What Happens if You Are Injured in an Uber?
What happens if you are injured in an Uber? If you are riding in an Uber as a passenger and you are injured, Uber has you insured up to $1 million. Depending on the circumstances of the crash, your driver’s private insurance, or the insurance of another motorist involved in the accident may also owe you compensation. Of course, this doesn’t mean that Uber and various insurance companies are going to write you a big check; they don’t make money by paying out anything more than they can get away with. For this reason, if you’ve been hurt while a passenger in a rideshare car, you need to contact Uber accident lawyers with Ellis Law.
What does Uber’s insurance cover?
In California, the insurance Uber must provide depends on what stage of a ride the driver is in. Period 1 is when they have the app active and are looking for passengers. Period 2 is when they are en route to pick up a passenger, and Period 3 is when the passenger is on board and the ride is in progress. We’ll focus on Period 3, as that’s the time when you’re actually in the car. In California, Uber must cover uninsured or underinsured drivers up to $1 million in the event of an accident. That means, if the driver has $100,000 private insurance coverage, Uber must provide another $900,000. This sounds like a lot, but they rarely pay out the full amount. Often times, they try to deflect blame onto the driver’s private insurance, and this legal wrangling can mean that your settlement is delayed.
What to do after an accident
If you’re not seriously hurt and feel reasonably safe, it’s best to report the accident via the Uber app, take pictures of the scene, get contact info from eyewitnesses, and make a statement to the police. If you are hurt, emergency medical care needs to be your first priority. Either way, it’s best to schedule a free consultation with an Uber accident attorney from Ellis Law as soon as possible. Uber or one of the liable drivers’ insurance companies may offer a quick payout in hopes that you’ll waive your right to further legal action. It’s important that you have a lawyer who represents your interests look over any compensation package before you accept.
Is Uber or the driver liable?
This is a tricky question. Until the passage of California AB 5, rideshare drivers were considered independent contractors. Now they have been reclassified as employees, which would seem to hold Uber more accountable for their actions. This is a new legal landscape that is constantly evolving, which makes it all the more important that you work with a leading personal injury lawyer. Even a delay of a couple of weeks can cause you to rack up credit card debt as you struggle to pay medical bills and rent.
Win compensation to get back on your feet
Your rideshare accident lawyer will fight for a generous compensation package that will include funds to pay for current and ongoing medical needs and missed paychecks and decreased earning potential. In addition to this, they’ll also seek an amount to make up for your pain and suffering. Depending on the extent of your injuries, the cost of your medical care, and the level of negligence on the part of the driver or Uber, this amount could end up being quite large. Your lawyer will attempt to negotiate a fair settlement with the various insurance companies involved. If no agreement can be made, they can take the matter to court. No one should have their life turned upside down because of the irresponsible actions of another, especially a for-profit company with a history of cutting corners on rider safety.
We don’t get paid unless you receive compensation
If you’re not particularly wealthy, the thought of taking a tech giant to court may seem daunting.
We all know how expensive legal services can be, especially in Southern California, and big companies will go to great lengths to dodge responsibility and avoid setting costly precedents. At Ellis Law, we believe that everyone deserves justice, whether they have the funds to hire a lawyer out of pocket or not. This is why we work on a contingency-fee-basis.
Come in for a free consultation with our legal pros. If we think you have a case, and you decide to work with us, we can start working right away. We’ll use a trusted team of crash reconstructionists, law enforcement experts, mechanics and doctors to paint a clear picture of what transpired before and during your accident, and fight to hold the liable parties accountable. Contact us 24/7 via phone, email, or chat.