If an Uber car hits you, contact an experienced Las Vegas Uber accident lawyer. You may receive significant compensation for your injuries and losses, but a lawyer may need to take prompt action to protect your interests and get you the maximum compensation possible.
In this blog post, we provide an overview of your legal rights as the victim of a collision with an Uber car. We discuss the insurance coverage you could benefit from, the steps you can take, and the critical role a lawyer plays in your case. An Uber accident lawyer will ensure you receive generous compensation that pays for your losses and assists in your long-term recovery.
Your Rights to Compensation After an Uber Hits You
As the victim of an Uber accident, you generally have the legal right to receive compensation for your losses. You can hold numerous parties liable for your pain and suffering, and you could claim damages for a wide range of physical, emotional, and financial losses.
Parties Potentially Liable When an Uber Hits You
Various parties could owe you compensation after an Uber hits you:
- An Uber driver who engaged in careless or reckless driving conduct behind the wheel.
- Another motorist whose dangerous driving triggered the collision.
- The manufacturer of one of the vehicles involved if defective parts played a role in causing the accident.
- A government institution responsible for creating unreasonably hazardous, preventable road conditions.
These examples are just some of your options for pursuing compensation after a collision with an Uber. You can seek damages after an Uber accident from several liable parties simultaneously.
The most reliable way to find out who might owe you compensation after an Uber collision is to speak with an experienced rideshare accident lawyer immediately.
Damages and Factors Influencing Potential Recovery
As a victim of an Uber accident, you can demand payment for the full scope of your suffering.
Although every crash differs, those damages can include compensation for:
- Medical and other accident-related expenses.
- Lost income, job benefits, and future earning opportunities.
- Physical pain and emotional distress.
- Diminished quality of life and personal relationships.
- Scarring, disfigurement, or loss of bodily function.
The amount you can recover depends on many factors, such as the severity of your injuries, the strength of your case, your lawyer's skill and reputation, and the financial capacity of the liable parties to pay damages, including any liability insurance coverage they carry.
The Extra Significance of Insurance Coverage in Uber Accident Cases
By law, all Uber drivers must carry supplemental liability insurance beyond the liability coverage their personal auto policies provide. Uber typically pays for this on its drivers' behalf.
The supplemental liability insurance an Uber driver carries provides a potentially significant safety net for people hit by an Uber—far more liability insurance coverage than a crash victim can normally expect in a non-rideshare car accident.
The availability of this extra coverage usually depends on the Uber driver's status on the Uber app at the time of the accident.
- If the Uber driver logged in and was available for a ride, the supplemental insurance typically covers no less than $50,000 in bodily injury per person, $100,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 in property damage.
- If the Uber driver logged in and connected with a rideshare—from the moment of a match with a passenger until the passenger exits the vehicle—the supplemental Uber coverage typically pays for at least $1 million, and in some states $1.5 million or more, in accident damages.
- If the Uber driver did not log in, the supplemental insurance does not apply, and only the driver's personal auto liability insurance covers an injured crash victim's losses.
Uber's supplemental liability insurance covers Uber passengers, drivers and passengers of other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. Anyone hurt in an accident that an Uber driver causes can claim compensation under the supplemental insurance Uber supplies.
To benefit from Uber's supplemental insurance, however, crash victims need to prove their eligibility. Your lawyer may need to take prompt action after an accident to gather evidence that proves the driver's fault and status on the app at the time of the collision. This is crucial to establishing that Uber's supplemental insurance should pay your damages and that you should receive payment for your losses.
What Steps Can You Take After an Uber Hits You?
If an Uber hits you, your priority should be to look after your health and well-being. You should also hire an experienced Uber accident lawyer who can ensure you benefit from the supplemental insurance available and protect your rights.
Always Prioritize Your Medical Needs
Your health is paramount. After an Uber accident, seek medical attention straight away. Even minor untreated injuries can lead to serious complications.
Make sure you do everything you reasonably can to heal from your injuries. You will probably need to visit your doctor more than once. Go to follow-up appointments, do physical therapy, take your medication, and obey your doctor's orders.
