Uber has become ingrained in mainstream culture over the last few years, even going so far as to be adopted as a verb – instead of driving to a show, you will just Uber there. The company has done more than serve normal travelers as it has grown – it has also upgraded to offering swanky options for more business professionals and those who want a more luxurious ride. However, as more drivers are hired by Uber, the risk of accidents also increases. Having to refer back to an app to pick up additional passengers, for instance, can cause distractions and may lead to car crashes. Those who suffer injuries as a result of Uber car accidents are entitled to financial compensation, and our team of attorneys at Normandie Law Firm in Los Angeles, California, can help bring you a settlement you deserve. Our clients come to us with questions about Uber accidents and what can be done to start the legal process. Examples of other such questions include:
- How much does Uber pay to a passenger who was injured in an accident?
- How much can an Uber passenger receive from Uber in case of an accident?
- How much money can you receive from Uber if you got injured in an accident?
Information on Uber’s Insurance
Uber came into existence as an alternative to taxi cab services and public transportation; it was introduced as a cheaper alternative that allowed regular people the ability to earn money. They could use their own cars and work according to their own schedules. While this seemed like a fantastic idea, it quickly became apparent that there were some hidden issues and problems that needed to be resolved.
For example, initially, Uber drivers were viewed as independent contractors. Uber claimed to have no responsibility for the actions or accidents of their drivers, and anything they did was not Uber’s problem. This meant Uber was the middleman in a transaction between a driver and a passenger, but did not want to be an employer and pay dividends. Thus, when accidents happened, Uber could wash its hands and allow personal auto insurances to bear the damages and settle the payouts.
The problem with this is simple: personal auto insurance does not cover drivers who are engaged in commercial activities, such as driving for pay. As a result, Uber drivers were initially and essentially uninsured when transporting passengers. After a series of accidents, a law was passed that stated that rideshare companies must consider its drivers as employees in some sense of the word. Uber thus enacted an insurance plan that would stretch and cover all of its drivers.
The way it works is as follows: when a driver turns on the Uber app and is waiting for a fare, he is covered for up to $50,000 worth of damages (and double that for property damage or collision). This policy is enacted all the way until he accepts a passenger and picks the passenger up. While he is en route to a customer and transporting the customer, the insurance policy inflates to $1,000,000. This covers injuries, accidents, property damage, and more. Further, the uninsured or underinsured policy protects individuals who pursue damages from other responsible parties’ insurance companies but find out those policies are not enough to cover damages.
Most often, passengers who have been injured in Uber accidents will look to these insurance policies for coverage, but unfortunately, acquiring a settlement may be an extremely difficult process.
Further Information
Uber Accidents
Uber Passenger Injuries
As a passenger in an Uber vehicle, you are at an increased risk of injury. You are being chauffeured around by a stranger whose driving habits are unfamiliar to you, and you may not be in a condition to drive yourself. Not having your wits about you can cause you to get hurt – for instance, if your driver does not see a vehicle in his blind spot while turning, you can alert him to its presence and prevent an accident. Putting your well being in someone else’s hands is risky.
Regardless of this fact, however, car accidents still happen, and may be entirely due to the fault of another driver. Some Uber drivers may be rear-ended, t-boned, sideswiped, or struck in head-on collisions. Of course, the injuries that can result from these car crashes can be severely debilitating and even fatal.
You may sustain:
- Neck and back injuries, like cervical and vertebral damage, broken bones, paralysis, sprains, strains, and stiffness.
- Traumatic brain injuries, like concussions, hemorrhaging, bleeding, and coma.
- Damage to extremities, such as broken wrists, ankles, arms, feet, legs, and shoulders.
- Internal damage, like internal bleeding on organ damage.
- Severed body parts, especially in grisly accidents that involve twisted metal, broken glass, and high impact crashes.
- Nerve damage, including inability to feel sensation or complex regional pain syndrome.
- Death
Both minor and severe injuries are possible in car accidents, but there is no indication of what will happen when you are involved in a crash. A particularly bad accident could result in you walking away with only scratches, while a simple fender bender could cause a permanent injury. No matter what the damage is, you are entitled to compensation as a victim through an Uber accident lawsuit.
