Countless Uber accidents happen every year, resulting in serious injuries. If you have been injured in an Uber accident, contact us today to discuss your legal options.

Uber Accidents in Hanford

Hanford residents have plenty of places to be, but a lot of the destinations aren’t all that close together. Instead of walking or burning your own gas, why not let an Uber driver ride to the rescue. You might be heading to work or hitting up the shopping centers around the Hanford Mall or you might want a snack from one of the restaurants on West Lacey Boulevard.

They are all within reach as long as your Uber app is open. There are dozens of rideshare drivers on the roads at any one time and you may have wondered just what all the extra traffic does to your accident risks around Kings County. The truth is it’s not uncommon for distracted rideshare drivers to cause collisions and it’s also not uncommon for victims in these accidents to have trouble finding help as they heal.

Distracted Driver Accident Dangers Around Hanford

An Uber employee is forced to do quite a bit while behind the wheel. They fuss with their phones trying to accept ride requests, trying to confirm locations, and even making personal calls. They also like to cruise around when they don’t have a passenger to stay in central locations to be nearest to potential customers.

Uber drivers may be drowsy behind the wheel as they work longer hours than is probably safe. They may also drive aggressively and speed while trying to keep a passenger happy. All of these potential distractions can lead to more money for Uber and its employees, but it also puts at risk the normal motorists who may be trying to get to work, school, or back home. Pedestrians and cyclists are also threatened.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports the astonishing figure that on average eight people a day are killed by distracted drivers. In the U.S. in 2018 alone, an estimated 400,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. The CDC also notes about 20% of those accident victims were walking, riding their bikes, or otherwise outside a vehicle.

Uber Accident Insurance for Victims

Drivers for Uber must carry a personal auto insurance policy and that’s what you’ll be dealing with first if you are unlucky enough to get into an accident. You’d first be required to file a claim with the rideshare driver’s coverage. This can be a frustrating process because many insurance firms will deny claims if they discover their policyholder was driving for Uber when the incident occurred.

Once a driver’s insurance balks or is exhausted, Uber does furnish insurance coverage but only at specific times. Drivers’ shifts are divided up into different phases and the phase they were in affects how much Uber coverage will be available.

Phase one is when an employee is logged on to the app but doesn’t have a passenger scheduled. Uber provides up to $100,000 in total injury liability when an accident occurs in this time frame.

In phase two drivers have accepted a ride request and are on the way to pick up the passenger. If an accident happens during this period, drivers are backed by up to one million dollars in liability insurance and one million dollars in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

In Phase Three, drivers have a passenger in the car and if a collision happens passengers and victims in other cars may be able to get up to one million dollars in liability compensation.

An important note, if neither Uber nor the driver’s insurance will provide the compensation you may be stuck filing an uninsured motorist claim against your own insurance policy.

Common Injuries for Uber Accident Victims

You should be fighting for every bit of compensation you can get because the stakes are so high when you are hurt in a car accident. You likely only get one chance to get enough compensation to cover everything you’ll need as you heal.

Injuries can be permanent even if they don’t appear to be at first. You might get several years down the road and realize you need another surgery or further physical therapy. Medical equipment may become necessary. But at this point, you probably won’t be able to go back and ask for more money.

It’s important to get your claim for damages right the first time because the consequences can be so severe with some of the most common injuries:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Light to severe concussions are possible. Permanent brain damage can rob you of your memories.
• Spine and Neck Damage: Thoracic Spine Injury (whiplash) can be the first sign of a problem. A severe blow can leave you numb and unable to control some or all of your limbs.
• Fractured Bones: In the force of a collision, bones can break, including the collarbone and bones in the face, especially when the victim is slammed into a steering wheel, dash, or the back of a seat.
• Airbag injuries: Airbags can cause burns and facial trauma. If they malfunction, airbags can send shrapnel through the vehicle.
• In any accident, permanent disfigurement, permanent disability, amputation, and paralysis can result. These injuries can change daily routines for you and your family. You may not even be able to stay with your current job. You could require new career training.

Contact a Hanford Uber Accident Lawyer

After an accident involving Uber, a member of the team may contact you for a statement. Speak to an attorney before giving any statement of any kind. They may be trying to trick you into making a comment that they can use to dismiss your case.

If you or a loved one sustained a serious injury in an accident involving an Uber driver, contact us for a free and confidential consultation. Whether you were hit by a Uber driver, injured as a passenger, or injured working for Uber we can help you take on a nationwide rideshare company like Uber to secure compensation to help you get back on your feet again.