Assisting Those Suffering After A Lawrenceville Uber Accident

Since Uber began in 2009, the company has been giving taxicab companies a run for their money and continues to be their main competitor even today. Uber continues to be a popular ridesharing service that individuals use for motor vehicle transportation to and from social events and professional engagements.

The more widespread and frequent consumer use of Uber is, however, the higher the likelihood of motor vehicle accidents involving Uber drivers. Unfortunately, when it comes to Uber accidents, the amount of case law or statutory law available for reference is lacking. Regulations concerning the nascent rideshare industry continue to develop year by year, however.

Due to the newness of companies like Uber, questions remain as to whether or not an insurance company should be liable in the event of a motor vehicle collision involving a ridesharing vehicle. In some instances, the Uber driver’s insurance policy may come into play; at other times, another motor vehicle operator may be responsible, but Uber may need to provide insurance coverage to compensate an injured victim using Uber at the time of the accident.

If a ridesharing accident involving an Uber vehicle took place in which you or someone you care about sustained injuries, the experienced Lawrenceville car accident lawyers at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC are in a great position to help. Our skilled legal team can investigate the circumstances surrounding your Uber accident, determine which insurance policy or policies come into play, and pursue the fair and just monetary compensation you deserve for your injuries. Please give us a call today to find out more about how we may assist you in pursuing monetary damages on your behalf for your Uber accident case.

How Uber Accidents Happen

Like any type of traffic accident, many factors can lead to a crash involving an Uber vehicle. The Uber driver might make a mistake, or a driver in another vehicle might be negligent and crash into the Uber.

The following negligent or reckless acts cause Uber accidents:

  • Fatigued driving – Uber sets limits for drivers that restrict them to a certain number of hours per day. However, nothing stops an Uber driver from working a full day at another job and then firing up the app for a night of driving. Many Uber drivers are overworked and get fatigued very easily while driving.
  • Speeding – The faster that Uber drivers pick up passengers and drop them at their desired locations, the more rides they can fit into their driving shift, and the more money they might make. For this reason, Uber drivers might be tempted to speed or engage in other forms of aggressive driving.
  • Distracted driving – Uber drivers are connected to their apps on their smartphones to know when they have a fare, as well as to direct them where to go. Drivers are constantly looking at their phones instead of the road, which is highly distracted.

Insurance Coverage in Uber Accident Cases

In motor vehicle accidents involving a ridesharing service vehicle, such as Uber, more than one motor vehicle driver may be at fault. In some instances, it can be a challenge to determine if a single driver is at-fault for the accident or multiple motor vehicle operators.

In the case of Uber drivers, laws require these individuals to maintain a personal motor vehicle insurance policy while operating their Uber vehicles. Uber drivers must also be at least 21 years of age, pass a background check performed by Uber, and own a motor vehicle that meets specific requirements. Moreover, these drivers must receive insurance coverage under an Uber corporate insurance policy, a fact noted on the Uber company‘s website.

Uber does not require drivers to undergo specific training courses or tests administered by Uber, get fingerprinted, undergo any psychological or psychiatric examination, or receive a physical examination before making money as an official Uber driver.

Uber’s insurance coverage comes into play the moment that an Uber driver decides to accept a fare. Moreover, the coverage remains in effect until the last customer of a rideshare trip exits the vehicle. This general Uber insurance coverage also applies to UberBlack, UberSUV, and UberTaxi services.

Georgia also has specific insurance requirements when it comes to ridesharing vehicles like Uber. In Georgia, Uber insurance must cover a driver who has accepted a fare but has not yet picked up that fare. If an Uber driver becomes involved in an accident while en route to pick up an accepted fare, Uber corporate may still be responsible for covering damages causally related to the accident and the accident victim’s injuries.

Due to the unique and developing nature of regulations involving rideshare services like Uber, securing an experienced Uber accident attorney as soon as possible is essential. The Lawrenceville Uber accident attorneys at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC have a great deal of knowledge and experience with rideshare accident cases. Their skill and proactiveness will provide you with an edge in pursuing fair and just compensation for the injuries you sustained in the accident.

