How Long Does it Take Uber to Pay for Property Damage to My Car?

So you’ve been in an accident with an Uber driver and filed a claim for property damages. Months have gone by with little to no communication from Uber, leaving you to wonder, “Why is Uber taking such a long time to pay for my property damage?”

We understand your frustration, which we have seen firsthand from many clients that have come through our doors. It’s especially infuriating when Uber has third party liability coverage specifically for this purpose. Unfortunately, Uber has been known to engage in underhanded tactics when it comes to insurance claims against their drivers. We will go over these issues, along with other factors that can add to the amount of time it will take to settle your claim.

Average Length of Time to Settle an Uber Property Damage Claim

First, we want to stress that there is no universal number of weeks or months in which a property damage claim will be paid. Still, claims must be addressed and paid in a reasonable time frame, and the same goes for rejecting a claim or asking for more information. Additionally, property damage claims are generally less complex than injury claims, as they’re solely based on financial losses. Thus, you should receive a response within the first few weeks of filing the claim.

As for when you will get paid, that can take longer depending on the amount of damage and the complexity of your accident. Still, most claimants receive compensation within a few months of filing, especially if their claim was handled by an attorney. In fact, we’ve had cases at our firm that were resolved in as little as 30 days.

But we know this doesn’t happen for everyone, based on the number of people who come to us asking, “Why is Uber’s insurance taking such a long time to pay for the damage to my car?”

Factors That Can Delay Your Payment from Uber

If you’re at the beginning stage of your claim, you’ll need to account for the sheer volume of claims insurance companies deal with at any given time. These claims can range in the thousands when they involve businesses like Uber, so it’s completely reasonable for 3 to 6 weeks to go by before you get a response. Then again, cases can sometimes fall through the cracks, so it’s essential to check up on the status of your case if it’s been a few weeks since you filed your claim.

If your claim is rejected by the insurance company, they must tell you why in a clear and reasonable manner. Sometimes clients come to us specifically for this reason, because they are getting the run-around when they demand to know why their claim was denied. Sadly, we’ve seen cases where insurance agents are clearly playing games in the hopes that you’ll go away or accept a lower offer than what you’re entitled to. They do this by intentionally making you wait or initially denying you, then making you wait. By the time they finally contact you, they’re hoping you’ll jump at the chance to get anything at all.

This is completely unacceptable with property damage claims, since they are relatively straight forward. But getting through to Uber’s insurers and making them pay for your damages may require intervention from an experienced lawyer.

On the other hand, it’s possible that the complexities of your accident require more investigation than the average case for property damage. It is Uber’s legal right to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure that your claim is valid. However, they must be transparent with you regarding the status of your claim, and not take months to get back to you with an answer. An attorney can be helpful in this area, since they have an idea of reasonable timelines for insurance company responses.

Are you having trouble getting paid on a property damage claim from Uber? If so, contact our office and speak to one of our Uber insurance claims attorneys.

Can I Hire a Lawyer to Help me Get Paid for my Property Damage?

Yes, you can hire an attorney if you’re not making progress with your claim. A lawyer experienced with Uber accident claims can contact the insurers and take aggressive action on your behalf. It’s an unfortunate truth, but some damage requests from rideshare companies are not taken seriously until a lawyer gets involved. Of course, it’s possible that your claim fell through the cracks and the delay is not intentional. But you may be too aggravated by this point to keep speaking with customer service agents. A lawyer can take the stress off your shoulders and find out exactly were the insurer is with your claim.

Your attorney can also negotiate a fair settlement for your damages, though this applies more to bodily injuries than property damage. Frankly, property damage is easy to justify as it’s based on financial estimates by a certified mechanic. As a result, these claims are normally paid within the first few months of an accident. But it’s possible that you claim will be disputed by the insurer, depending on how much you’re asking for. In that case, you’ll need to back up your request with evidence and sound legal arguments, which should be handled by an experienced insurance claims attorney. If you and the insurance company cannot come to an agreement, your lawyer will help you file a lawsuit against Uber and prepare you for the legal process with the courts.

Thankfully, most cases that are handled by attorneys do not proceed to a lawsuit as they are resolved relatively quickly through private negotiations. That’s why it’s best to consult an attorney right away if your car has been damaged by an Uber driver. However, it’s not too late to get a lawyer involved if Uber’s insurers are acting in bad faith.

Give us a call and find out how we can help in a claim for property damages against Uber.
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Can I Switch My Lawyer?

To be fair, sometimes it’s not Uber that’s the problem. Rather, it’s the attorney who may have put your case on the back burner. Thankfully, California law permits the changing of attorneys at any point in your case. So the option to switch counsel is always there if you feel like you’re being short changed by your current law firm.

Though we hate to admit it, some lawyers see case files as dollar signs and prioritize the ones that will bring in the most money, i.e., bodily injury. They may also push the client into accepting a low settlement, and if they resist, they’ll forget about them and move on to the next one. Another possibility is that your lawyer lacks the experience to go after mega corporations, or isn’t quite as knowledgeable about rideshare insurance laws. These attorneys usually rely on the insurance company’s explanations and wait far too long to take the necessary actions.

Any of these circumstances can lead to considerable delays in a claim for property damage against Uber. If you suspect any of these problems with your attorney, you must seek a second opinion from another lawyer right away.

Our lawyers will be happy to review your case during a free second opinion. That way, you can verify your suspicions and learn about the pros and cons of ending the contract with your current attorney. If you decide to transfer your case to us, we will contact the courts, as well as your attorney and take care of compensating them for the work they’ve done on your case. And if you decide to stick with your current lawyer, the consultation is completely free and we are happy to have educated you on your legal options.

Changing lawyers is a big decision that should not be made without consulting another attorney. Contact our office and schedule a free second opinion consultation.

Spanish Speaking Uber Accident Attorneys

There’s no need to worry if you don’t speak English or have limited English speaking skills. Our team of Spanish-fluent attorneys and paralegals will handle all the paperwork and communications related to your claim. We can answer any questions you have and make sure that you are fully aware of your rights and legal options. Please give us a call and speak to a bilingual Uber accident attorney.

Get Results with the Lawyers of Normandie

It’s frustrating enough when the company that’s supposed to pay you has left you in the dark. But it’s even worse to get that treatment from your own attorney. Here at Normandie, we’ve always treated clients like family. That means communicating with them regularly and letting them know exactly what’s being done on their case. It means giving them honest, clear answers to their questions and restoring their faith in the justice process when they’re down and frustrated.

We also believe in taking direct, aggressive action when our clients are being ignored by Uber and other big corporations. In short, we will fight for you as hard as we would fight for our own family members. Most of all, we would never charge family for legal services, which is why we operated under a Zero fee guarantee. That means you will never pay upfront for any of our services. Our fees are deferred until we win your case, and if we don’t win, you walk away without owing us a penny. We look forward to representing you and recovering the damages you’re entitled to.

Call Normandie Law Firm and find out about your rights in a property damage claim against Uber.

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