Rideshare drivers have a lot on the line when what was meant to be simply another ride job turns into a tragic accident. Whether you work for Uber, or another ridesharing business full-time or part-time, spending more time on the road increases your risk of being injured in a traffic accident. Marc Brown has years of experience as an
attorney for accident victims in Columbia. Call today to set up a free evaluation of your case so we can begin strategizing your compensation claim.
Why Choose Marc Brown Law Firm as Your Uber Accident Attorneys In Columbia?
More and more rideshare drivers are learning the hard way that receiving compensation after an accident is far more difficult than they anticipated. While you may believe that your ridesharing business would pay your medical costs and miss wages automatically, this is not always the case. And just because you weren’t at fault for the accident doesn’t imply your claim will be simple. Recovering compensation as a passenger in an Uber accident is even more confusing, especially since Uber insurance is complex, with benefits that depend on the stage of the rideshare when the accident occurred.
Marc Brown Law Firm offers significant advantages to your case, including the following:
- We know how to navigate the complicated and fact-specific issues of liability and insurance coverage to determine which parties may owe rideshare drivers or passengers recompense
- We understand how to get our clients the maximum amount of money they deserve.
- We only charge our fees after we do the work and obtain your compensation so we take on all financial risks
- If you’re physically unable to come to our office, we are willing to travel to you and have a policy of open communication throughout the process
Our firm’s core principles make us the right choice for skilled, compassionate legal representation that achieves results.
Common Causes of Uber Accidents In South Carolina
While most Uber accidents conclude without incident, some studies show an increased risk of accidents involving Uber and other rideshare vehicles. Car accident numbers have risen as much as 3% since the beginning of rideshare popularity. Common causes of Uber accidents in Columbia and elsewhere include the following:
- Speeding to accomplish as many rides as possible during a shift
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Unsafe lane changes
- Improper passing
- Fatigued driving
- Impaired driving
- Inexperienced drivers
- Reckless driving
Uber drivers often work rideshares after a daily job, causing increased fatigue and drowsy driving. Additionally, they may be distracted by their rideshare apps while navigating traffic.
Common Types of Accidents Involving Uber Vehicles
Fatigue, distraction, and speeding are dangerous combinations sometimes experienced in an Uber ride with a busy driver. Common types of rideshare accidents in Columbia include the following:
- T-bone accidents (angle collisions or broadside accidents)
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Roadway departures
- Collisions with obstacles
- Sideswipes
- Pedestrian accidents
- Rollover accidents
Whether you are another driver, a vehicle occupant injured in a collision with an Uber, an Uber driver who wasn’t at fault for the accident, or an injured Uber passenger, you deserve experienced representation.
Compensation for an Uber Accident In Columbia
Injuries to Uber passengers or the occupants of other vehicles involved in collisions with an Uber vehicle range from mild and inconvenient to life-altering, with impacts such as disability or impairment. Compensation in Uber accident claims commonly includes the following damages:
- Property damage to another vehicle in a collision or to personal items for Uber passengers
- Medical expenses
- Future medical costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Lost wages
- Future income loss
- Lowered future earning capacity
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for other non-economic damages that might apply such as PTSD, disfigurement, loss of limb, loss of an organ, the loss of one of the senses, or diminished quality of life
If a loved one suffered fatal injuries in an Uber accident, close family members can recover compensation through a South Carolina wrongful death claim.
How Uber Accident Insurance Works
Anyone harmed in an Uber-caused accident may be entitled to claim the company. Other drivers engaged in crashes with Uber drivers, passengers in other cars struck by Uber drivers, passengers in Uber vehicles, and numerous other pedestrians, bicyclists, and other people who may be involved in a crash are all potential Columbia personal injury claims. Uber may contend that it is only responsible when a driver is connected to its digital network. Other than that, a driver’s insurance policy may be the sole coverage available in the event of an accident.
To understand how insurance coverage in an Uber accident works you need an experienced Columbia Uber accident lawyer at the Marc Brown Law Firm if you were hurt in an Uber accident in South Carolina. As you can see, these claims may suddenly become complex, and your rights and fair compensation are much too crucial to be claimed.
