Uber Accidents
If you have been involved in an accident with an Uber driver, contact the experienced attorneys at Raphaelson & Levine. We will fight for your rights and ensure that you receive just compensation.
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Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare apps have revolutionized transportation, but if you've been in an accident as an Uber passenger, it can be a nightmare to get your medical bills paid and recover compensation for your pain and suffering.
Uber accident lawsuits can be more challenging than most car crash claims, mainly due to the complicated insurance policy and insurance coverage involved as an Uber passenger.
Raphaelson & Levine is here to help make sure you aren't left behind by corporate insurance companies who only care about their bottom line. Our car accident law firm is ready to fight for you. We will work tirelessly with you until we get justice for your injuries and take care of all the hassle that comes along with getting medical treatment after an Uber accident. You can count on us to be there when you need us most!
If you or a loved one have sustained injuries in a rideshare car accident, call (212) 268-3222 or complete our online contact form today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Drivers, passengers, and victims of careless Uber drivers can sue Uber for a car accident. Whether Uber is liable depends on whether a driver logged into the app at the time of the accident. If they were not using the app at the time of the accident, you could only pursue the driver’s insurance.
Rideshare accidents take the following forms:
Uber’s insurance activates if the driver was waiting for a passenger or transporting one. However, there is a slight difference if the driver is waiting for a passenger. In those cases, you first pursue their personal auto insurance and once exhausted, Uber insurance kicks in. But if the driver was waiting and their auto insurance does not cover rideshare, you pursue Uber.
Once we establish Uber is responsible, we assess driver fault. Like other drivers, Uber drivers must exercise a standard of care. That includes driving carefully, obeying traffic laws, and keeping vehicles in a safe condition. If we can establish that the Uber driver behaved carelessly in any of these areas, we can show liability and pursue damages.
Besides the driver, we can also hold the company responsible. Uber must ensure that drivers offer the skills and training to drive safely. All rideshare companies perform background checks and driving record reviews, but there are cases where that is not enough.
A driver can pass these checks but still receive passenger complaints on their driving abilities. Uber ignores these complaints at its peril. Uber and Lyft deny liability for driver misconduct because drivers are independent contractors. But, it is possible to hold them responsible.
Before we sue Uber or pursue their insurance, we must take the following steps:
There are differences if you are an Uber driver or a passenger. Uber drivers also benefit from Uber’s commercial insurance policy, but only if you logged into the app at the time. If you were waiting for an Uber passenger, you must use your insurance first, and Uber activates to cover any damages it does not cover. For example, if an uninsured crashed into you, Uber insurance pays your damages if you do not carry uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance coverage in your policy.
If you are a passenger, Uber covers you under their $1 million liability insurance. But Uber and Lyft claim they are not responsible for rideshare driver misconduct, so you may have to expect a fight. You must pursue damages against the driver’s private auto insurance first before pursuing Uber’s policy.
We cannot guarantee a settlement amount since accident cases vary significantly. But we can explain how we come to a settlement and how we pursue it on your behalf.
Your settlement amount depends on your damages. Those include:
Generally, more severe injuries result in larger settlements. For example, there are Uber accident claims that settled between $500,000 and $1 million. In those cases, accident victims suffered disability or severe mental trauma from an accident. These accidents caused injuries like severe fractures, brain injury, nerve damage, or wrongful death.
However, even if you suffered soft tissue injuries, like whiplash or strains and sprains, you still face life disruption that affects your work, finances, and life enjoyment. These may not be multi-million dollar settlements, but they still matter. Therefore, we still do our best to secure the highest payment possible so you can move forward easier, recover lost wages, and pay off your medical bills. The purpose is to make you whole, and if you suffered losses, you deserve compensation.
Raphaelson & Levine personal injury attorneys offer vast experience handling these Uber accident cases and maximizing settlement amounts. We help accident victims by:
Handing car accidents is often stressful and time-consuming, especially when a large commercial entity like Uber is involved. Your focus needs to be on recovering from your injuries. Sometimes, that alone is a full-time job as you attend doctor appointments and receive needed therapies. That makes it challenging to stay in contact with insurance companies, provide your medical records, and respond to settlement offers. Many of these steps also have strict deadlines that can sink your accident case if you miss them.
Also, insurance companies are more likely to lowball your settlement or try to settle your personal injury claim before you make a full recovery. You avoid that risk by hiring a personal injury lawyer. Since we do not charge legal fees unless we recover, there is little risk to you and everything to gain.
Navigating the insurance quagmire with Uber or Lyft accidents is never fun and often complicated. At Raphaelson & Levine Law Firm, an Uber accident attorney can offer guidance and solid legal representation when your car crash involved an Uber driver.
Call us today at (212) 268-3222 or fill out your online contact form to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation.
