Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are common ways of getting around the city.
Owning a car in Los Angeles is expensive, and parking fees can be a hefty monthly expense.
Rather than pay ridiculous monthly payments, some Los Angelinos find Uber and Lyft to be more cost-effective alternatives to car ownership.
However, more rideshare vehicles on the road mean an increased risk for accidents.
If you suffered injuries in a rideshare vehicle accident within Los Angeles, contact our Uber accident attorneys in Los Angeles.
At Weinberg Law Offices, we have built a strong reputation for helping clients get the money they deserve after an Uber accident. We can help you fight for the compensation the at-fault party owes you.
Contact our office today to learn more about what our Los Angeles Uber accident lawyers can do for you.
One of the reasons rideshare accident claims are complicated is because multiple parties are usually involved.
Who is responsible for your injuries will also depend on the circumstances of the accident and whether you were a passenger in the Uber vehicle or were hit by the Uber.
Uber’s Insurance Coverage
Some people read about Uber having a $1 million insurance policy and ask if they will benefit from that policy. Uber may have a high-limit insurance policy, but it doesn’t apply in every situation.
In fact, there are some accident scenarios where Uber’s insurance coverage is not the primary insurance.
If the driver has the app turned off, their personal insurance coverage applies. Uber drivers who have the app on and are waiting for a ride should still look to their own insurance to cover any damages they cause.
If the driver’s coverage doesn’t apply, the Uber policy will cover up to $50,000 in bodily injury damages per person or $100,000 in bodily injury damages for all parties in one accident.
Uber will also cover property damage up to $25,000 per accident.
When an Uber driver is en route to pick up a passenger or has someone in the vehicle, the $1 million insurance policy applies.
However, just because the limit is $1 million, that doesn’t mean you will automatically get the maximum payout you are eligible for.
Maximizing your compensation requires skill. You need an Uber accident lawyer in Los Angeles with experience handling these cases.
Who Is Liable for Your Injuries in an Uber Accident?
If you’re a passenger in the Uber vehicle, it’s unlikely you contributed to the accident in any way.
You will need to prove who is responsible for your injuries and pursue compensation from that party. You might sometimes pursue a claim against the Uber driver and another party if they both shared fault.
You can pursue more than one party for your damages because California is a pure comparative negligence state.
That means even when someone is partially at fault for a collision in California, you can still collect damages from them.
Uber isn’t automatically going to pay your injury claims just because you’re a passenger in the Uber vehicle. The Uber driver must be liable for your injuries because they were negligent.
For example, perhaps the Uber driver ran a red light and struck another vehicle. Uber’s insurance policy would likely be your primary source for recovery in this situation.
If another driver ran the red light and struck the Uber vehicle you were riding in, you will pursue a claim against that driver’s insurance company.
What Type of Compensation Can You Get for an Uber Accident?
In California, you can collect compensatory damages for injuries and other damages. There are two main types of compensation you can receive.
The first is economic damages, which reimburse you for out-of-pocket expenses, such as medical bills, lost wages, future medical expenses, and loss of earning capacity.
The second type of damages is noneconomic damages.
Noneconomic damages compensate you for things like pain and suffering, emotional distress, losses related to disability or physical impairment, and loss of enjoyment of life.
How Much Time Do You Have to File an Uber Lawsuit?
Like other car accident claims, California law says you only have a limited amount of time to file an Uber accident lawsuit.
This time limit is called the statute of limitations. Failure to file a lawsuit before the deadline expires could be disastrous.
The court will likely dismiss your case if you miss the filing deadline. It doesn’t matter if you have already negotiated a settlement with the defendant’s insurance company.
Missing the deadline means you cannot pursue compensation for your injuries, no matter how strong your case is.
In most situations, you only have two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit. Some circumstances might decrease or increase that filing time.
For example, if your Uber accident also involves a government-owned vehicle, you might only have six months to file a claim.
Whether you were a passenger, driver, or pedestrian doesn’t affect the deadline.
Do not try to figure out the appropriate statute of limitations on your own. Instead, contact an Uber accident attorney in Los Angeles right away.
When you have an attorney representing you, we file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations runs out. There’s no need to worry whether you inadvertently missed the statute of limitations.
Contact a Los Angeles Uber Accident Lawyer
If you are searching for the best Uber accident attorneys in Los Angeles, contact Weinberg Law Offices.
Navigating Uber claims and all the applicable laws can be complicated. You need a legal advocate who understands how to pursue Uber accident claims and is not afraid to stand up for your rights.
At Weinberg Law Offices, we know how challenging these claims can be and how unwilling Uber can be to extend coverage.
We’ve represented numerous injured victims who were innocent passengers in an Uber vehicle or were struck by an Uber driver while driving their own vehicle.
Instead of trying to fight for compensation on your own, let Weinberg Law Offices help.
Contact us to schedule an initial consultation. Let us review the facts of your case and help you identify all responsible parties.
We will also explain all the steps of the claims process and what happens when your case goes into litigation.
We offer free initial consultations, so you have nothing to lose by meeting with us.