Questions About Rideshare Accidents

Why you need an Uber And Lyft Miami Car Accident Lawyer

If you are ever involved in an accident while riding in an Uber or Lyft car, you need a Miami car accident lawyer with experience in these types of accidents to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. You could seek compensation in different ways. However, an attorney with specific knowledge of Uber and Lyft accidents will offer you the best opportunity to successfully pursue a case against one of these two rideshare giants. Here are the answers to some of the common questions about rideshare accidents.

Contact An Attorney Specializing In Uber Or Lyft Accidents

Uber and Lyft have become so popular worldwide because they offer accessible transport to millions of people at highly competitive rates. Both companies have established strict codes of conduct and safety to which their drivers are expected to adhere. However, accidents do still happen, and when they do, it can be difficult to resolve questions of damages and compensation. The reason for this difficulty is that, with rideshare services, it can be challenging to establish liability.

Who is the injured passenger supposed to sue? The driver? The company? The only way to get to the bottom of the situation is to contact a car accident attorney specializing in Uber and Lyft accidents. Uber and Lyft have become so popular worldwide because they offer accessible transport to millions of people at highly competitive rates. Both companies have established strict codes of conduct and safety to which their drivers are expected to adhere.

However, accidents do still happen, and when they do, it can be difficult to resolve questions of damages and compensation. The reason for this difficulty is that, with rideshare services, it can be challenging to establish liability. Who is the injured passenger supposed to sue? The driver? The company? The only way to get to the bottom of the situation is to contact a car accident attorney specializing in Uber and Lyft accidents.

Reasons To Hire A Miami Attorney For Uber Accidents

After you are involved in an Uber accident, the company will send out representatives to handle the situation. These representatives have two related objectives: to ease your experience after the accident and to minimize the company’s liability. They will also want to smooth things over with you to ensure that you don’t decide to seek legal action.

Uber and all their representatives will want to resolve the situation as quickly as possible, with minimal expense to themselves, and this can mean that you end with a settlement that doesn’t fully cover your injuries. If you bring an Uber accident lawyer into the picture, they can fight to maximize your settlement. A seasoned Uber lawyer is also thoroughly versed in all Florida laws that apply to rideshare accidents. They will know the ins, outs and intricacies that you wouldn’t even think to consider.

How Will Having An Uber Accident Lawyer Benefit You?

Uber accidents are rarely straightforward. As a passenger, you may not know who you’re supposed to sue: the company, the driver, the third party driver? With so many people who could possibly be liable, you need a lawyer to sort through the specifics of the case and work out the best way to pursue compensation for your damages and injuries.

Your Uber or Lyft accident lawyer will sort through the evidence, carry out negotiations on your behalf, or represent you in court if necessary. Uber and their insurers have whole teams of attorneys who will work hard to minimize their clients’ liabilities. On your own, you have little chance of success in battling against this army of lawyers to get what you deserve. It is important to get a lawyer on your side to give you a fighting chance.

How Do We Determine The Value Of Your Uber Accident Claim?

• The value of your accident claim will depend on the circumstances of your case. We take three main questions into account when calculating your claim amount:
• Who was at fault? You are precluded from being at fault in the matter because you were a passenger during the incident. It is still necessary to prove fault in order for you to claim damages. If your Uber driver was at fault, their insurance company may accept liability and offer a settlement. If another driver was at fault for the accident, a protracted fight may ensue over which driver was really to blame. The particulars of the situation, as well as the outcome of these arguments, will have an impact on the settlement amount.
• The nature of your injuries: You need to be able to offer proof of the extent of your injuries and the cost of treatment (both current and future), as well as the past, present and possible future loss of income that may result.
• The amount of money available: An Uber accident often sets off a lengthy and complex discussion over how much money is available and where it is going to come from. Uber’s insurers may offer you a settlement, you might be able to claim from your own insurance, or there might be a possibility. Uber has large amounts set aside to settle cases where their drivers are at fault, which will raise the amount of your claim. If you are not the only claimant, but one of many claiming from the same source, this could diminish the value of your claim.

How Will A Lawyer Prove Liability?

Proving liability in an Uber accident case is complex and challenging. One of the main reasons why it is so tricky is that Uber drivers are not employed by the rideshare company and so Uber itself is not automatically liable in the event of an accident, even if the driver is clearly at fault. Lawyers would have to gather as much evidence as possible and find the best route that points at clear liability on the part of Uber or its drivers. The most common method a lawyer uses to determine this is to work out whose insurance policy is applicable, based on what point during the ride the accident took place.

The reason for this is that there are two possible insurers who can be claimed from in an Uber accident. The question of which one is liable depends on which period of the trip the accident occurred. Period 0 is when the driver causes an accident but does not have the Uber app on, and is therefore not technically in the process of carrying out his/her duties as an Uber driver. In this case, the driver’s own insurance company is liable. During Period 1, the driver has the app on but is not carrying a passenger. In this case again, the driver’s insurance is liable. During Periods 2 and 3, the driver has the app on and is carrying passengers. In this case, Uber’s $1 million policy applies.

Must Uber And Its Drivers Carry Special Insurance Coverage In Miami?

Yes, Miami Uber drivers are required to carry special insurance. Every driver in the state of Florida is required to carry insurance for at least $10,000 per injured person. Uber drivers must carry additional insurance, as per the terms of the Uber/Lyft Bill. These increased insurance provisions only kick in when the driver has the Uber app on. The cover increases when there is a passenger in the car. A driver in Period 1 has the following cover:

• $10,000 PIP
• $50,000 death and bodily injury (BI) per person
• $100,000 death and bodily injury (BI) per incident; and
• $250,000 PDL per incident

When a passenger is in the car, Uber’s famous $1 million insurance policy kicks in, covering death, bodily injury and property damage.

How To Recover Money After Your Miami Uber Accident

You can recover money in one of two ways after an Uber accident: you can lodge a personal injury claim with an insurance company or you can file a lawsuit against the party at fault.

If you choose to go the route of filing an insurance claim, there are several sources that can help you cover costs. Your personal injury policy would cover most of the damages, but underinsured or uninsured motorist insurance may be applicable as well. You can also file a claim against Uber’s insurance provider if the accident happened as a result of their negligence.

If you need to take legal action to get your compensation, you can file personal injury lawsuits against your Uber driver, or negligent third party drivers, as applicable. If a manufacturing fault on the vehicles caused the accident, you could even file a suit against the manufacturer.

If you are ever in the unfortunate position of having experienced a ride-share accident in Miami, get a Miami car accident lawyer with Uber accident experience on your side. Contact Mausner Graham Injury Law for a free consultation.