Rideshare Accident Lawyer
It’s never been easier to get around the Las Vegas area, but you still run the risk of being injured by a reckless driver. Las Vegas is a busy town. It has a population of more than 600,000 individuals and has tens of millions of visitors each year. While some individuals forgo driving, it is impossible to get around the area without a vehicle. Fortunately, with the prevalence of taxis and new services like Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare vehicles, navigating Las Vegas has never been easier. While this is typically a safe option, especially if you have been enjoying the many bars and restaurants Las Vegas has to offer, it does not guarantee a smooth ride. Rideshare vehicles are just as likely to get into an accident as any other personal or commercial vehicle.
If you are injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, the situation can become complicated and frustrating very quickly. It may even feel as though no one from the company in question or their insurer is listening. That’s why it is critical to contact an Uber accident lawyer from Paul Padda Law immediately. We know how these claims and personal injury lawsuits progress and how to get results. Our Las Vegas car accident lawyers are here to help you through the process and fight to recover the compensation you deserve under the law.
Contact us at (702) 707-7000 or through our online form to request a consultation.
CAR ACCIDENTS
What to Do After a Rideshare Accident
If you are in a car accident while driving or riding in a rideshare vehicle, whether it is an Uber, Lyft, or for another company, or whether you are in a rideshare accident while driving your own vehicle, there are a few steps you should take. Always stop at the scene, and try to park in a safe place away from traffic. If you fail to stop for an accident that you reasonably should have known caused property damage, injuries, or fatalities, then you can be charged with a crime.
CALL 911 IF NECESSARY
Once stopped, check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If you are hurt, be careful about moving. With minor injuries, you may be safe to move. However, if you believe you may be seriously hurt, try not to move until paramedics can help. If you can do so, call 911. You will want the police to arrive and document the scene whether or not anyone was seriously hurt.
EXCHANGE INFORMATION
If you can remain at the accident scene, speak with the other driver and obtain their name, insurance information, and contact information. If they are a rideshare driver, determine which company they were driving for at the time. Ask whether they have a passenger in the vehicle, whether they were on their way to pick someone up, or whether they had accepted a ride request at that time. If an Uber driver hit your car, their status at the time matters to the insurance coverage.
CALL A RIDESHARE ATTORNEY
You may have been removed from the accident in an ambulance and unable to obtain information. This makes it even more important to contact an Uber accident attorney as soon as possible. When a crash involves a rideshare company, you will benefit from an experienced lawyer helping you through the claims process. If you were seriously injured, your lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation of the crash and obtain all the information necessary to move forward with an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents
Lyft accidents and Uber accidents occur for any number of reasons. Rideshare drivers are not typically professional drivers. They have as much – or as little – experience as any other driver on the road. These drivers are as susceptible to common driving errors as anyone else, and in certain situations, even more, likely to commit certain errors due to the nature of their work. For instance, rideshare drivers must use their cell phone to accept ride requests and utilize GPS directions. While they should be hands-free or use their phone when they are stopped, many Uber and Lyft drivers use their phones while driving.
Rideshare accidents may occur because of:
- Distraction, particularly by using a cell phone or talking with passengers
- Fatigued or drowsy driving
- Impairment due to alcohol and/or drugs
- Speeding above the posted limit
- Speeding in relation to the road and weather conditions
- Tailgating
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Aggressive driving
- Lack of familiarity with the roads
- Lack of or improper vehicle maintenance
Injuries in an Uber Car Accident May Be Severe
If you were an Uber car accident passenger, you might have suffered serious injuries. Auto collisions can cause all types of harm, from minor cuts and bruises to catastrophic injuries. You could experience a traumatic amputation, organ damage, internal bleeding, and severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). You could suffer broken bones, neck and back injuries, spine injuries, and spinal cord injuries, which can lead to paralysis. You also could experience soft tissue injuries to your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. These may be minor or significant injuries, requiring surgical intervention.
The severity of your injuries will depend on several factors, including the speed at which the vehicles were moving and the way in which the vehicles collided. Other relevant factors may include where you sat in the vehicle, whether there were nearby airbags, and whether you were wearing your seatbelt. Unfortunately, many rideshare passengers do not automatically buckle up. By not wearing your seatbelt, you face a greater risk of serious or catastrophic injuries and death.
After being injured in a rideshare accident, contact an Uber or Lyft accident lawyer to discuss your options to pursue compensation and the potential value of your claim.
Determining Liability After a Rideshare Accident
If you were injured in a rideshare accident, whether you were in your own vehicle, a rideshare passenger, or the rideshare driver, you need to talk to a rideshare attorney as soon as possible. By hiring a lawyer with specific experience in handling Uber and Lyft accidents, you have someone who knows how to investigate the crash, determine fault, and analyze liability. In car accidents, particularly when someone is working, legal liability may not fall solely on the at-fault driver’s shoulders.
Rideshare Liability & Insurance Coverage
If the rideshare driver was at fault, then that driver’s personal insurance or the rideshare company’s insurance policy may cover your damages. This depends on whether the rideshare driver was working at the time, and if so, where they were in the process. If the driver was not working at the time, then their own insurance policy covers the accident. If the driver was logged in and working, however, did not have a passenger and had not accepted a ride request, then the insurance coverage is different for both Lyft and Uber than if the driver had a passenger or was on the way to pick one up.
If a Lyft or Uber driver has not accepted a ride request, then an insurance policy for up to $25,000 for property damage and up to $100,000 for bodily injuries per accident covers your damages. For both Uber and Lyft, these limits may change due to state law.
If the rideshare driver has accepted a ride request or has a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the accident, then there is a $1 million policy that covers third-party liability and uninsured/underinsured motorists.
If you were in an accident and you believe the rideshare driver was at fault, contact an Uber accident lawyer from Paul Padda Law. As a Las Vegas law firm, we are highly experienced in handling taxi, Lyft, and Uber accident claims.
At Paul Padda Law, we’re more than your lawyers. We’re the allies you want to help set things right.
Uber Accident Damages
After being hurt in a rideshare accident, you may be entitled to pursue compensation for your:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Valuing your damages can be challenging, which is why it is essential to call Paul Padda Law. Our attorneys have years of experience calculating economic damages and determining values for non-economic damages after car accidents. Once an Uber car accident attorney investigates your claim and documents your injuries, they can attempt to negotiate an Uber accident settlement with the rideshare company’s insurer. If a settlement is not possible, then your lawyer can fight for your right to compensation in court.
Contact an Uber Accident Lawyer Today
After suffering injuries in a car accident, it is important that you recover the most compensation possible for your injuries. You do not want to accept a small, low ball offer from an insurer. Initial settlement offers are unlikely to cover all of your expenses related to the accident or to properly compensate you for your physical and psychological suffering. By working with a lawyer from Paul Padda Law, you gain the knowledge, skills, and resources of an experienced law firm; prepared to fight hard for your complete recovery.
To learn more about how Paul Padda Law can help you after a Lyft or Uber accident, call (702) 707-7000 or use the online form to schedule an initial consultation.
