If you’ve been injured in an accident involving an Uber vehicle as a passenger, motorcyclist, bicyclist or pedestrian, you might be eligible for compensation for your injuries and damages. Uber cases are complicated though, so you’re going to have a hard time getting anything more than nuisance money in a settlement. By calling a knowledgeable and experienced Atwater Uber accident lawyer at the Rideshare Law Office, you can get the help that you need to begin building your case for the maximum settlement or award that you deserve.
Some Common Causes of Uber Accidents
Maybe you have important business or need to catch a flight in San Francisco. An Uber driver can take you there from your location in Atwater, and another Uber driver can bring you back home when it’s time. It’s likely that you’ll get there and back home again on time and more economically than a taxi cab. What comes to issue is that with the proliferation of Uber vehicles, the chances of being in an accident with one increase dramatically. Here are a few common causes of accidents that are caused by Uber drivers:
- Distracted driving, like speaking on a mobile phone, texting or using an infotainment center while an Uber car is in motion.
- Drowsy or fatigued driving. Many Uber drivers are driving as a second job.
- Drivers who are scanning the area looking for customers who they’ve agreed to take someplace.
- Speeding in order to get a customer to their location faster and pick up yet another customer.
- Following a vehicle ahead too closely.
- Failing to yield the right-of-way or driving too fast for traffic or weather conditions.
Uber Insurance in California
One of the things that makes Uber accidents so complicated is California’s rideshare insurance laws. Before a person can drive for Uber, a driver must acknowledge that he or she is an independent contractor and not an employee of the company. This operates to protect Uber from liability in the event of an accident that is caused by an Uber driver. They’re required to use their own personal vehicles to drive Uber customers and also have their own personal insurance. On top of that insurance, the State of California requires Uber to carry its own insurance. That coverage is broken down into the three phases that follow:
- Phase One: The driver has signed into the Uber computer app system and available to transport customers. Uber’s liability coverage is set at $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.
- Phase Two: The driver has agreed to transport a customer and is on the way to pick him or her up. Liability coverage is now at $1 million with another $1 million in uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
- Phase Three: The passenger is now in the Uber car and on the way to his or her destination. That same $1 million in coverage remains in effect until he or she exists the vehicle at the destination. When the passenger exits the vehicle, coverage either reverts back to the $50,000/$100,000 Uber insurance or the driver’s personal insurance if he or she signs out the computer app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do after being injured in an Uber accident in California?
Call 911 and ask that police and paramedics be dispatched to the scene. Don’t count on anybody else making that call. You’ll need a police report of the accident. Paramedics can transport you to an emergency room for diagnostics and treatment. Then, call us.
What if the Uber driver was only partially at fault for the accident?
If more than one person was at fault for your accident, you can also pursue compensation for your injuries and damages from the third person.
How long do I have after an Uber accident to file a personal injury lawsuit?
The general rule in California is that you have two years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit. There are a variety of reasons why we don’t recommend that you wait that long.
Call an Atwater Uber Accident Lawyer Today
If you were injured in an Uber accident in or around Atwater, you’ll want to speak with an experienced and aggressive Atwater Uber accident lawyer here at the Rideshare Law Office as soon as possible. You don’t want to be stuck between two or more insurance companies that are pointing their fingers at each other to pay. We know how to break that deadlock and compel compensation for your injuries and damages. As soon as you retain us to represent you, we’ll start building your case for the maximum amount of compensation that you deserve.
