Northridge Uber Accident Lawyer

Since its founding in San Francisco in 2009, Uber has become a household name and now boasts over 91 million active consumers each month and 3.9 million drivers who complete 14 million trips each day. With so many drivers on the road, the company actively supports safe driving habits, but unfortunately not everyone listens. Having so many Uber drivers on the roads means things inevitably go wrong; but that doesn’t make the aftermath of an Uber accident any easier for victims to know who may be liable for their damages and whose insurance pays when the driver is on the clock.

The skilled Northridge Uber accident lawyers at Walch Law have seen countless cases just like yours and understand the process of establishing liability and communicating with insurance companies. We’re here to answer all your questions and show you why we are the team that can recover the most possible money for the harm you’ve suffered. Contact us right away to learn more about the process and get started on the road to recovery.

Risks of Uber Accidents in Northridge

Northridge is conveniently boxed between the busy 405, 118, 101, and 27 freeways, giving residents easy access to the rest of the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles metro area’s restaurants, bars, parks, beaches, and hiking trails. The difficult parking situation at many of these destinations combined with the high cost of fuel and car ownership make it no surprise Unfortunately, the close proximity to these freeways also means the risk of high-speed car accidents is high, as Uber drivers (and their riders) must generally brave one of these massive roadways to get to their destination. The additional vehicles further contribute to the risk of accidents simply by adding more vehicles to the city’s busy streets and nearby freeways. Despite their advocacy for safe driving, Uber reported 58 fatal crashes in a single year and refused to disclose what is likely a much higher instance of injury to driver, passengers, or other motorists.

Who Pays My Damages?

The issue of who is responsible for compensating you for your damages is understandably a confusing issue given the number of parties involved. Uber has clarified when its insurance applies as well as the coverage amounts that apply to accidents involving their drivers. They also mandate all Uber drivers keep current personal auto insurance.

Driver is Off-Duty

Unless the driver is logged into their Uber app and can be hired for rideshares, Uber’s insurance doesn’t cover any accident-related damages. The driver’s own insurance must pay for the damages incurred up to policy limits, and the driver must pay their own deductible.

Driver is Logged on but Hasn’t Accepted a Ride Request

In this case, Uber’s insurance coverage applies if an accident occurs. The policy limits on damages are:

• $50,000 bodily injury coverage per person
• $100,000 liability for total injuries per crash, and
• $25,000 property damage.

Even though Uber covers damages to passengers and other motorists, the driver must go through their personal insurance for vehicle damages or injuries they sustained.

Driver Has Picked Up Their Passenger and Heading to The Destination

Here, Uber provides a higher level of insurance coverage in the event of an accident. The policy covers up to:

• $1 million total liability
• $1 million bodily injuries
• The Uber driver’s vehicle damages, but only if the driver carries either comprehensive or collision coverage on their personal insurance policy at the time of the accident.
• Uber also provides their driver with uninsured motorist coverage at this stage in the ride.

Steps to Take After an Uber Accident

The moments after an accident are confusing, traumatic, and emotionally charged, and you may not know what to do next. However, it’s important you take some simple steps that can help establish fault, protect your health, and give your claim for compensation a boost.

• Call 911 if there are any injuries or property damages. Notify the appropriate law enforcement agency and cooperate with responding officers so they can complete a thorough accident report.
• Notify your insurer but decline to give a recorded statement. Also, remember you only need to identify yourself to the claims representative, give your policy information, and notify them an accident occurred when you report the claim – you aren’t required to give any other information.
• Seek medical care as soon as possible even if you believe you weren’t hurt. Some injuries may not present symptoms at first but can worsen and become life threatening if not diagnosed and treated.
• Gather important evidence at the scene, such as taking photographs of the vehicles, scene, and any indication of fault such as skid marks.
• Get contact information from all witnesses, drivers, and the officers present at the scene.
• Exchange license and insurance information with all drivers.
• Avoid giving recorded statements to anyone, do not admit fault or say you are sorry, and don’t comment about the collision, your health, or the other drivers on social media.

Contact a Lawyer to Get Started Today

Uber accidents often result in life-changing damages for injury victims. Not only is it common to be physically and emotionally hurt, victims often end up even more pain when they see astronomical medical bills piling up or can’t return to work and earn a living. The skilled Northridge Uber accident lawyers at Walch Law understand that you need a check and closure as soon as possible. That’s why we start to fight on your behalf the moment we’re hired. We know getting justice and the maximum possible compensation can get your life back on track, so we’ll work get results quickly. Robert and Gary have more than 45 years of experience delivers success for clients at a rate of over 95+%, so call today to learn more.

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