If you were injured in an Uber car accident, a Detroit Uber accident lawyer can help you understand your rights. After a serious Uber accident, you may be feeling overwhelmed, uncertain of who to talk to and what to do next. By partnering with the experienced attorneys at the Law Offices of Christopher Trainor & Associates, you can bring a lawsuit for damages against the negligent driver to help ensure that you are fairly compensated for your medical bills, lost earnings, and other losses.
Although traditional limousine and taxi cab services are still widely used, mobile apps that can be used to request rides have exploded in popularity over the past several years. One of the most popular ridesharing companies in the Detroit area is Uber. Many other companies offer free carpooling services, such as Southeast MiRideshare, which matches people looking to carpool.
Ridester, Carpool World, eRideshare, and West Michigan Rideshare are other rideshare companies that operate in Detroit and throughout Michigan. Although using rideshare services can be a good way to economize on travel expenses, its recent increase in popularity also means that accidents involving rideshare vehicles, such as Uber, have risen in frequency.
After being injured in an accident involving an Uber vehicle, there are some steps you need to take in order to protect your right to compensation. The first step is to seek immediate medical attention, even if you think you only sustained mild injuries. The next step you should take is to notify local law enforcement and ensure that the responding officer completes a police accident report. If the accident is not severe enough to merit a police response, be sure to file a written report as soon as possible, preferably no more than 24 hours after the crash.
This step is especially critical since most insurance carriers require that accidents be reported within a 24-hour window if you plan on filing a claim. Most injured Uber accident victims will be able to recoup their damages via no-fault insurance benefits, which should provide coverage for medical bills, lost wages, and other costs arising from the accident.
No-fault benefits are usually available even if you own a vehicle involved in the incident or you have your own insurance policy. A skilled Detroit Uber accident lawyer can explain how to collect these benefits.
When you order an Uber, the driver has a duty to operate the rideshare vehicle in a prudent and safe manner. In fact, this responsibility applies to the driver of every vehicle, not just Uber drivers, as well as cyclists and pedestrians. The leading causes of Uber accidents in Detroit and across Michigan are:
Distracted driving is the largest contributing factor in Uber accidents. Drivers frequently take their eyes off the road because they rely on their phones for directions and to check new ride requests as they come in.
Uber drivers do not have company cars. They transport passengers using their personal vehicles. Although new drivers are subject to a screening process, most do not hold a commercial driver’s license or have any official training. They are merely members of the public using their own cars and trucks to ferry paying passengers to and from various locations.
In 2017, the state passed new regulations concerning drivers who operate for rideshare companies, including Uber. Uber drivers are now required to carry no less than $1 million in liability coverage for accidents that take place while the driver has a passenger in their vehicle. They are also required to carry a minimum of $50,000 in liability coverage for any accident that occurs while they are signed into the rideshare platform and waiting for a passenger to request a ride. So, the amount of insurance coverage available is determined by the driver’s operational status at the time of the collision.
Michigan residents are eligible for no-fault insurance benefits if they are injured as a passenger. Our skilled Uber accident lawyers can determine which insurance carrier is liable for paying these benefits and can fill out and submit all necessary forms on your behalf. With no-fault insurance, you are entitled to coverage for your hospital bills, physical therapy costs, lost wages, home care services, and numerous other benefits as well.
Pedestrians and cyclists who are struck by Uber drivers are also entitled to these benefits. The facts of your Uber accident will ultimately determine which insurer is responsible for payment. We have the resources necessary to fully investigate your accident and pinpoint which insurance company is responsible for covering your accident-related bills.
Along with claiming no-fault benefits, passengers and drivers injured in Uber accidents may also be eligible to make a claim for their crash-related injuries if the Uber driver was at fault. Additionally, you can also bring a suit against the rideshare service.
For your case to be successful, you will have to prove that the Uber driver acted recklessly or negligently and that their misconduct was the direct cause of your injuries. Our Detroit Uber accident lawyers can obtain a copy of your police accident report, interview bystanders, and collect all relevant evidence that proves fault and supports your claim. We can also collect your medical records to show that you sustained severe injuries in the crash.
In Michigan, Uber accident settlements include financial compensation for disability, emotional trauma, pain and suffering, and other monetary damages. There is no “typical” settlement award because every accident and its resulting injuries are entirely different. It is, however, worth mentioning that Michigan does not place any cap on the amount of financial compensation you are able to recover.
As previously mentioned, Uber drivers are covered by massive insurance policies through their company. The amount of available insurance coverage will depend on the driver’s operational status at the time of the incident. For example, an Uber driver who is actively transporting a passenger has much higher liability coverage than a driver who is waiting for a ride request. At the Law Offices of Christopher Trainor & Associates, our lawyers will do everything in their power to maximize your settlement award.
If someone dies in the accident, certain surviving family members of the victim may be entitled to bring a wrongful death lawsuit. Damages available in a wrongful death lawsuit include the pain and suffering that the victim endured prior to their death and the loss of fellowship experienced by surviving relatives.
Understandably, most Uber accident victims want a quick settlement, but this is almost never in their best interest. In order to be fully and fairly compensated for your injuries, we strongly recommend that you wait until you are almost completely recovered. This will give you time to understand the full scope of your injuries, how well they are going to heal, what impact they are going to have on your day-to-day life, and allow your treating doctor to determine if you are going to require ongoing treatments and care, and accurately assess whether or not you are likely to fully heal from your injuries and live life the way you did before the accident. If you accept an early settlement offer, you are almost certainly going to end up paying for many of your accident-related damages out of your own pocket.
That said, most Uber settlements tend to be paid out roughly one year after the accident. If your case involves only minor injuries, your settlement check could come much more quickly. Cases involving wrongful deaths or catastrophic injuries will most likely take significantly longer.
Our Detroit personal injury lawyers specialize in Uber accidents and will work diligently to maximize your settlement. We don’t just accept the insurance company’s first settlement offer, take our fees, and leave you to figure out the rest. We wait until the full extent of your injuries and your projected recovery has been established and then fight to ensure that you receive every penny you are entitled to.
The Detroit Uber accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Christopher Trainor & Associates have the experience, skill, and resources you need to obtain the maximum settlement amount for your damages. Contact us right away at (248) 886-8650 or fill out the contact form on our website to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
