Traffic Offense Lawyer
When you are in an Uber accident, you may be wondering what you should do immediately following the accident. While some people do have some relief that they are not to blame for the accident since they were not driving, it is still stressful to be involved in an accident and you may be suffering from injuries and need medical attention. While Uber is a popular ridesharing option for people who do not wish to drive to their destination, Uber drivers can still get into car accidents whether they are the ones who caused it or if it was someone else. When it comes to determining who is at fault, you and your Uber accident attorney, like an Uber accident lawyer in Canoga Park, CA, will need to go over the accident, speak with any police who were at the scene, and discover what the drivers were doing up until the accident. Call our firm to set up your initial appointment.
Are Uber drivers employees?
This is a big factor to consider when trying to get insurance coverage for damages after an Uber accident. While you may be tempted to sue Uber, it is important to know that Uber’s drivers are actually independent contractors and not employees of the company. Thus, if your driver was the one who caused the car accident because he or she was driving negligently, you cannot sue Uber for this. That said, the company may be financially responsible for any injuries you sustained during the accident and even personal property damage.
How do we determine who is at fault for the accident?
When you are trying to figure out who you should take your claim up with after the accident, we would determine this based on the same factors that we would for any car accident: the person who was driving negligently or carelessly. So, if your Uber driver was texting or not paying attention to road signs, you would file your claim with Uber’s insurance. However, if the other driver involved caused the car accident (and thus your injuries or property damage), you would file your claim with the other driver’s insurance company.
How does the Uber driver’s insurance work?
The way Uber works is that they require the claim to first go through the Uber driver’s own insurance policy. That said, unless the driver has a specific type of coverage their insurance will not accept the claim. Most people only have personal insurance that does not cover damages if they use their car for business purposes. When this happens, Uber’s insurance kicks in. Depending on where you were in your ride–if you were just picked up, if the driver has accepted the ride, if you were in the middle of the ride, or if the driver has not accepted the ride– you will find that there are different coverage policies. Our attorneys can determine which coverage you are most likely to get.
For more information on how our Uber accident lawyer can help you after you have sustained injuries in an Uber accident, call today.
Thank you to the experts at Barry P. Goldberg for their insight into carsharing accidents.