Value of an Uber Passenger Accident Lawsuit
Our clients often wonder how much they can earn from a lawsuit against Uber if they were injured as passengers. Unfortunately, there is no way of outright determining the settlement value of a claim; the best we can do is use similar cases to ballpark what you may potentially earn, as well as explain the damages in great detail.
Insurance agents and lawyers are usually responsible for negotiating settlements, but if that does not work, a lawsuit can be filed and the case can be taken to court, where a judge or jury will make the deciding call. Because of this high amount of subjectivity, there is no guarantee that two cases will have the same results. Many people view circumstances much differently than each other, and they may not be persuaded that a victim deserves as much compensation as he is claiming. Thus, a skillful lawyer is crucial in helping you receive a fair settlement.
There are numerous factors used to determine how much a case is worth. First and foremost, the extent of the injury is taken into account, not just the injury itself. For example, if an Uber passenger sustained a broken leg, the additional implications of the injury must be taken into account. These implications stretch beyond the physical problems. Common examinations include:
- Did the injury heal properly?
- Did the victim return to full mobility and range of motion in that area?
- Did the injury lead to further health complications?
- Did the injury result in paralysis?
- Did the injury prevent the victim from completing work duties?
- Will the injury stop the victim from resuming his job?
- What kind of impact will the injury have on the victim’s life?
This last point is especially important. Besides your health and your job, the additional lifestyle problems that may arise from an injury are taken into account. If the previously mentioned broken leg is improperly set and is subjected to infection, it may be amputated. However, a person who works from home on the computer will not be unable to complete his job duties; he will still be able to work and earn a living. On the other hand, everyday life activities will become much harder – maneuvering around his house with a wheelchair, for instance, as well as driving, reaching shelves, leaving the house, and more. A particularly severe injury that permanently alters a person’s life will usually result in more compensation.
Other factors play roles in determining the value of a case, such as age, pre-existing injuries, liability, and more.
What You Earn
As a victim of an Uber accident, you can earn numerous types of compensation for your injuries. This monetary compensation is meant to cover your damages and make sure you are not in a financial hole. These forms of restitution include:
- Medical Bills
- Lost Wages
- Property Damage
- Pain and Suffering
- Punitive Damages
An experienced lawyer can help you earn all of these damages in a lawsuit, but you should be wary of those who do not have your best interests in mind.
Free Second Opinion
Some attorneys take advantage of clients who need legal representation. They sign them on and negotiate a very fast settlement with the insurance companies. These settlements are generally small and do not cover much; when the lawyer claims this is all he can work for, the client may accept out of desperation. The lawyer will collect his paycheck and move on to the next case, and repeat the actions.
These attorneys are acting in bad faith. Many clients who ask us about the value of cases already have relationships with law firms, but they may want to be doubly sure that they are not being misrepresented. Call us today to receive a free and confidential second opinion on your case; we will tell you if we believe your attorney is acting with your best interests in mind and if the settlement amount you’ve been offered is reasonable.
Choose Normandie Law Firm
If you want to move forward with a law firm that cares about you and places your health, safety, and financial integrity at the top of its priority list, look no further than Normandie Law Firm. Our attorneys are empathetic towards our clients and will aggressively fight against Uber and its insurance company to bring you the settlement you deserve.
Call us today for a free legal consultation on your case. You are invited to ask us anything you want and we will give you information on the legal process, personal injury claims, and what Uber is responsible for if you’ve been hurt in an accident.
All our clients receive a zero fee guarantee when they hire us for legal representation. No client is asked to pay out of pocket expenses for our services; we only collect our fees when we win your case, and the fees are withdrawn from the settlement we’ve earned from the insurance company. Uber will essentially pay your legal fees for you if we win, and if we lose, you do not owe us a cent.
If you were involved in an Uber accident as a passenger, contact Normandie Law Firm today to speak to an experienced attorney in Los Angeles.
FURTHER READING ON UBER ACCIDENT CLAIMS
How Long Does it Take Uber to Settle an Accident Claim?
Lawyer to Increase My Uber Accident Settlement Value
Lawyer to File Case Against Uber for Injuries After Sudden Stop
Uber Car Accident Attorney to File Lawsuit for Road Rage Accident
Recent Ridesharing Verdicts and Settlements
