments preceding the accident and will attempt to establish the driver’s carelessness.

How to Choose the Right Uber Accident Lawyer

The best way to find an Uber accident lawyer is by looking for a lawyer who has experience in this area of law. You should also look for lawyers who are experienced and have a good track record. 

A good way to find a lawyer is by asking friends or family members if they can recommend someone. You can also search online for attorneys in your area that specialize in this type of law.

What to Do After Your Car is Involved in an Accident with an Uber Driver

What happens after a car accident

 

  • If you are involved in an accident with a driver for Uber, the first thing you should do is call 911 and make sure that everyone is safe.
  • Afterwards, you should contact the police officer on the scene to file a report. If possible, take pictures of the damage to both vehicles and any injuries sustained.
  • The next step would be to contact Uber and get in touch with their insurance company.
  • The last step would be to reach out to your own insurance company and file a claim as well.

After Uber’s insurance company has contacted you and possibly the driver, Uber will reach out to you about the claim.

In the United States, Uber maintains insurance coverage for drivers and passengers while they are in their vehicles or on the way to pick them up.

In order to qualify as an Uber driver, a vehicle must be approved by Uber to use its service and insurance must be transferred over; however, drivers are responsible for maintaining their own coverage upon entering the service.

Drivers can also access their own coverage in the app. If you are involved in an accident with a driver for Lyft, the first thing you should do is call 911 and make sure that everyone is safe.

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Afterwards, contact Lyft’s insurance company and get in touch with them about the claim. The next step would be to contact your own insurance company and file a claim as well.

Can I Receive Compensation Or Payment For My Rideshare Accident?

Following an accident involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you may submit a personal injury claim and seek compensation (often referred to as a settlement) for the following:

  • Medical bills and expenditures on health care
  • Costs associated with rehabilitation/healing/recovery
  • Damage to Property
  • Suffering and agony
  • Wage Loss
  • Life-Care
  • Loss of Life Pleasure
  • Bereavement of a Loved One (or wrongful death)

If I Sue, Do I Have To Go To Court?

The majority of vehicle accident cases are resolved prior to trial or even before the personal injury lawsuit is filed (which means you will almost certainly never have to meet with a judge).

This is critical for customers who have been injured or are unable to attend due to a handicap).

Negotiations will take place between your ridesharing accident attorney and the defendant’s attorney, and while they may be lengthy, both parties normally wish to avoid trial and instead reach a legal resolution through negotiation.

How Do I Find An Attorney For Rideshare (Uber Lyft) In My Area?

Regrettably, Uber and Lyft accidents and injuries have been increasing in California over the last few years.

Whether you were a passenger in an Uber vehicle or were struck by a ridesharing driver, contact a well experienced reliable accident lawyer or if you have been harmed in an accident.

Not only can an accident lawyer assist individuals who have been injured in automobile accidents involving ridesharing firms such as Uber and Lyft with personal injury claims, but they can also assist families who have lost a loved one in a collision with filing a wrongful death claim.

How Do You Contact Uber Or Lyft In The Event Of A Crash?

You are unlikely to have to speak directly with the rideshare company or their insurance provider. Your attorney will communicate with the negligent party and their insurance carrier on your behalf in order to obtain financial compensation.

For nearly four decades, our law offices have aided victims of Uber and Lyft accidents in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California.

Contact a knowledgeable Los Angeles Uber accident attorney at The Reeves Law Group now to discuss your situation.

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