Uber Accident Lawyers
Houston Uber Accident Attorneys
The Uber accident lawyers at Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. Injury & Accident Lawyers can help if you were injured by a negligent Uber driver or while riding in an Uber. Call us at 1-800-298-0111 for a free consultation to learn your rights. Talk to an Uber accident lawyer today.
Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have been rapidly expanding across the United States as a more reasonably-priced alternative to riding in taxicabs. Because they are not subject to the strict regulation of taxicabs, their drivers do not undergo the same training or testing that a taxicab company may require. Due to this lack of oversight, you will never know for sure what kind of experience the driver has.
What is the Duty of Care for an Uber Driver?
Uber drivers are common carriers who by law must exercise the utmost care, skill, and diligence in transporting passengers safely from destination to destination. This is important to know since the jury will be instructed that the duty of care is a ‘high duty of care.’
This is defined as the degree of care that would be used by a very cautious, competent, and prudent person under the same or similar circumstances. This is a higher degree of care owned than the typical driver who must only exercise ordinary prudence.
The higher standard of care must be timely requested by the attorney seeking to impose the standard upon the Uber or Lyft driver. Failure to timely request the standard and accompanying instruction will result in a waiver of the imposition of the higher standard.
This is one reason why you must have a knowledgeable Uber accident attorney handling your case. Call today and schedule a free consultation about your case with an attorney who understands Lyft and Uber cases.
What Types of Damages Can I Claim?
Just like any automobile accident, the victim of the accident will claim damages. The most common are:
- Medical Expenses
- Mental Anguish
- Pain & Suffering
- Disfigurement
- Lost Wages
- Disability
How Much Liability Coverage Does An Uber Driver Carry?
The amount of liability coverage Uber provides to their drivers depends upon what they are doing at the exact time of the wreck.
- If he or she is assigned to a passenger there is 1 Million in coverage.
- If he or she is logged in and waiting but unassigned, there is $50,000 per person up to $100,000 total and another $25,000 for property damage liability.
- If he or she is off duty then his personal insurance applies–which varies from state to state but can be as low as $30,000 in Texas. (But beware if you are traveling, some states allow as low as $10,000!)
Does Uber Provide Drivers With Uninsured and Under-Insured Motorist Insurance?
If the driver is logged in and assigned to a passenger then the driver and passenger are covered by a $1,000,000.00 uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) policy. If he is not both logged in and assigned a passenger, then no UM?UIM is afforded.
Insurance Coverage Implications for Uber Passengers
If you are a passenger riding in an Uber, you should be covered with $1,000,000 regardless of whether the Uber driver is at fault or another driver causes the collision. The only possible loophole might be that you could lose his underinsured motorist coverage in a scenario where he is dropping you off and he marks his fare as complete to get the next fare assigned and then gets hit. This would be important where the driver who hits you has no or insufficient insurance and you have no or insufficient uninsured motorist coverage.
Schedule A Free Consultation With An Uber Accident Lawyer
Uber cases are nothing new to Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., Injury & Accident Lawyers. If you were injured while riding in an Uber, speak with one of our Uber accident attorneys today to determine what insurance coverage applies to you and how to make a claim.
The consultation is free and we charge no attorney fees or expenses unless we make a recovery. Call 1-800-298-0111 today!
Related Reading:
Uber’s Self-Driving Vehicle Accident Caused by Distracted Driving
Rideshare Risks: Are Uber and Lyft More Dangerous Than Taxis?