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You might feel safe riding in an Uber, but just how trustworthy is your driver? Suspicious hiring practices, lack of driver training, and a reputation for escaping accident liability put riders at risk when taking Ubers in San Bernardino. It may be difficult to receive fair and full compensation from Uber’s insurance company – especially if you don’t hire legal representation.
The San Bernardino Uber accident lawyers at DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo have experience going up against major corporations and their insurance companies in California. We understand how Uber’s insurance policy operates and how to negotiate with their claims adjusters. We are confident we can obtain the best possible results for injured accident victims through our unwavering commitment to the client. Contact us to learn about your case through a free legal consultation.
One of the first questions most Uber accident victims ask is, “Who will cover my damages?” If you were a rideshare passenger at the time of your crash, Uber’s $1 million insurance policy should step in to pay for your accident-related medical bills, lost income, and property damage. As an Uber driver, damage recovery comes with stricter limits. Uber expects your personal vehicle insurance company to cover your damages, at least in part, after an at-fault accident.
If you’re logged into the Uber driver app and waiting for a ride request, Uber’s insurance will cover your liability to a third party if you cause an at-fault accident. This can include another driver or a pedestrian. Uber will cover at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for third-party property damage. Your own insurance may also cover damages. Uber will not cover your damages if you were not logged into the app at the time of the accident, even if you were about to sign on and start taking riders.
If you were a third-party driver, bicyclist, or pedestrian and an Uber driver struck you, Uber’s insurance should cover your damages as long as you were not at fault. It is up to you to file a claim with Uber’s insurance company and report your damages. If the company believes you were partially at fault or if you miss a deadline or filing requirement, Uber might deny your claim. Contact our San Bernardino Uber accident lawyers for any questions you might have about Uber’s insurance after a rideshare accident.
Individuals should be able to recover various types of compensation if they are injured in an Uber accident caused by the actions of either the Uber driver or another driver on the roadway. At DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo, our team works diligently to ensure that clients recover compensation to make them whole, which includes working to secure economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are also referred to as special damages, and this revolves around expenses that we can calculate by gathering various receipts, bills, and invoices that come in after an injury occurs. Some of the most common types of economic damages include coverage of medical bills, physical therapy, prescription medications, lost income, various out-of-pocket expenses, and more.
Non-economic damages, sometimes referred to as general damages, are not as easy to calculate as the economic costs mentioned above. These types of losses revolve around more immeasurable damages, such as physical pain and suffering, emotional and psychological trauma, loss of quality of life, and more.
The total amount of compensation paid to San Bernardino Uber accident victims will vary depending on circumstances related to each particular situation. Factors such as the severity of the injury, the level of property damage, the measurable amount of pain and suffering, and more can all alter how much compensation a person receives.
Determining after an Uber accident occurs in San Bernardino is not necessarily an easy process. These cases get complicated due to the sheer number of parties involved after the fact. Determining liability involves gathering as much evidence as possible in order to facilitate the investigation. Some of the main types of evidence used to determine fault after an Uber crash include:
Determining how an Uber accident occurred is critically important, regardless of whether or not an Uber driver caused the incident. Often, there are implications of shared fault between an Uber driver and other parties involved in the incident. Even though this should not affect how much compensation you receive as an injury victim in the Uber vehicle, it will matter as the insurance carriers work to approve your claim.
Uber accident victims in San Bernardino should file their claim as quickly as they can. The insurance carriers involved in the case need to know about the claim fairly soon after the incident occurs. In fact, we recommend reporting the incident through the uber app on the same day it happened, while also letting your personal auto insurance carrier know the incident occurred (if you have an insurance carrier).
If you need to file a personal injury lawsuit against an alleged negligent party, you must do so within two years from the date the injury occurs. This two-year time frame is established through the personal injury statute of limitations in California, and failing to file a lawsuit within this time frame will almost certainly result in the claim being dismissed, leaving the injury victim unable to recover any compensation.
The aftermath of any accident can be confusing, particularly one involving an Uber vehicle in San Bernardino. There are various steps that crash victims can take both immediately following the crash and in the weeks following to help ensure they recover full compensation for their losses.
It is not uncommon for insurance carriers to try to settle a claim by paying less compensation than they should. An insurance carrier may wish to make a quick settlement, particularly if fault for the incident is relatively clear.
But should you speak to the insurance carrier about a settlement offer?
The vast majority of vehicle accident claims are resolved through settlements with insurance carriers, but that does not mean the insurance carrier is looking out for your best interests. We strongly encourage you to have an Uber accident lawyer in San Bernardino speak to the insurance carriers on your behalf so they can negotiate a fair settlement. Anything you say to the insurance carriers could come back to hurt your claim. An attorney will know how to speak to the insurance carriers without jeopardizing your claim.
Crash claims involving an Uber driver are complex. Since the claim involves a company and one of its independent contractors, injured parties might not know where to turn for damage recovery. Uber extends insurance coverage in some situations, but may not offer enough to fully cover your damages. In other cases, Uber might try to shirk responsibility for the accident entirely, leaving victims to figure out how they will pay for their bills on their own.
It’s important that you hire an Uber accident attorney after a San Bernardino Uber accident. The lawyers at DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo can immediately go to work on your case after your initial phone call. We’ll investigate your Uber accident, gaining access to police reports and medical records. Our investigators can preserve and collect important evidence, such as the Uber driver’s cell phone records and driving history.
When you hire our San Bernardino car accident attorneys, we can first find out what insurance period applies to the accident and make sure there is enough available coverage for crash victims. Next, we’ll help you secure maximum compensation through aggressive claim negotiation tactics. We have experience going head-to-head with major corporations and their insurance companies. We won’t hesitate to take your case to trial if that’s what it takes for the best possible results. Find out more about our Uber accident services – contact us today at (909) 436-4610.