Uber drivers drive their vehicles and are responsible for their own insurance. Uber offers ridesharing insurance as well. Whether you are injured while riding in an Uber or when your own car is involved in an Uber-caused accident will play a big part in determining which insurance coverage or policies will kick in. Take into account the following three scenarios:
- The Uber driver is on the job, but he isn’t transporting any passengers. Things get much more complicated if you’re hurt in a car accident with an on-duty Uber driver who is in the middle of picking up clients. Because of the nature of Uber driving, there is a lot of downtimes when there are no active fares. Even though they aren’t formally working for Uber at the time, these drivers frequently stay on the road. In such cases, a contingent insurance policy will likely apply rather than Uber’s commercial coverage.
- The Uber driver is no longer on the clock. If you’re hurt in an accident with an Uber driver who isn’t on duty, your claim will proceed as if it were any other automobile accident, because the driver’s vehicle isn’t deemed a commercial vehicle in the eyes of the law at the time. Uber’s insurance policy will not activate unless you file a claim with the driver’s insurance.
- The Uber driver is on the job and transporting passengers. Because the Uber driver is operating a personal vehicle as a commercial vehicle, in this case, Uber’s commercial insurance policy will kick in to cover the Uber driver’s liability.
How Much Can I Get From an Uber Accident Claim?
Depending on the stage of the rideshare, the amount of compensation available in a claim varies. If the driver was using their rideshare vehicle in a personal capacity, you could recover the maximum available benefits allowed under their private auto insurance policy. If the Uber driver was working but not on the way to pick up a passenger, you could obtain as much as $25,000 for property damage, $50,000 for personal injuries, or $100,000 total for the accident if you and another family member were injured. If you were injured as a passenger in an Uber or as the occupant of a vehicle in a collision with an Uber driver who was carrying a passenger or on the way to pick up a passenger, the top-tier rideshare coverage is in effect, providing up to $1 million for injuries and property damage.
Because of Uber’s complex insurance system, insurance companies commonly point their fingers at other policies or dispute claims entirely. An attorney defending your rights is the best ally against these and other common insurance company tactics that can delay or deny your claim.
What to Do After an Uber Accident In South Carolina
The aftermath of any accident is a chaotic and frightening time, but it’s often more confusing after an accident involving an Uber ride. If you’ve suffered serious injuries, you may be unconscious or unable to move safely; however, if you can use your cell phone without causing further injury, taking purposeful action to protect yourself is possible using only your phone. After an Uber accident, do the following:
- Call 911 to report the accident
- Use Uber’s built-in incident reporting feature on your app to report the accident to Uber
- Use your phone’s camera to take photos of the accident scene, damaged vehicles, and any visible injuries
- Add the name and contact information of the Uber driver and anyone else involved
- Add the contact information of any eyewitnesses to the accident
- Go directly to a hospital from the accident scene and ask for a thorough examination as well as treatment for emergency injuries
- Ask for a detailed medical report and keep copies of all bills and receipts related to your injury treatment
Always speak to a car accident attorney before dealing with the insurance company or accepting a fast settlement offer. Often, these early offers are intentionally made before you know the extent of your damages and may be for far less than the full amount available to you.
What Types of Injuries Does Uber Accident Insurance Cover?
Like other auto insurance policies, Uber’s insurance covers common car accident injuries ranging from mild, fully recoverable soft-tissue injuries like sprains and contusions, to life-altering injuries that cause disability. Common injuries claimed in Uber accident cases in South Carolina include the following:
- Fractures, including of the limbs, hip, ribs, pelvis, or spine
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Soft-tissue injuries to shoulders, wrists, knees, or ankles
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
- Internal organ damage/internal bleeding
- Facial trauma
- Burns
- Traumatic limb loss
- Wrongful death
In some cases, emotional injuries such as PTSD may also be covered by Uber auto insurance. It’s helpful to document the impacts of the injury on your life in a journal to help prove emotional injuries and pain and suffering.
Contact Our Columbia Uber Accident Lawyers
Learn more about how we can assist you if you’ve been injured in an Uber accident. Before evidence is lost or destroyed, and witness recollections deteriorate, our legal team can begin examining your case. Get in touch with the Columbia Uber accident attorneys at Marc Brown Law Firm right now.