Uber and Lyft accidents happen in Decatur because of negligent drivers and crowded roads. If you’re involved in an Uber accident because of someone else’s negligence, contact a Decatur Uber accident lawyer at the Marks Law group.
At Marks Law Group, we have extensive experience representing clients who have been injured in Uber crashes. An Uber accident lawyer from our law firm will take on the insurance company and make sure that you, our client, get the compensation you deserve. Let us handle your case and protect your legal rights. Call us today at (678) 251-9309 or chat with us online for a free case review.
What Happens if My Uber Driver Gets in an Accident?
If your Uber is involved in an accident, dial 911 if it’s an emergency and then seek medical treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you get medical care after an Uber car accident, the larger your personal injury payout will be.
Because your Uber accident lawyer will argue that the accident caused your injury. However, only get medical treatment if you need it. If your car was damaged in the Uber accident, try to get it out of the tow yard as soon as possible to avoid incurring additional daily charges. Further, let the responsible insurance company inspect the vehicle as soon as possible.
If you’re involved in an Uber car accident, it’s crucial to consult with an experienced Uber accident lawyer as soon as possible. At Marks Law Group, we offer a no-cost initial consultation.
Does Uber Compensate for Accidents?
Often it depends on whether you were a passenger or driver. Uber’s insurance company will only compensate an Uber driver’s car damage if the Uber driver had collision coverage on their personal auto insurance policy. Further, Uber will compensate an Uber driver for a personal injury claim only if the other vehicle was at fault, and was uninsured or underinsured.
Uber will compensate a passenger for their personal injury claim as long as there’s no other at-fault driver who should pay first. Thus, before making a personal injury claim against Uber’s uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, the Uber passenger must make a claim against the other vehicle’s bodily injury liability coverage.
If the other driver was completely liable for the Uber accident, the passenger is limited to up to $250,000 in Uber’s UM coverage. As an Uber Passenger, you have access to Uber’s highest insurance limit ($1 million) if the Uber driver was at fault for the accident.
Typically, Uber’s insurance coverage limits are higher than typical car insurance limits.
If you were in another vehicle that an Uber driver hit, Uber’s insurance company will compensate you for your claim. You’ll get compensation for the damage to your car and your bodily injuries. However, you’ll get compensation only if the Uber driver was liable for the accident.
Uber’s insurance limits are lower if Uber was not en route to pick up passengers or during rides. Here, Uber’s insurance company pays $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in a bodily injury liability policy. Further, Uber’s insurance policy has $25,000 for property damage liability. If Uber was en route to pick up passengers or during rides, you can get $1,000,000 in compensation.
Can You Sue Uber for an Accident?
No, you can’t sue Uber directly for an accident. Your lawsuit should be against the Uber driver or Uber’s insurance company. However, you can only sue an Uber driver or Uber’s insurance company in one of the two circumstances:
- The Uber driver must be at fault for causing the accident. If so, then you can sue the Uber driver for the bodily injuries you suffered and the damage to your vehicle. Uber’s insurance company will compensate you up to Uber’s insurance limit. However, most Uber crashes don’t result in lawsuits. Often, it’s advisable to settle your claim before a lawsuit. Because a lawsuit against an Uber driver is costly and time-consuming. Once you sue, you must pay the lawsuit filing fees and your attorney’s fees will increase.
- You need to be a driver or passenger of an uber car. Here, another vehicle needs to be at fault for the Uber accident. Further, the Uber driver needs to have been en route to pick up passengers or during trips. Also, the other vehicle needs to be uninsured or underinsured. If all these conditions are met, then you can make a claim against Uber’s uninsured motorist insurance company.
What Is the Average Uber Accident Settlement Amount?
The average Uber accident settlement payout is under $15,000. That’s because most Uber car accidents don’t result in severe injuries. A minor injury results in a small Uber car accident settlement.
Luckily, most car crashes result in either no injuries or minor injuries that heal quickly. Either of these personal injury claims isn’t worth much.
However, if you’re severely injured, your auto accident claim may be worth well over Uber’s insurance limit. That’s the case, especially if the Uber driver was available or was waiting for a ride request. Here, the bodily injury limit is $50,000 per person. Further, if the Uber driver was at fault and you had surgery because of your injuries, your case will be worth over $50,000.
However, it's difficult to exceed Uber’s insurance limit, especially if the Uber driver was en route to pick up passengers or during trips. That’s because only a few personal injury claims are worth over Uber’s $1 million insurance limit, in this case. For Uber to pay you the $1 million limit, you’ll need to have had a serious injury, like a brain injury, or several surgeries. However, wrongful death cases are often worth more than Uber’s $1 million liability limit.
Uber accident settlements are often confidential, so you should hire an experienced car accident attorney who can value your case properly.
How Often Do Uber Drivers Get in Accidents?
Rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft, have made 11 billion trips in the United States since their launch in 2009. Uber made over 2.3 billion trips in the U.S. between 2017 and 2018.
According to research, the rate of traffic deaths increased by 2-3% since the introduction of Uber and similar rideshare services. Sadly, that’s over 1,100 deaths. In 2017, there were 49 Uber fatalities and in 2018, there were 58 Uber-related fatalities.
How Long Do You Have to Sue After an Uber Accident in Georgia?
For most types of personal injury claims in Georgia, you have up to two years after a motor vehicle accident to file your car accident claim. But there are a few exclusions to this rule. For instance, if the injured victim is a minor, the statute of limitations is tolled until their 18th birthday. Or, in the case of an adult who has no physical capacity to file a personal injury lawsuit, the statute of limitations is tolled until he or she is legally competent. Sometimes, a guardian may be appointed to take legal action against the responsible party.
Contact Our Experienced Decatur Uber Accident Lawyers for Legal Advice!
If you have been involved in a Decatur Uber accident, you may seek compensation for your injuries. The experienced personal injury attorneys at The Marks Law Group will fight to help you recover the compensation you deserve to cover your Uber accident-related expenses, such as lost wages, medical and rehabilitative costs, and property damage. Also, our dedicated and experienced car accident lawyers will seek financial compensation for your pain and suffering, emotional distress, and probable permanent disfigurement, disability, or loss of enjoyment of life. If your Uber driver was extremely negligent, for instance, if he or she was driving under the influence of alcohol or driving while texting, we will also be able to recover you punitive damages.
Further, if your family goes through the tragic loss of a loved one in an Uber crash, the skilled legal team at Marks Law Group is ready to fight to win you the financial settlement you deserve for your mental trauma, and final medical costs, funeral expenses, and lost wages. We know no amount of money can replace a lost family member, but we believe the fight for justice is worth it.
To schedule a free initial consultation, call us today at (678) 251-9309, or chat with us online to learn how we can help.