Growing up, we were all taught to never get into cars with strangers, but since 2009, ridesharing services have exploded, and every day, countless people get into the back seat of a stranger’s vehicle with the complete trust that they will arrive safely at their destination. This trust is based on the fact that rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have rigorous background checks that potential drivers must go through, as well as ongoing audits and ratings that hold drivers accountable and ensure safety for passengers.
That said, no rating system or set of safety requirements will ever guarantee that a driver will not be involved in an accident — whether they caused it or someone else caused it — which is why it is so vital that you know your legal rights as a victim of an accident as a passenger in an Uber.
Have You Been Hurt in an Accident With an Uber?
Uber provides insurance coverage for passengers, but trying to navigate any insurance claim can be complicated — especially as you are trying to focus on recovering from your injuries and dealing with the countless inconveniences or disruptions that a serious accident can cause. Working with a Tallahassee from the start of your insurance claim is one of the most helpful steps you can take, but many fail to do so because of the additional stress of searching for an attorney, scheduling consultations, and otherwise adding to an already chaotic situation.
Contact 1-800-Injured To Connect With an Attorney With Ease
1-800-Injured is an attorney and medical referral service. Instead of taking on the burden of contacting law firms, scheduling consultations, and hoping to find a lawyer who is ready to take your case, we will find a lawyer on your behalf and schedule a consultation for you. Once connected with an Uber accident lawyer, you will be able to discuss the specifics of your accident and get clear answers to your important questions about how best to move forward with your case.
We encourage you to reach out to us before initiating your insurance claim. When you partner with an attorney before contacting the insurance company, you will send a clear signal early on that you are willing to do what it takes to get the money you deserve. While your attorney fights to get you the money you are rightfully entitled to, you will be able to focus on recovering from your injuries, keeping your stress low, and moving forward with your life.
How To File a Claim After an Uber Accident
Since Uber drivers are categorized as independent contractors, they are not covered by an employer’s insurance in the way that a taxi driver is, meaning that you will need to determine which insurance provider to file a claim with (or how to file a claim with multiple providers). Uber drivers who are committed to a ride (either driving to pick up a fare or in the process of driving a passenger) are covered fully with $1,000,000 liability insurance through Uber’s policy. Drivers waiting for a ride request in the app must first use their insurance, and Uber’s policy will cover any differences.
If you are a passenger in an Uber, you will be able to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance without needing to worry about taking on any comparative fault of your own; however, if you were driving your vehicle, you will need to go through the same process as any other type of car accident. Depending on how the driver was using the Uber app, you may file a claim with Uber’s policy or the driver’s personal auto insurance policy.
Getting the Money You Deserve After an Uber Accident
The fact that Uber’s third-party liability policy has a limit of $1,000,000 while a driver is committed to a ride is great, but a policy limit has little bearing on whether or not the insurance company is willing to pay the amount you are owed. Insurance companies make profits by collecting more in premiums than they pay out in damages. They are incentivized to settle your claim as quickly and inexpensively as possible regardless of the actual damages you have suffered.
Working with a personal injury attorney is one of the best ways to ensure that an experienced legal professional is poring over the numerous details of your situation and compiling the many different impacts you have suffered due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness.
Compensatory vs. Punitive Damages
The damages sought in a personal injury claim are called “compensatory damages” since they seek to compensate for measurable impacts and losses. There are other damages known as “punitive damages” that may be awarded to victims by a judge or jury at the resolution of a trial. These damages are rare and only awarded after a trial in a situation where the at-fault party acted in a particularly reckless or wanton manner. A personal injury attorney will not factor punitive damages into their calculations.
Compensatory damages are further divided into two distinct categories:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the impacts of an accident that have set or measurable dollar values such as medical costs, lost wages, property damage, and other financial consequences stemming from your Tallahassee Uber accident. A detail-oriented personal injury lawyer will be able to identify many different economic damages that may otherwise be overlooked, ignored, or dismissed as inconsequential to ensure that their client gets all of the money they deserve. You should not need to take on the financial repercussions of someone else’s behavior.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are equally important in determining total damages owed but can be much more challenging to calculate since they apply to impacts that do not have set market values associated with them. Common non-economic damages include things like the actual pain and suffering that a victim endures as a result of their injuries, as well as the inconveniences that their injuries pose to their everyday life. These are just two examples of many that your attorney will identify and quantify for you before they begin their settlement negotiations.
A variety of methods are used to calculate these types of damages, and your attorney will select the most appropriate method to get you the money you are entitled to after an Uber accident.