Did an Uber Driver Hit Your Vehicle?

Like all other motor vehicle drivers on the road at any given time, individuals who operate Uber vehicles owe a duty of reasonable care to all drivers. Uber drivers are required to abide by all traffic regulations and laws and operate their vehicles in a careful and safe manner when they are on the road. When an Uber driver fails to act reasonably under the circumstances, and their negligence causes them to collide with another motor vehicle, then the Uber driver may be liable for the accident and any personal injuries that resulted.

If an Uber vehicle is the at-fault vehicle in your Uber accident case, you may pursue compensation from several insurance policies. In addition to an Uber driver’s owner auto insurance coverage, for example, the insurance coverage available under an Uber corporate policy may also come into play.

Because it can be challenging to ascertain who exactly was at fault for (or contributed to) a motor vehicle collision occurring within the state, Georgia uses a modified form of comparative fault in motor vehicle accident cases. If an Uber vehicle collides with your vehicle and you are less than 50 percent at fault for the accident, you may recover monetary compensation.

If an accident occurred in which the driver of an Uber vehicle struck your vehicle and several insurance companies and policies are involved, it can be difficult to determine the amounts of available coverage (especially with Georgia’s comparative fault policy). The experienced Lawrenceville Uber accident lawyers at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC have the skills needed to confirm the monetary compensation you deserve for the injuries you sustained.

Compensable Damages in Lawrenceville Uber Accident Cases

In Uber accident cases, just like in other motor vehicle collision cases, the accident victim is responsible for meeting and satisfying all of the legal elements of the claim. One of those legal elements is damages. You must demonstrate that you sustained one or more injuries in the accident and that these injuries were a direct result of the accident.

If you can satisfy your burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence, then you may be eligible to recover your out-of-pocket costs for medical treatment related to the accident. You may also file a claim for lost wages if you had to miss time from work to attend medical or physical therapy appointments after your accident.

In addition to these economic damages, you may file a claim for the pain and suffering you experienced as a result of your accident, as well as for mental anguish and emotional distress. If you had to change professions due to the injuries you sustained in your accident or took on a lower-paying job, you may bring a claim for loss of earning capacity. You may also file a claim for permanent damages or loss of use of a body part if the injuries you sustained were severe enough.

In cases where the at-fault driver behaved in a particularly reckless and egregious manner, you may be eligible to file a claim for punitive damages. The primary purpose of a punitive damage award is to punish the wrongdoer and to dissuade other individuals from making similar mistakes.

The knowledgeable team of experienced Lawrenceville Uber accident lawyers at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC is ready to help you take the necessary legal actions to pursue monetary compensation in your Uber accident case.

Lawrenceville Uber Accident FAQ

The popular ridesharing company Uber launched in 2009. Since that time, ridesharing companies like Uber and similar service Lyft have competed with one another and with taxi cab companies in the personal transportation market.

Generally speaking, Uber offers an affordable and efficient alternative to taxis, and many residents and tourists use Uber to travel around town, as well as to and from their workplaces. They may also use Uber as a means of traveling to and from restaurants, attractions, and various nightlife venues that are in the area. However, along with the prevalence of ridesharing vehicles on Lawrenceville roads today, there comes the increased likelihood of motor vehicle collisions involving these vehicles.

Some Uber accidents occur when the Uber driver violates a traffic law or makes a serious mistake while operating their vehicle, resulting in the accident. At other times, these collisions occur when another motor vehicle driver negligently causes their vehicle to collide with the Uber vehicle. In either case, the occupants of the Uber vehicle can sustain serious injury and may need a significant amount of medical treatment to recover, which in turn, requires them to miss substantial time from work.

Since Uber and other ridesharing companies are still relatively new, accidents involving these vehicles often raise important legal questions and insurance coverage concerns. The laws on the books continue to develop every year, as more and more of these collisions happen. Depending upon the circumstances, the at-fault driver’s personal motor vehicle policy may come into play, while at other times, the Uber corporate policy may step in to supply the necessary insurance coverage for the accident.

