An OaklandUber accident attorney helps all victims of Uber accidents. The fairly new concept of Uber rideshare has led to questions about liability whenever one of the company’s vehicles is in a crash.
The law is still shaky about who should pay when an Uber driver, a passenger, or a third party gets injured.
Why You Should Call an Oakland Uber Accident Lawyer
It’s easy to assume that you are protected by auto insurance no matter what role you play in an Uber accident. Uber drivers must have regular auto insurance before they can drive for the company. In addition, Uber provides insurance coverage for the accidents that cause injuries to their riders.
The problem is that if you are injured while riding in an Uber, you have to deal with the company’s insurance adjuster. An attorney with knowledge about the most recent rideshare laws has the skills to get the best compensation for your injuries. Without the right legal guidance, you could end up getting a much lower offer than you have a right to receive.
If you were injured in an Uber accident, contact us for a free case evaluation. If you’re confused about how the laws work to protect Uber victims, you aren’t alone. Quirk Reed has already achieved outstanding results for some of our Oakland clients.
Don’t risk trying to handle the insurance companies on your own. You will probably get less than you need to pay your related costs.
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A New Industry Bringing New Questions and Legislation
People like Uber because it’s more affordable and convenient than traditional taxi service. It also works via a smartphone app — something that more people for everything they need these days.
The way rideshare companies like Uber fit in with your lifestyle make it seem like the most logical choice in transportation. But like any vehicle on Oakland’s streets, those driving under the Uber name are at risk of being involved in an accident. In fact, the long hours some drivers put into driving makes Uber cars more likely to be in a wreck than your personal use vehicle.
The Complex Area of Uber Law
Most of the traffic laws in the books today are based on years of research, studies, and first-hand experience. Uber differs in that, at least for now, it shifts the liability away from the company by calling their drivers “independent contractors” instead of employees.
California has introduced legislation that could change that. While 25 states have legal provisions declaring Uber as a contractor and not an employee, California wants to go the other way. Although the primary reason is that they want better working conditions for drivers, it would also shift the liability back to the company whenever Uber accidents occurred.
Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, including the rule of law. The one related to Uber accidents came in 2013 when an Uber driver in San Francisco, Syed Muzzafar, hit a six-year-old girl and killed her. The driver had his app open at the time but there were no passengers in his car. Uber argued that since Muzzafar wasn’t transporting a passenger, they weren’t liable for the girl’s death.
The company gave up its argument and agreed to settle with the girl’s family because of pressure from the public. Uber doesn’t consider its drivers as employees, so they don’t typically stand behind their services.
If you get hit by an Uber driver, you aren’t guaranteed to get compensation from the company. The difference in whether Uber covers your injuries is whether the driver was carrying a passenger at the time of impact.
Uber provides $1 million in liability coverage per incident. That means if you aren’t the only injured party, you might not get enough compensation to cover all your damages and injuries. This is especially true if the accident involves multiple vehicles and numerous severe injuries. An Uber accident lawyer will know how to get a fair settlement for you.
When an Uber driver isn’t carrying a passenger, they are covered by their personal insurance policy. These policies have even lower limits of liability. That means that a driver who has the minimum insurance coverage required may not have enough to fairly compensate you.
Hiring an Uber accident attorney is essential if you want the best outcome from your case. The uncertainty that often surrounds these cases results in their sometimes going on for months or longer.
Trying to handle your claim or dealing with the insurance company on you own could easily result in an unfavorable outcome. You only get one chance to get compensation for your damages and injuries. Make sure you have a knowledgeable Uber accident lawyer on your side.
What to Do After an Uber Accident In Oakland
- Check to make sure everyone in all the vehicles is okay.
- If the accident happens in a busy street, don’t get out of the car in the middle of traffic.
- If you or anyone else is injured, call 911.
- Never assume your injuries are too minor to require medical care. Some injuries don’t cause symptoms for hours after the accident.
- Document all the details of the accident.
- Gather the names and contact information of anyone involved in the accident.
- Use your cell phone to take pictures of the scene.
- Get names and contact information of witnesses.
- Gather insurance information from all drivers involved. If the other driver is at-fault for the accident, you might have to sue them to get compensation.
- Always call the police and request an accident report.
- Seek medical treatment for your injuries.
- Tell your treating physician that you are an accident victim and that you need a thorough record of your medical treatment.
- Find a local rideshare accident lawyer with experience handling cases like yours.
Postponing medical treatment could result in your injuries getting worse. Postponing talking with an Uber accident attorney could result in your losing your legal rights.
You only have a specified amount of time to file your claim. If you fail to file during the period of the statute of limitations, you can only file a claim under certain circumstances.
A rideshare lawyer can help you get your medical bills paid, have your vehicle repaired or replaced. They also negotiate the best possible settlement for your case.
If you aren’t sure you have a legitimate Uber accident case, contact the Oakland Uber accident lawyers at Quirk Reed LLP today. We’ll start with a free evaluation of your case and advise you on the next step towards pursuing your case.