Fremont may be home to cutting-edge tech companies, but for travel across the East Bay, you don’t have to be too tech-savvy. You just need a phone and an Uber App. All those requests sent out to Uber drivers save a ton on car and travel expenses, but every tap also sends another vehicle racing across the city on already jam-packed streets and freeways.
Rideshare drivers can also be “driven” to inattention by their duties and that’s a dangerous thing when you consider they do all their work from behind the wheel. They can drive distracted and reckless at times.
If you suddenly find yourself the victim of an Uber driver’s mistake on the roads and are seriously hurt, it’s a good idea to contact a Fremont Uber Accident Lawyer. Your case consultation will be free and come with no-obligation. Even if you don’t think you need a lawyer it’s still a smart choice to talk to a legal expert about what you’ll be facing when you ask Uber for help with your recovery.
Uber Driver Dangers on Fremont Roads
Until the local Tesla Factory perfects the self-driving vehicle, many of us are stuck driving our own cars or depending on a very human Uber driver to get around the tri-city area. You might be running late for your shift at work, or need a lift across Mowry Avenue for some grub or a shopping excursion. No matter your destination, Uber has a driver on standby.
That’s the problem for other drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Uber drivers are crawling over the city at all hours and can easily be focused on their rideshare duties instead of the road. Their actions can put a lot of other travelers at risk and that includes their own passengers.
These are just a few of the possible distractions and unsafe moves Uber drivers can be tempted into:
- Driving Distracted – Uber drivers have a copilot called a cellphone. It constantly seeks attention with ride request notifications and mapping confusion. The Uber business model doesn’t work without a smartphone. Passengers can also be a constant distraction. Upset customers or customers with lots of questions can pull focus from the lanes. Uber drivers may also be driving after a sleepless night or they may be dealing with personal issues. They can struggle to pay attention to their driving and put nearby travelers in dangerous situations.
- Reckless Driving: Uber drivers get rated by passengers and that pressure can force drivers to do some wild things to make them happy. Uber workers may feel they need to speed or make aggressive moves to get a rider to their destination on time. Trying to locate a pick-up spot can leave drivers weaving in the lanes, slamming the brakes, and making dangerous turns. This can happen even with GPS help. They may even miss seeing a red light. These are all threats to your safety if you are using Fremont roads at the same moment.
Can I get help from Uber with medical bills after an accident?
After an accident caused by an Uber driver, you might be surprised how many hoops you have to jump through to even begin the accident claims process. You may have to go through several sources to seek compensation for your injury. That can include an appeal to the driver’s personal policy, a claim filed against Uber, and as a last resort a claim on your own uninsured motorist coverage.
Uber drivers are required to carry their own policies, but insurance providers often don’t cover their policyholders while they are out driving for Uber. Uber carries a substantial insurance policy of its own, but it’s only available to victims if the accident happened while their employee had their Uber app open (on-the-clock). If a driver is on the way to pick up a customer or has a passenger in the car when a collision occurs, Uber can offer up to one million dollars in coverage. In other circumstances, Uber tries to limit the compensation they pay out to much less.
An attorney fighting for your interests can help you win your claim against any one of these insurance providers and you can then earn compensation for many aspects of your recovery hardships. The medical invoices you receive can all be covered. The lost time at work while you’ve been healing can be reimbursed. Emotional stress experienced by you and your family due to a severe injury and a difficult recovery can also add to the amount you receive.
Contact a Fremont Uber Accident Lawyer
Whether you were hit by an Uber driver, injured as an Uber passenger, or if you were driving for Uber when you got hurt, call us today. Our goal is to help you get the maximum amount of compensation available to you for your injuries no matter how hard Uber tries to deny their liability in your crash.
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 go over all of your legal options.