The Lawrenceville Uber accident attorneys at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC can review your accident case with you, explore your legal options, and help you decide on the best way to move forward with your case. We can also help you pursue the maximum monetary compensation that you need for the injuries that you sustained in your accident.

As previously mentioned, motor vehicle accidents that involve ridesharing vehicles, including Uber vehicles, create many legal questions concerning the appropriate insurance coverage. To complicate matters, in some accident cases, more than one driver is involved in the accident, or several motor vehicle operators may have caused or contributed to the collision.

To drive for Uber, drivers do not need to take an Uber training course or submit a record of their fingerprints. In addition, they do not need to undergo a physical or psychological evaluation before driving for Uber as an independent contractor. An Uber driver must be at least 21 years of age, pass a background check that Uber administers, and own a qualifying motor vehicle. A driver must maintain their own motor vehicle policy of insurance when they decide to drive for Uber.

In addition to an Uber driver’s personal motor vehicle insurance policy coverage, Uber’s corporate insurance policy also covers Uber drivers, as noted on the company’s website. There are several instances when this corporate insurance policy may come into play.

There are certain circumstances when Uber’s corporate insurance coverage will come into play. For starters, the Uber coverage begins as soon as an Uber driver accepts a fare through the app on their phone; the Uber coverage ends when the fare’s last passenger exits the vehicle (such as when the trip is over and the Uber rider has reached their final destination). In addition to regular Uber rides, insurance coverage that is available through Uber corporate also applies to Uber affiliates, including UberSUV, UberBlack, and UberTaxi.

In addition to the circumstances previously referenced, the state of Georgia requires ridesharing companies like Uber to provide insurance coverage when an Uber driver is operating their vehicle on the road but is not yet transporting a passenger (but when the Uber driver has already accepted the fare). Under these circumstances, Uber’s corporate coverage may come into play, and it may be responsible for providing insurance coverage for the accident.

When Uber coverage is in effect at the time of the accident, the insurance company may be responsible for paying for all of the accident victim’s injuries and damages that are causally related to the accident. Uber coverage policy limits are $50,000 for bodily injuries that an accident victim suffers in the accident; $100,000 for bodily injuries when multiple individuals (including vehicle passengers) sustain injuries in the accident; and $25,000 for property damage caused by the accident.

The knowledgeable team of Lawrenceville Uber accident attorneys at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC can investigate the circumstances of your accident and determine which insurance company is primary. Your lawyer can then help you recover the compensation you need for the injuries you suffered in your Uber accident.

All motor vehicle operators on the road at a given time owe a duty of care to other motor vehicle drivers and pedestrians. Specifically, these drivers owe a duty of reasonable care to operate their vehicles in a safe, careful, and prudent manner at all times, to obey the applicable Georgia Rules of the Road, and to refrain from distractions (such as cell phones, tablets, and other electronic devices) while driving. When an Uber driver breaks the law or engages in distracted driving, and that behavior causes the Uber vehicle to collide with another motor vehicle, several insurance policies might come into play to provide the necessary coverage for the accident.

In some instances, the driver’s own policy of motor vehicle insurance coverage may be primary. Depending upon the time when the accident occurs, the Uber corporate policy may be secondary. The experienced Lawrenceville Uber accident attorneys at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC will help you pursue all available avenues of recovery when you pursue damages in your Uber accident case.

If you have sustained an injury in an Uber motor vehicle accident, you may be eligible to pursue monetary compensation. In personal injury cases that involve a motor vehicle accident, the accident victim is responsible for satisfying the burden of proof. More to the point, the accident victim must demonstrate that a driver was negligent under the circumstances, meaning that the driver acted unreasonably at the time of the accident. In addition, the accident victim must show that, as a result of the collision, they sustained one or more injuries.

If the accident victim can satisfy their legal burden, then monetary compensation may be available by way of a claim or lawsuit. Typically, the process begins with an accident victim filing a claim against the at-fault driver’s personal insurance company.

