With rideshare services like Uber making the convenience of traveling more accessible than ever, an accident can still happen.
Whether you are an injured passenger in an Uber or you’re either a pedestrian or another driver and the Uber struck you, knowing your legal rights is the best thing to do in this kind of situation.
These situations can get tricky, but a personal injury lawyer will be at your back and call to see the process through, ensuring you get what rightfully belongs to you.
Now, let us break it down for you so you know what to expect and precisely how to protect yourself.
Who’s Responsible for an Uber Accident?
In such instances, the question of liability might not always be as transparent as one might perceive it to be. Sometimes it has something to do with the driver’s status at that given moment in the accident.
In other cases, an example being that in which an Uber driver may actively engage in a ride or maybe even en route for passenger pickup, chances are that it might fall within the insurance coverage policy provided by Uber.
Otherwise, when this same driver was logged off their apps, their coverage could fall on the personal insurance they paid.
Of course, it gets more complicated if there are other drivers involved. Their insurance will carry partial liability in the case, especially if some fault has been shown to lie on their part. It could get really overwhelming to sort this out when recovering from your injuries.
This is where the services of a personal injury lawyer come in handy. They go into in-depth research on your case to establish where the fault lies and ensure all parties responsible are brought to book.
Your Rights as a Victim
You may be entitled to compensation for injuries, aside from other kinds of damages due to this accident, such as medical bills, lost wages, or even emotional distress.
Whether you were in an Uber or just caught in the crossfire as another driver or pedestrian, know that you do have rights.
Moreover, ride-sharing companies like Uber maintain high-policy insurance to cover their passengers and everyone else in the event of a happening.
In fact, Uber covers as much as $1 million for liability in instances involving active rides. Just because that coverage is there doesn’t mean getting compensated will go smoothly.
In most cases, insurance companies look for ways to underpay, so having legal representation is pretty crucial. A lawyer knows how to negotiate with the insurers to ensure that you are not shortchanged.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
A claim for an accident involving Uber can be very complex: from the determination of liability to the frustration involved in dealing with insurance companies. A personal injury lawyer takes this all off your plate so you can focus on recovery.
Some major ways in which a lawyer can help involve the paperwork and legality. They will collect evidence and interview any witnesses, even hiring expert witnesses to prove your case.
Most importantly, they’ll be able to determine the total of your damages so you know how much your claim truly is worth. This not only includes immediate costs -such as hospital bills -but also extends to long-term expenses, including ongoing therapy or lost earning potential.
In the case of further proceedings in a court of law, a lawyer will represent you, avoiding any stress and nagging and perusing your interests. They’ll make sure that you don’t get forced to accept an offer of around one-tenth of what you could have gotten.
For instance, if you are in Texas, then an experienced Austin car accident lawyer can help you through the specific laws and regulations in your state.
What to Do After an Uber Accident
If you happen to be in an accident involving an Uber vehicle, there are several things you would want to do, at the very least, to help ensure that your rights may be protected.
First and foremost, take your time to ensure that everyone involved is assured of their safety, then call 911 as a precautionary measure in case the injuries seem minor and there actually needs to be a record of the incidents.
Next, you want to be able to capture as much information as possible. Photos of the area where the accident occurred; contact information of the Uber driver and any people who claimed to have seen the accident transpire; license plate number.
Also, if you were riding along, send a screenshot via the app of your ride information. This can be very important afterwards when filing an insurance claim.
Finally, even if you feel fine at the scene, go see a doctor. Some injuries do not present themselves until some time after the fact; this will also build your case because you will have medical records to prove your injury.
Once you have done all of this, it is time to contact a personal injury lawyer so that you can discuss your options.
Winding Up
An accident involving Uber is always stressful and confusing, considering the injuries involved and questions as to who was at fault.
Thankfully, you don’t have to go through it alone. A personal injury lawyer will be able to deal with the tricky parts, from negotiating with insurance companies to collecting evidence, and let you focus on your recovery.
You deserve fair compensation for all your injuries and damages. You don’t want to settle for less than you should. Take the right steps to approach an able lawyer and seek justice that comes your way.
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