Camarillo residents can trust Uber to drive them to work, school, or provide a quick trip to the grocery store. These Uber rides come in handy when you don’t have a vehicle available or you just want a break from driving yourself, but every Uber ride request can come with increased dangers to other motorists and pedestrians. A busy Uber driver can be a very distracted driver and that inattention can cause serious accidents.
If you are ever the victim of an accident involving a rideshare vehicle, it’s important that you contact a Ventura County rideshare accident lawyer. You don’t deserve to be left alone to deal with an injury recovery by yourself, especially in an accident that wasn’t your fault. But if you have to face Uber insurance agents and lawyers you could end up going into bankruptcy over hospital bills while waiting for help that may never come. Our lawyers offer a no-cost, no-obligation consultation on your case. We can inform you of the best ways to secure compensation to allow you to heal worry-free.
Uber Distracted Driver Dangers in Camarillo
Your day may be taking you on a commute over the Conejo Grade on Ventura Freeway or you may just be looking for food and some shopping along Ponderosa Drive. No matter where you go as a motorist or pedestrian you’re bound to see an Uber Car in front of you, beside you, or behind you.
You might also notice a frantic driver trying to work something out on the Uber app. Uber drivers don’t get far without their app. They also can’t make any money without their cellphone. What’s more, Uber drivers can also be working for another rideshare like Lyft at the same time. They hope to have a better shot at getting riders, but that extra business can also provide extra distraction on the roads and that can leave Uber drivers behaving recklessly.
Passengers can also provide the distraction that might send a rideshare car into your vehicle. Uber drivers may miss seeing your brake lights while dealing with passengers changing their destination. A cranky passenger may also be throwing a fit and drawing an Uber employee’s eyes to the backseat. The next time the driver looks up it’s too late to avoid hitting your rear-end or too late to stop for a traffic light.
Uber Insurance Coverage Tricks
If you are in a serious accident with an Uber driver you may be surprised at how many insurance companies you might have to deal with. Just to get help with your medical bills and lost time at work you might have to file a claim through the driver’s personal car insurance provider, Uber’s coverage, and even your own insurance policy in some cases.
Dealing with any insurance company can put you in a vulnerable place, and make for a frustrating journey. Insurance companies can purposely stall their response to your accident all to get you in a desperate place and willing to accept any lowball offer they send to you.
They can also try to question your evidence and cast doubt on any aspect of your claim:
- Use Your Statements Against You – Uber or insurance representatives or both may call you asking how you’re doing and asking if they can record you talking about what happened. Don’t fall for it. Politely decline. They are hoping they can get you to say something that can cast doubt on your innocence in the accident. These statements can come back to haunt you. Let your attorney do the talking when Uber calls.
- Driving Records – Insurance adjusters may look into your past to point out any past accidents you may have been in. This has nothing to do with your Uber accident, but they can use it to test your resolve. They hope you might be scared into accepting some of the blame in your collision, reducing the compensation they would have to offer you. Of course, your attorney would put a stop to this practice and let them know they have to stick to the facts.
- Medical Records — They may claim that your injuries didn’t come from the Uber crash. If they can find a similar injury in your medical history they will try to say that it’s just an old wound that’s resurfaced. It may not be enough to prove that you weren’t injured at all, but it may also reduce the compensation they end up offering you. A lawyer working on your behalf can get a doctor’s testimony to prove that your injuries came from an accident with their driver.
Contact a Camarillo Uber Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one sustained a serious injury and the crash involved an Uber vehicle, contact us today for a free, confidential case evaluation. After you tell us what happened, we will let you know all of your legal options.
Whether you were hit by an Uber driver, injured as an Uber passenger, or hurt as an Uber driver, call us today. Our goal is to help you get the maximum amount of compensation available to you for your injuries.