Prioritizing medical care doesn't just protect your health. It also serves an important legal purpose. The medical records of your treatment are evidence in your claim and can significantly influence your potential compensation. They also prove that you should not bear any of the blame for your injuries, which is an argument insurance companies and at-fault parties will often make in trying to avoid their financial responsibility for your losses.
Contact an Experienced Uber Accident Lawyer
After attending to your medical needs, contact an experienced Uber or Lyft Car Accident attorney immediately. They can then begin collecting evidence to establish your eligibility for supplemental Uber liability insurance. They will investigate the accident to identify other parties who might share fault and be liable for your losses.
A skilled Uber accident lawyer can take immediate steps to meet legal deadlines, or statutes of limitations, in your case. This is essential because missing a deadline can mean losing your rights to compensation.
Your lawyer can also provide a host of other valuable services.
Depending on the circumstances and your needs, these might include:
- Evaluating your damages to establish how much compensation you deserve.
- Interacting with insurance companies as your authorized representative to protect you from aggressive insurance adjusters who might seek to undermine your claim.
- Answering your questions and advising you on critical decisions influencing your legal rights and financial future.
- Preparing and submitting insurance claims under Uber's supplemental insurance, the at-fault driver's personal auto insurance, or other parties' liability insurance coverage.
- Filing lawsuits against liable parties in court.
- Negotiating settlements of your claims whenever possible.
- Advising you to either accept or reject settlement offers.
- Taking your case to court and arguing your Uber accident injury claim to a judge and jury.
- Following up to ensure you receive full compensation from a settlement, judgment, or jury verdict.
Hiring an Uber accident lawyer to perform these and similar services is affordable, regardless of your financial situation.
Lawyers offer free consultations to Uber accident victims where you can meet with an experienced legal professional and learn about your rights. They also represent injured clients on a contingent fee basis, which means they don't charge upfront retainers or hourly rates but keep a percentage of any money they secure for you. You only pay them if they win for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Uber Accident Cases
After an Uber accident, you may find yourself overwhelmed with questions about your rights and options. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about what to do if an Uber hits you.
Can I Get Compensation From Uber's Supplemental Liability Insurance if I Wasn't an Uber Passenger?
Yes, you can. Uber's supplemental liability insurance covers damages for Uber passengers, drivers and passengers of other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. Anyone hurt in an accident that an Uber driver at least partially causes can potentially seek compensation under the supplemental insurance Uber provides.
What Are My Options for Seeking Compensation if the Uber Driver Wasn't at Fault?
If the Uber driver wasn't at fault, you could still seek compensation from other parties whose wrongful conduct contributed to the cause of the accident. This could include the driver of the other vehicle, the manufacturer of a defective vehicle or vehicle part, or a government institution if poor road conditions contributed to the crash.
You may also pursue compensation under the insurance coverage you carry. An experienced Uber accident lawyer can identify the potential sources of payment for your losses and pursue them on your behalf.
Does Seeking Compensation Mean I'll Have to Go up Against Uber in Court?
No. It's rarely necessary to take legal action against Uber, the company, to get compensation for your injuries. Compensation typically involves pursuing a claim under the supplemental liability insurance the driver carries and, when possible, against any other at-fault parties and their liability insurance coverage.
A negotiated settlement usually resolves most Uber accident claims. It's rare for these cases to go to court, but if yours does, an experienced Uber accident lawyer will represent your rights and interests.
How Long Will It Take to Get Compensation for My Uber Accident Injuries?
The duration of an Uber accident case can vary greatly depending on the specifics of the case. Factors that can determine the timeline include the severity of your injuries, the availability of and need to investigate eligibility for the Uber driver's supplemental insurance coverage, the number of parties in your case, the amount at stake, and the complexity of the legal and factual issues.
You don't control the variables that determine the timeline of your Uber accident case, but you do control the timing of hiring an Uber accident lawyer. Once you perform that crucial step, the rest of your claim can take its course.
Contact an Experienced Uber Accident Lawyer Today
An Uber accident can devastate your life, but it usually entitles you to receive significant compensation from the parties at fault. If one of those was the Uber driver, you might have access to substantial supplemental insurance coverage that can pay for your expenses and future needs.
Time is of the essence. After seeing to your immediate medical needs, hire an experienced Uber accident lawyer to handle your claim. Contact a Las Vegas personal injury attorney today for your free case evaluation.