If you’re like 36% of the population, you’ve used a rideshare service at least once, and it was probably Uber. The rideshare service has had 130 million monthly users since early 2023. Uber has options from basic sedans to luxury vehicles and group rides that make it convenient and flexible. There are 1.5 million Uber drivers in the United States, and since 2022, sales have exceeded the levels prior to 2019, making it the top rideshare option for many commuters in the country. Uber is also very popular in Flint and all over Michigan, as students often use it to get around.
If you’ve been injured in an Uber accident in Flint, you may be worried about your future, particularly if you have medical bills piling up, but you don’t have to live in fear. A free consultation with a Flint car accident lawyer at Christopher Trainor & Associates is an opportunity to learn about your legal right to fair compensation and how we can help you get it.
From 2017 to 2018, Uber reported that there were 97 fatal crashes from Uber accidents, which caused 107 deaths. These deaths included everyone from the driver, the passenger, occupants of another car involved in a crash with an Uber vehicle, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
It is difficult to obtain more recent information about motor vehicle accidents involving Uber in particular since Uber has not consistently reported this information. Furthermore, rideshare lawsuits are often settled with non-disclosure agreements, meaning those who were paid a sum cannot disclose information about their case.
However, we can compare Uber statistics with car crash statistics in general. Since 2011, we can estimate that rideshare services, including Uber and Lyft, have accounted for a 3% increase in traffic-accident fatalities and about 987 deaths per day across the country. In 2022 in Michigan, there were 293,000 accidents which resulted in 1,123 deaths, making a 15% increase since 2018. We know that this increase has to be partly due to rideshare services gaining popularity during that time frame.
Given these statistics, it’s good to know where an Uber accident is likely to occur, how it occurs, and what to do if you are ever in a Flint Uber accident.
In a safety assessment released by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business for 2019 and 2020, there were 91 fatal incidents with a total of 101 deaths, with over 100 people dying every year from Uber accidents. The leading causes were found to be speeding (32%) and driving under the influence of alcohol (23%). Other common causes are distracted driving, fatigued driving, reckless driving, and driving under adverse weather or hazardous road conditions.
The Uber accident victims that make up the majority of these accidents are:
Many car accidents, including Uber accidents, occur at intersections. The most common types of car crashes are head-on collisions, which causes the most fatalities, as well as rear-end collisions, side-impacts, sideswipes, and rollovers.
Regardless of how the accident happens, if you were injured, you can likely pursue compensation from the responsible party. It does not matter whether you were a passenger, a pedestrian, an occupant of another vehicle, or a bicyclist.
Like in other car accidents, Uber accident victims experience certain common car accident injuries. These can range from light bruises to severe injuries. Below are some of the most common injuries we see as Flint Uber accident lawyers.
If you were injured in a Flint car accident, make sure you get medically evaluated immediately. Even if you think your injuries are minor, it is a safe bet to have a doctor check you out. You may not feel pain at first if the rush of adrenaline from the accident is masking your pain. Furthermore, you will need medical records from immediately after the accident to prove that there is a causal link between your medical status and the accident itself.
Once you’ve received medical treatment, the next step is to contact a Flint Uber accident lawyer. Even if you are only pursuing no-fault insurance benefits under Michigan law, a Flint car accident lawyer can help you resolve any disputes or delays in receiving the full and fair compensation you need for your recovery.
Auto insurance companies in Michigan offer insurance policies with Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or no-fault benefits according to Michigan state law. This means that all drivers have some degree of coverage regardless of who is at fault for the injuries that were caused. However, Uber accidents present unique challenges because Uber itself may be held liable via its insurance policy, as well as the driver, depending on the specific circumstances of your accident. It is best to consult with a Flint Uber accident lawyer before you take any action yourself after seeking medical treatment for your injuries.
Michigan is a no-fault state. In a typical, non-rideshare motor vehicle accident in Flint MI, medical bills are typically covered by the auto insurance company of the injured party, without the need to establish fault or liability.
However, an Uber accident works differently. If the Uber driver was found to be active on the Uber app at the time of the accident and was an at-fault party, the injured victims may be able to access compensation through Uber’s insurance policy. If the driver was not actively giving a ride or otherwise working through the app at the time of the accident, then the car accident victims refer to the Uber driver’s personal insurance policy for their car accident case.
Once the Uber driver accepts a ride request or is en route to pick up or transport passengers, the larger, more comprehensive policy of Uber’s insurance coverage will cover any injuries. That’s why it’s important to find out whether the Uber driver was active during the time of the motor vehicle accident.
It’s also important to note that if you were injured and you have PIP insurance coverage, you may need to file a car accident claim with both your insurance company and the at-fault driver’s insurance or Uber insurance to seek additional compensation or damages.
There are things you should and should not do directly after a car accident, and the same is true for accidents involving rideshare vehicles. Here are some common mistakes to avoid to ensure the success of your personal injury claim, should you need to make one.
The best thing you can do directly after an accident involving an Uber in which you were injured is to contact an attorney. They can help make sure you don’t make any wrong moves that could jeopardize your case, and they’ll take care of filing all necessary paperwork as well as ensuring all deadlines are met.
According to Michigan’s no-fault law, the deadline for no-fault benefits is only one year from the date of the motor vehicle accident. If you seek additional compensation, such as for your pain and suffering, and additional medical benefits, as well as other economic and non-economic damages, you must file your personal injury claim within three years of the collision.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may or may not need a Flint personal injury lawyer for your Uber accident claim. However, our Flint Uber accident lawyers will meet with you for a completely free initial consultation, where they can advise you on the best path forward depending on your unique circumstances. If you have a case that requires the help of a lawyer, we can take your case on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will only pay our fee once we are able to secure compensation for you.
Recover Compensation for Your Flint Uber Accident with Confidence
We offer you powerful legal representation under Michigan law to recover compensation for lost wages, medical bills, medical expenses, and funeral expenses. We can also help you seek compensation for your mental anguish, loss of companionship, and more. If you experienced the loss of a loved one, we can help you file a wrongful death claim.
Don’t suffer through an Uber accident injury alone. Call the Flint personal injury lawyers at Christopher Trainor & Associates for a free consultation with experienced legal counsel today at (248) 886-8650.
