If you were injured in an accident involving an Uber vehicle, much depends on what the Uber driver was doing at the time of the accident and whether you were a partial cause of it. If the driver didn’t have the Uber app turned on, any personal injury claim must be made with his or her personal insurance company. If that driver only had minimum mandatory California insurance, the maximum bodily injury limit would only be $15,000.
If the driver had the Uber app turned on and was awaiting a ride request, Uber’s insurance would apply, and the maximum liability coverage would be $50,000. Lastly, if the driver was on the way to pick up a customer, or a customer was already in the car, a maximum of $1 million of liability, uninsured motorist, and underinsured motorist coverage would be in effect.
Factors to Consider in an Uber Personal Injury Settlement
There are three primary factors to be taken into consideration in any accident that was caused by an Uber driver. Here they are:
- Liability: California operates on what’s known as a pure comparative negligence system. If a claimant is partially at fault for an accident, the percentage of negligence attributable to him or her is deducted from the value of the case. For example, if the value of a case is $100,000, and a claimant is determined to be 25% at fault, any settlement would be reduced to $75,000. If a claimant was an Uber passenger, it’s highly unlikely that he or she was comparatively negligent. If that claimant was the driver of a car going through an intersection, expect the issue of comparative negligence to be raised.
- Damages: The value of a personal injury settlement or verdict relies heavily on the nature and extent of the damages that the claimant suffered. An emergency room visit with a $2,000 bill isn’t going to be sufficient to warrant a $100,000 settlement. Serious losses like substantial medical bills, permanent disfigurement, or disability along with lost time from work might support a settlement or verdict in a higher range. That’s why it’s critical to a claim to obtain care and treatment right away and follow all health care provider’s instructions.
- Insurance: Just about any Uber accident personal injury claim involves a complicated insurance coverage analysis. There might be times when applicable insurance coverage is available in relation to the nature and extent of the injuries suffered. There are also other times when coverage isn’t sufficient or doesn’t exist at all.
Contact a California Uber Accident Lawyer Today
Neither you nor your lawyer will likely know the settlement range of your Uber claim until all facets of the above factors have been examined. Every Uber accident case is unique, and some might take longer to settle than others. If a case claim can’t be settled, you have the right to a trial, and a jury of 12 people will place a value on your case. Preserve and protect your right to maximum compensation for your injuries and damages by contacting us for a free confidential case review and evaluation.
