Riverside Uber Accident Attorneys

Aiding Riverside Uber Accident Victims

Rideshare companies such as Uber have changed how we experience commuting and how we travel all over the world. Uber has made life easier for the people of Riverside and has given them the ability to take off whenever they want without worrying about finding available public transportation or owning their own cars.

Yet, with these new transportation options come new regulations and policies, as well as legal concerns and questions. This is especially true when it comes to the safety of Uber passengers. Victims involved in Uber accidents are often left with debilitating injuries and significant medical expenses, and many have no idea where to turn for legal help. Read on to get more rideshare legal help from our Riverside uber accident lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys.

Yes, accidents can happen in Riverside, no matter what type of transportation we use. However, understanding liability and insurance coverage when it comes to Uber can confuse and challenge most people. That is why if you were in a Riverside Uber accident, the Riverside personal injury lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys are here to help you.

Gomez Trial Attorneys: We Help People With Riverside Uber Accidents

The legal team at Gomez Trial Attorneys is ready to help our Riverside community. Our experienced attorneys are here to fight for our clients’ rights, hold wrongdoers responsible for their conduct, and make Riverside a safer place.

Over the past fifteen years, our knowledgeable attorneys have collected over $550 million in settlements and verdicts with more than 125 awards that were more than $1 million each on behalf of our clients. Our legal team has the resources, experience, and track record to take on major cases and provide our clients with the services they need.

With the extensive legal work that we do, our practice areas include:

• Riverside car crashes;
• Riverside motorcycle accidents;
• Riverside pedestrian accidents;
• Riverside Ridesharing accidents;
• Riverside Truck accidents;
• Wrongful death claims; and
• Brain injury lawsuits.

Riverside Uber Accidents

Uber vehicles have become a lifesaver for many people, helping them expand their transportation options and allowing them to travel whenever they want. However, with all the positives that Uber has brought for many, it is not without its problems.

According to a study by the University of Chicago, traffic deaths have seen an increase of about 3 percent in places that have introduced Uber. And Riverside is no exception. Sadly, this means more deaths and injuries, and more people needing help as a result of rideshare accidents. The simple fact is that rideshare drivers are more likely to get in an accident than other motorists. They tend to drive for many hours in a row, often at night, which results in them operating their vehicle exhausted or when it is unsafe for them to do so.

These situations can lead to the following types of accidents:

• Rideshare vehicles colliding with pedestrians or bicyclists.
• Rideshare passengers injured during a ride.
• Rideshare vehicles colliding with another vehicle, causing damage and injuries.

Uber Liability

In any motor vehicle accident, to demonstrate that the other party is at fault, the victim needs to prove their liability and provide evidence of the damages they have suffered. What makes Uber accidents so much more complicated is that the rideshare company is subject to different levels of accountability, depending on what the driver was doing at the time of the accident. Why does this matter? If you have suffered injuries due to an Uber driver’s negligence, you can generally bring a lawsuit against the company. However, you would need to first investigate which insurance coverage applies.

This requires finding answers to the following questions:

• Was the Uber driver logged into the app?
• Was the Uber driver logged into the app but had not accepted a passenger?
• Was the Uber driver on their way to pick up a passenger?
• Was the Uber driver in the middle of taking a customer to their destination?

Uber Insurance Coverage

Once you understand what the driver was doing at the time of the accident, you can then figure out whether the company’s insurance policy applies to the specific situation. It is immensely beneficial to work with an experienced Uber accident attorney during this process. Experienced attorneys are better equipped to parse the details of a Uber accident and can help you determine if it is plausible to go after the company’s insurance.

The following explains how the different liability coverage periods work for Uber.

1. Driver Not Logged In

When the driver is not logged in to their account when an accident occurs, insurance coverage is provided by the driver’s personal insurance policy.

2. Driver Available or Waiting for a Customer Request

When a driver is logged in or waiting for a passenger and an accident occurs, Uber offers third-party liability coverage, which includes the following:

• $100,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident.
• $25,000 for damaged property per accident.
• $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per person.

3. Driver En Route to Pick Up the Customer or the Passenger Is in the Car

When a driver is on their way to pick up a passenger or has the passenger in their car heading to their destination, and an accident occurs, Uber offers the following coverage:

• $1,000,000 in third-party liability coverage.
• Underinsured/ Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage.
• Contingent comprehensive and collision coverage depending on whether the driver has their own collision coverage.

Types of Injuries That Result From Riverside Uber Accidents

Individuals in Uber accidents can experience a multitude of injuries with varying degrees of severity.

