A New Type Of Accident Claim in an Uber World
Ride sharing is on the rise, and unfortunately so are related accidents. While Uber, Lyft and other ride sharing, taxi or carpool services fill a need in today’s society – we also need to ensure our laws change to keep up with the times!
There are several ways individuals can be involved in Uber accidents;
- You were in an Uber or car from a ride share app, and an accident occurred
- You were in another vehicle, and you were hit by an Uber driver
- You were a pedestrian struck by an Uber driver
In the case of Uber and other similar ride apps, we have unlimited options at our fingertips. Unfortunately, for drivers and passengers, this can be a dangerous game. Drivers are actually independent contractors who use their personal vehicles for financial gain.. This can be contrary to their insurance policies in many cases. Further, whether or not an active Uber ride is occurring can also impact the situation.
To combat this, Uber has a $1 million dollar umbrella-type liability policy, that extends beyond the drivers’ coverage. There is also coverage in place for when the driver is not actively transporting a passenger, as a result of tragic cases in California and New York.
Now your accident and injury has become increasingly more complicated. What do you do next?
If you were involved in an Uber accident, start with these 4 steps.
- Get immediate medical attention
- Document everything as best as possible, or ask a loved one for help
- Call a lawyer. If you were injured in the accident in any way, it is best to consult a lawyer immediately
- Do not accept any offers or make any declarations. Follow the user recommended instructions as provided by Uber.
“Who’s Driving You” a self proclaimed public awareness campaign, highlights the dangers and extreme incidents that have resulted from Uber and Lyft drivers around the globe. Although not much different than the individual we trusted to drive our limos, buses and taxi cabs – The Uber world certainly brings another element to the table.
Uber and similar ride sharing apps have absolutely changed the landscape. It is not often that technology of this magnitude is released and scales so quickly! This can further complicate the situation. Uber has no claim or report number and doesn’t even call themselves a taxi or transportation service.
If you or someone you love was involved in an Uber car accident, call my offices immediately. As your Ohio car accident attorney, I’ll be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
Author: Tim Misny | For over four decades, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus, Dayton and neighboring communities. You can reach Tim by email at misnylaw.com/ask-tim-a-question/ or call at 877.944.4373.