If the negligent driver was an Uber driver, then Uber corporate may also be on the hook for insurance coverage. In cases where the involved insurance company or insurance companies fail to offer up fair and reasonable monetary compensation for the injuries the victim sustained in the accident, then the accident victim may file a lawsuit against all potentially responsible persons or entities.

When making a claim for monetary compensation following an Uber accident, the accident victim may obtain damages for medical expenses and lost wages, if they had to miss time from work or attend medical or physical therapy appointments. In addition, the accident victim may recover compensation for intangible damages, including pain and suffering, mental distress, inconvenience, or loss of use of a body part that resulted from the accident.

In cases where an Uber driver behaves in a particularly reckless and egregious manner, such as by operating the Uber vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the accident victim may be eligible to pursue compensation in the form of punitive damages. The purpose of punitive damages is to punish the at-fault driver and discourage other motor vehicle operators from acting in the same manner in the future.

If you have suffered an injury in an Uber accident, you must have a knowledgeable legal team on your side advocating for your interests. The knowledgeable Lawrenceville Uber accident attorneys at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC can file a claim or lawsuit on your behalf and work to recover the damages that you need for the injuries you suffered in your accident.

An experienced Lawrenceville Uber accident lawyer will work to help you pursue a favorable settlement number from the at-fault insurance companies involved in your case. In some instances, insurance coverage may come from the at-fault Uber driver’s insurer, Uber corporate, or some combination of the two. However, if the insurance company refuses to fully and fairly settle your case, you have the option of taking your case to trial. In that instance, a jury will decide what, if any, damages you are entitled to recover in your accident case.

If your case does go to trial, your lawyer can introduce evidence, call witnesses (which could include you) to testify, as well as make an opening statement and a closing argument. After the trial, the jury will consider all of the evidence presented in court to reach a verdict.

Evidence that can be helpful at jury trials arising from an Uber car accident include:

  • Direct testimony from the accident victim – If you sustained an injury in an accident that was caused by an Uber driver, you have the opportunity to testify at trial. During this time, you can convey our experience and perspective on the incident, such as how the accident happened, as well as any observations that you might have noted, such as the fact that the Uber driver appeared to be intoxicated.
  • Testimony from eyewitnesses – Similarly, an eyewitness to an Uber accident can be very helpful in court. Eyewitnesses can describe the events leading up to the accident from another perspective, including the approximate speeds of the involved vehicles and whether or not the drivers were erratically operating their vehicles.
  • Medical records and bills – At trial, medical records and bills may be offered into evidence to support the injuries that the accident victim sustained in their accident, such as a bone fracture, soft tissue injury, back injury, or traumatic head injury. These records (along with the testimony of a healthcare provider) establish the necessary causal connection between the accident and the injuries.
  • Photographs – Photographs are important pieces of trial evidence because they depict property damage of the involved vehicles, along with the injuries that the accident victim sustained in the motor vehicle collision. Photographs may also help in representing the scene of the accident and the position of various vehicles just before or after the impact took place.

The aftermath of a car accident caused by a negligent driver that left you injured can be bewildering and exhausting, but you don’t have to face it alone. An experienced Lawrenceville Uber accident lawyer at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC can assist you at trial and will introduce the evidence necessary to prove your case, as well as pursue the economic recovery that you need and deserve. It is also important to keep in mind that not all motor vehicle accident cases go all the way to trial. In fact, very few of these cases go to trial, with the majority settling out of court.

Our Lawrenceville Uber accident lawyers can explain to you all of the pros and cons of taking your case to trial and can help you decide if you should settle your case or take the driver and any other involved entities to court. We lawyer can also assist you with pursuing alternative dispute resolution in your case, such as mediation or arbitration, as a means of recovering the monetary compensation that you need for your injuries.

Talk to a Lawrenceville Uber Accident Lawyer About Your Case Today

If a motor vehicle collision involving an Uber ridesharing vehicle took place that resulted in you or a loved one sustaining an injury, the legal team at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC is ready to assist you with your case. For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with an experienced Lawrenceville personal injury lawyer, please give us a call at 404-418-8244 or contact us online for more information.

Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC
892 legacy park Dr.
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
404-418-8244