The most common injuries that victims suffer in these types of accidents include:

• Back and neck injuries: If the vehicle that you are in is involved in a crash that results in your head moving in an unusual way, you may suffer whiplash or other neck injuries. These injuries can result in ligament tears and muscle damage in your neck and spinal discs, sometimes leading to chronic, debilitating pain and even memory loss.
• Head and brain injuries: If you are involved in an accident and your head strikes a solid surface such as the dashboard or window, you may suffer a severe head or brain injury. A traumatic brain injury results from a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. These types of injuries can lead to chronic cognitive problems and permanent impairment.
• Broken bones: A crash impact can exert a strong enough force to break bones, tear ligaments, and create significant joint damage in knees, shoulders, wrists, and ankles. These types of injuries can result in tremendous pain and lead to incapacitation.
• Severe lacerations: When a victim of an Uber accident comes into contact with any sharp object such as broken glass, this can result in severe lacerations to their skin, muscles, and other bodily tissues.
• Spinal cord injuries: A motor vehicle crash can result in a sudden blow to the spinal cord or surrounding tissues, causing the vertebrae to break or become crushed or dislocated. This type of spinal cord injury can damage the nervous system and impact the individual’s ability to physically function.

Types of Damages You Can Recover After a Riverside Uber Accident

If you are injured in an Uber accident that is the driver’s fault, you are entitled to damages. Depending on the scope of your injuries and other specific factors surrounding the accident, California law may allow you to go after economic and non-economic damages, as well as punitive damages.

Figuring out how much you should claim in damages can be quite complicated, and many courts often struggle to decide what a fair or rational award is, especially when it comes to non-economic damages. That is why you must have a capable attorney handling your case to ensure that they can successfully argue for the compensation you need.

Economic Damages (Special Damages)

Economic damages are direct costs that a victim has incurred as a result of the accident and may include the following:

• Medical bills (past and future).
• Lost wages and earnings (past and future).
• Loss of future earning capacity.
• Loss of profits.
• Loss of value.
• Damage to personal property.

Non-Economic Damages (General Damages)

Non-economic damages are defined as unquantifiable, subjective non-monetary losses that include a variety of real costs resulting from personal injuries. These can include:

• Emotional distress.
• Loss of enjoyment of life.
• Pain and suffering.
• Loss of consortium (an intimate relationship with a partner).
• Diminished quality of life.
• Damage to relationships between a spouse and other family members.

Punitive Damages (Exemplary Damages)

California also allows punitive damages in some instances. These damages are usually granted by a court when they want to punish the defendant for their outrageous conduct and try to deter them and others from engaging in similar actions in the future.

Take Action Following a Riverside Uber Accident

Many individuals wonder what they should do if they find themselves in an accident while they are a passenger in an Uber. Right after an accident, remember that you should handle the situation as if you were in any other motor vehicle accident.

Get Medical Help and Call 911

After any accident, call 911 and get proper medical attention. Even if you do not think you have suffered any significant injuries, it is essential to get adequately assessed by a medical doctor and get any injuries on the record.

Collect Evidence

If you do not require immediate medical care and it is safe to do so, collecting evidence from the accident scene is essential for your claim. If possible, try to take photos and videos of the crash scene and any visible injuries, car placement, the weather, traffic signage, and road debris. In addition, get the contact information of any witnesses who observed the accident and saw what happened.

Contact Our Riverside Uber Accident Attorneys

Processing this type of accident is hard. You do not need to complicate it further by trying to obtain critical evidence required to prove your case and doing a thorough investigation of the accident, especially when you are recovering from your injuries. Instead, contact an Uber accident lawyer at Gomez Trial Attorneys as soon as possible and allow them to do the hard work for you.

Filing Deadlines for Uber Accidents

In California, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a claim for a car accident. However, no matter the circumstances of your accident, it is best to contact an attorney as soon as possible. They can take care of all the filing deadlines while ensuring that critical evidence is not lost.

How Our Riverside Uber Accident Law Firm Can Help

John Gomez, Riverside Truck Accident Lawyer

Uber accidents are quite complicated, tedious, and at times difficult to handle, especially when Uber or their insurance company denies your claim. Even though companies such as Uber carry extensive liability insurance, getting them to pay for your damages can be quite the ordeal and often requires hiring an experienced legal team to get the job done.

If you hire Gomez Trial Attorneys to handle your case, we can provide you with the legal help you need during this difficult time. We can not only take over all the communications with the insurance companies, but we will fight to get the compensation that you deserve.

If you or a family member has been injured in an Uber service accident in Riverside, contact our office today or call (619) 237-3490 to speak with an attorney about your case.