Your Legal Guide to Understanding Uber Accident Settlement Amounts
In 2009, carpooling went commercial when Uber opened their doors for business. This company took ride-sharing to a new level, giving individuals options other than expensive taxis or car services. But the invention of Uber also meant a new risk on the roads. When you have an accident with an Uber driver, who pays for the damages? The driver or Uber? How are Uber accident settlement amounts determined? If you've ever wondered about Uber settlements, keep reading.
What Is an Uber Accident Settlement?
Whenever you're in a car accident that is not your fault, you are due damages by the party that is at fault. This could be the money to restore or replace your car as well as the money to cover your medical bills.
An Uber accident settlement refers to the money you receive to cover your bills. A good attorney will also add approximately 1.5% of the bill cost to the settlement to compensate for pain and suffering.
A good accident attorney will do the math of figuring out all of your bills, lost income, and suffering. Then they'll come up with Uber accident settlement amounts and ask the insurance company for that amount.
Do not attempt to settle with an insurance company on your own when you've been injured in an Uber accident. Personal injury attorneys who specialize in Uber accidents have the experience necessary to navigate the murky legal waters. They work hard to earn you the best compensation possible.
How Does Uber Handle Settlements?
When you've been in an accident with an Uber driver, your insurance company will file a claim with the Uber insurance company or the Uber driver's personal insurance company. These insurance companies evaluate the claim.
By this point in time, you should have already contacted a qualified personal injury attorney. Your attorney will focus on proving the driver's negligence caused the accident. California law defines negligence with four qualities:
- Duty: the driver's duty to care for others
- Breach: the driver's breach or failure to care for others
- Causation: the driver's breach that caused the accident and thus your damages
- Damages: the suffering you incurred because of the driver's breach of conduct
You may receive an Uber car accident settlement if your attorney can establish negligence. If you do not receive a settlement, you and your attorney will prepare to go to court with Uber.
What Are Average Uber Accident Settlement Amounts?
The amount you receive from an Uber settlement depends on the severity of your injuries and who is at fault for the accident. If you've suffered severe injuries, and your attorney proves the negligence of the Uber driver, you could receive a substantial settlement. The insurance policy also dictates the fund amount. An insurance company will only pay out the amount they have available.
If the accident involved other passengers, you may not receive as much of a settlement as if you had been the lone passenger. The insurance policy will cover everyone injured with a blanket sum.
For example, one rider in Boston suffered a broken neck and is now a quadriplegic after his Uber driver crashed. He is suing the company for $63 million. His driver had multiple moving violations and should not have been driving professionally.
Do You Need an Uber Accident Attorney?
Yes, if you've been in an accident where an Uber driver is at fault, you need a qualified attorney. Bodily injury often results from car accidents. Broken bones, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and lacerations are just scraping the surface of what can happen if you're in a car accident.
After the accident, you may not be able to go back to work immediately. You'll have to spend your days doing physical therapy and occupational therapy so you can regain full function of your body. This therapy will cost you money. Additionally, you will suffer from the mental and emotional trauma of having been in an accident.
A good Uber accident attorney will help you understand the compensation claims. Uber is a large company with deep pockets and its own attorneys. You will most likely not receive just compensation if you attempt to represent yourself against such skilled attorneys.
Understanding Uber Accident Insurance
When an Uber diver has an accident, does their personal insurance cover the accident, or does Uber's insurance cover it? The answer to this question depends on if the driver was logged into their Uber system for work or not. Your bills, losses, pain, and suffering may add up to more than this minimum amount. This is why you need a solid personal injury attorney.
If the driver had properly logged into work, Uber will cover the damages. If the driver neglected to log into work, they were on their own time, and their personal insurance is responsible. California law requires a minimum liability for car insurance.
- Injury or death to one person: $15,000
- Injury or death to more than one person: $30,000
- Property damages: $5,000
Personal Insurance Coverage
Once the Uber driver logs into the Uber system, Uber's insurance should cover them. However, if the driver is waiting for a fare but does not have anyone in their vehicle, their personal insurance should cover the accident.
Sometimes the Uber driver's insurance company will deny the claim completely or will not cover the full cost of the claim. In this case, Uber's insurance covers the claim. Uber does have a limit, though. In these cases, Uber will cover up to $50,000 for each injury and no more than $100,000 total.
Uber Insurance Coverage
If the Uber driver has a passenger while they're logged in or if they're on their way to pick up a passenger, Uber's insurance covers the accident claim. In these cases, Uber will cover up to one million dollars.
Help Obtaining Maximized Uber Accident Settlement Amounts
People involved in Uber driver accidents are due to uber accident settlement amounts. The amount they receive depends on the severity of the injury as well as who is responsible for the accident.
Uber's insurance will cover up to a million dollars for damages. So if you've sustained an injury because of an Uber driver, seek professional legal help to receive the damages you are due.
Do you need a personal injury attorney? If so, contact us. We will discuss the details of your case and seek the best possible settlement for you.