Uber and other ridesharing apps have changed the transportation industry across the country and around the world. These companies provide a relatively affordable way to get from place to place if you don’t have your own car or if you simply wish to enjoy an evening out without the responsibility of driving. However, like all motor vehicles, Ubers can get into accidents. Sometimes, collisions involving rideshare cars can leave someone with serious injuries. This can mean temporary or permanent disability that makes it impossible to work, a massive stack of medical bills, and immeasurable pain and suffering. This is where an Uber accident lawyer from Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC comes in to help.
Whether you were an Uber passenger, hurt in an accident, an occupant of another vehicle that an Uber struck, or even an Uber driver injured due to another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. The experienced Cincinnati car accident lawyers of Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC are here to help you through every step of the process. Call us today at (513) 351-5997 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.
Who Is Liable for My Injuries in an Uber Accident?
The consequences of a rideshare accident can be devastating for those who are hurt. Whether you have suffered a neck injury such as whiplash, broken bones, internal organ injuries, or traumatic brain injuries, your entire life may have been turned upside down instantly. The injuries themselves cause serious physical and emotional pain and suffering, and the financial consequences of an accident can also be a source of seemingly unbearable stress. This is a big reason it is important to hold the at-fault party accountable.
However, determining who is at fault for your injuries requires that you prove somebody should have taken reasonable precautions to prevent you from coming to harm, but they failed to do so. As a result of their failure, the accident occurred, which caused your injuries. If the injuries you sustained led to losses, such as medical expenses, missed time at work, or significant pain and suffering, the person whose negligent behavior led to the accident could be held liable for your injury-related losses.
Determining who the at-fault party is in the Uber accident will then allow you to know what steps to take when filing an insurance claim for compensation. However, this matter can become complicated if the Uber driver is the party responsible for your accident-related injuries. In such a case, it can be difficult to know whether the driver or the rideshare company should be held liable for your losses.
An experienced Uber accident attorney can help you decide, but the answer generally depends on whether the Uber driver was actively driving for Uber at the time of the accident.
What Does Uber’s Insurance Cover?
Uber provides insurance for its drivers, but the drivers must still have personal insurance of their own. For example, when the driver’s Uber app is turned off, Uber’s insurance will not apply. If the Uber driver was at fault for an accident when their app was off, any claims should be made against the driver’s personal auto insurance policy.
If your injuries came about in an Uber accident in which the driver of another vehicle was at fault, you simply make a claim against the other’s driver’s insurance. However, many drivers are uninsured or underinsured. Uber has insurance coverage for that, as well. Additionally, should Uber’s insurance be insufficient to cover all your losses, you could file a claim with your own insurance company. In Ohio, uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is not mandatory, but if you purchased UM coverage on your policy, you could obtain compensation from there.
If the Uber driver was at-fault for the accident, was signed in to the app, and was on their way to pick up a fare or had a fare in the car at the time of the accident, Uber’s insurance coverage would apply. Uber and other rideshare companies carry $1 million in total liability insurance for accidents involving their drivers.
What to Do if You’re Hurt in an Uber Accident
If you are a passenger, a driver, or a pedestrian injured in a rideshare accident, you must take the following steps to protect yourself and the value of your claim:
- Report your injuries to Uber immediately – In many cases, people injured in Uber accidents have difficulty with their claims because they fail to take this step. Uber will often claim that they are not at fault for a person’s injury if the individual did not report it to them. By notifying Uber right away, you can establish a direct link between the Uber accident and the injuries you suffered.
- Seek medical treatment – If you did not see a medical professional immediately after the accident, it is important that you do so as soon as you can. Not only will this improve your chances of recovering from your injuries, but it will also strengthen your claim.
- Request a copy of the police report – When law enforcement officers arrive at an accident scene, they fill out an accident report with details about the accident. A copy of this report is significant in the claims process because it contains information that can help demonstrate how the accident happened and who is at fault.
- Do not negotiate alone – Insurance companies often attempt to pressure individuals into accepting a settlement immediately after an accident occurs. These settlements are often insufficient to cover the true extent of the losses you have suffered. Consulting with an experienced Uber accident attorney can help you understand what kind of compensation you actually deserve.
Contact a Cincinnati Uber Accident Lawyer Today
Being involved in any automobile accident can be shocking and traumatic. It can feel particularly overwhelming when that accident involves a major rideshare corporation with an army of powerful lawyers.
If you have suffered injuries in an Uber accident, you should not have to fight for compensation on your own. The experienced Cincinnati Uber accident lawyers of Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC can help you hold the responsible party accountable for their negligence. Our team has successfully recovered millions of dollars of compensation for people who have suffered injuries in Cincinnati, as well as throughout Ohio and Kentucky. We are ready to help you recover the compensation you deserve, too.
Call us today at (513) 351-5997 or contact us online for a free consultation. We take our cases on a contingency basis, meaning that you won’t owe us any fees unless and until we obtain compensation for you.
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