Have You Been Injured in an Uber Accident in California? The Personal Injury Lawyers at Sally Morin Law Can Help You Get The Compensation You Deserve!
San Francisco is where rideshare apps originated. As such, Uber is incredibly popular in California. In fact, there are over 800,000 rideshare drivers working annually in the state.
Unfortunately, with so many Ubers on the road, there are quite a lot of rideshare accidents reported. And being involved in an Uber accident and getting fairly compensated for your injuries can be challenging.
This is because rideshare companies like Uber have powerful legal teams and insurance policies protecting them. However, this does not mean that it is impossible to get a fair settlement after being injured in an Uber accident; it just requires the help of an experienced rideshare accident attorney.
At Sally Morin, we have helped countless Uber victims get the help they need after a rideshare accident. Our San Francisco Rideshare Accident Lawyers can help you secure a high-value settlement that is enough to cover your damages using our years of experience.
Don’t hesitate. Reach out to our legal team today for a free case evaluation.
Causes of Uber Accidents in California
Uber accidents can happen for various reasons, just as regular car accidents can. However, there are some specific situations that tend to cause a large number of rideshare accidents. This includes:
1. Navigation Errors
Uber drivers tend to rely heavily on their phones or GPS devices to navigate their way around when picking up or dropping off their passengers. But technology isn’t perfect, and GPS applications can malfunction and make errors.
When this happens, it can cause Uber drivers to get confused and flustered, which can lead to mistakes such as turning the wrong way. Even just messing with the GPS can distract them and cause them to make driving errors that can result in an accident.
2. Distraction
There are two primary reasons why an Uber driver might get distracted: (1) Scanning for passengers and (2) Talking to passengers.
When Uber drivers are trying to figure out where their passengers are standing, they often get distracted from their driving and what they are doing, which can easily result in an accident.
Uber drivers also often feel the need to chat with their passengers to keep them entertained and get a good rating. Unfortunately, too much chatting means not paying enough attention to the road. This is a common reason why Uber drivers get into accidents.
3. Fatigue
It’s not uncommon for Uber drivers in California to pull all-night shifts. But doing this means they are often overworking themselves and driving while tired. Fatigued driving is very similar to driving while intoxicated, meaning cognitive function is diminished enough to cause slower reaction times. This can easily add up to reckless driving that can result in an accident.
4. Pulling Over in Unsafe Areas
In an effort to pick up and drop off passengers as quickly and conveniently as possible, Uber drivers will often pull over in undesignated stopping areas. While this might please the passenger and get rideshare drivers a better rating, it is dangerous and can cause an accident.
Uber Insurance
As mentioned earlier, Uber has powerful legal teams and insurance policies in place to keep them from having to make huge payouts due to accidents. However, this also means they do have high policy limits if they do end up having to award a settlement to a victim. It can just be challenging to fight for a fair settlement when you are up against a big company like Uber.
Not all rideshare company insurance policies are the same either, so it’s important to know the difference between Uber and Lyft, for example.
Though Uber drivers are essentially contracted workers, as opposed to official employees, Uber is required by law to carry insurance to cover their drivers, passengers, and other potential victims— but only in certain situations.
California law requires Uber to hold $1 million in coverage for accident injuries. If the accident falls within the designated covered situations, the injured victim can file a claim against Uber’s insurance company.
Coverage will depend on these specific situations:
- The driver is offline: If the Uber driver is not actively using the app, they are not considered to be working. If an accident happens at this time, the Uber driver’s personal insurance is what will cover the accident-related damages and injuries.
- The driver is active but waiting for a ride request: If the Uber driver is actively on duty, but not transporting a passenger when an accident happens, Uber’s third-party liability coverage applies. This includes:
- $50,000 per person for bodily injury
- $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
- The driver is en route to pick up or drop off a passenger: If the Uber driver has a passenger in their car or if they are on their way to pick up a passenger when an accident occurs, Uber’s $1 million coverage applies.
Who Can Victims of an Uber Accident Sue?
If you are injured in an Uber accident, there are a few different parties that could potentially be held liable. You could file a lawsuit for an Uber accident against:
- The negligent Uber driver or their insurance company
- Uber or their insurance company
- Other potentially liable parties, such as another driver
Can I Sue Uber When The Uber Car Driver Was At Fault For The Crash?
Whether or not you can sue Uber if the Uber driver was at fault will depend on various factors. Just because the Uber driver appeared to be the one at fault does not mean they are the one ultimately responsible. Again, there are multiple potentially liable parties, as listed above.
When you file an accident claim, the court and anyone else involved in the case will carefully review evidence to determine what happened and who was ultimately at fault. If the Uber driver is fully to blame, then you will likely be able to hold them accountable and file a lawsuit against them.
However, you might not even need to take the case to court to file a lawsuit. If the driver was off duty, their insurance company will be the one responsible for awarding you a settlement. If the driver was considered actively working, then Uber’s insurance policy will take effect and award you a settlement for your injuries and other damages.
The only reason you would need to take the case to court and file a lawsuit is if you think you are not being awarded a fair amount. But if you have a good lawyer representing you, they can likely help you settle without needing to go to court.
Damages After an Uber Accident
After your Uber accident claim is filed, the amount of compensation you are awarded in a settlement will depend on the damages you have suffered. Damages you can collect include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Property damage
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Permanent impairment and disability
- Loss of consortium
How Does Compensation Work in an Uber Case?
Once you file your claim, there are various factors that will play a role in how much compensation you will receive.
The first factor is the party responsible and their insurance coverage. You will only be able to recover up to the policy limit unless you sue for further compensation. So if the Uber driver is the one liable, your settlement will depend on the driver’s personal insurance policy coverage. If Uber is responsible, you can receive up to the policy limits that were described above.
The second factor that will play a role is the damages, as listed above. Those damages will be taken into consideration to determine how much you deserve to be awarded. For example, if you sustain a permanent injury that leaves you disabled, your claim is worth more money.
The third factor that can play a role in how much money you recover is whether or not you work with an experienced California attorney. Not all lawyers have experience handling Uber accident cases. A more experienced attorney will know what it takes to defend your rights, stand up against the insurance companies, and ensure you get paid the full settlement you deserve.
Why It’s Important to Hire an Uber Accident Lawyer
Uber drivers are just ordinary citizens like yourself. Uber does not thoroughly screen their drivers, nor do they require them to have any sort of special training or licensing. This is in large part due to the fact that Uber wants to keep their drivers as independent contractors so they do not have to take responsibility for them as official employees.
This can make dealing with an Uber accident and determining who is ultimately the one responsible challenging. Uber purposely has policies in place to protect them and keep them from being held accountable.
As such, it’s crucial that injured victims hire an experienced Uber accident lawyer. You will need an attorney who knows how to handle these specific kinds of cases and knows what it takes to ensure the right party is held liable.
Contact a Qualified San Francisco Uber Accident Attorney
Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers can handle the complicated legal issues involved in your claim so that you can put all of your focus and energy into recovering from your injuries. With a trustworthy, experienced Uber accident attorney by your side, there is no reason to worry and stress about your situation.
For more information about rideshare accidents, visit our Uber Accident FAQ page.
We Handle Your Rideshare Accident Claim So You Can Focus on Your Life
After sustaining injuries in an Uber accident, consult with the personal injury attorneys at Sally Morin Law. We truly care about the people of California and those who visit our beautiful state.
Contact us today for a free online case evaluation, or call 833-SALLY-SF.