With more than 91 million active monthly riders to its credit, Uber has become a giant among rideshare providers and a household name. Though the company has a history of promoting safe driving among its own drivers and to the general public, not everyone takes the message to heart. If injuries you suffered in an Uber accident have left you confused about the next steps to take, the San Fernando Uber accident lawyers at Walch Law can help you navigate the insurance claims and legal process. We will fight for you to receive fair compensation as quickly as possible so you can move forward with your recovery. Contact us today to get started.
Is San Fernando a High-Risk Area for Uber Accidents?San Fernando is a small, 2.37 square mile city of 24,000 residents between Burbank and Northridge and just northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The city’s location and its proximity to the massive, congested 5, 118, 210, and 405 freeways gives residents and visitors easy access to destinations within the city and allows quick trips to neighboring towns. Uber is a convenient way for riders to visit the San Fernando Brewing Company responsibly, avoid resorting to inconvenient public transportation to get to remote destinations like Limekiln Canyon Park, and escape the need to search for scarce parking around downtown and in other crowded neighborhoods. However, Uber’s popularity also adds a large number of additional cars to the area’s highways and city streets – this correlates to an increase in accident risks and undoubtedly contributes to the 122 victims reported injured and killed in car accidents in a year in San Fernando. Uber itself even reported its drivers’ involvement in 58 fatal crashes within a year’s time.
Determining Who Pays for Uber Accident DamagesIf you are an Uber passenger who is hurt in a car accident, Uber or another party’s insurance company should compensate you for your damages. Who ultimately pays depends on when the crash occurred. Uber requires its drivers to keep current personal auto insurance. If a driver is not logged into the Uber app, their personal insurance pays for any damages to the vehicles involved and any injuries if the driver was at-fault.
When an Uber driver logs on to the app, however, Uber offers “contingent liability” coverage for damages if its driver causes an accident. This means the driver must first file a claim through their own insurer and be denied before Uber’s policy kicks in to provide coverage. The amount of coverage is dependent upon the duties the driver is performing at the time the accident took place.
Period 1: Driver is Logged into the Uber App and Available, but Not Matched with a RiderAt this point, the Uber driver is not covered if they suffer injuries or vehicle damage in an accident. They must rely on their personal insurance policy. Any other injury victim – whether it’s another motorist, a pedestrian, or biker – may be covered for damages under Uber’s insurance up to:
The Uber driver still doesn’t have a passenger in their vehicle, but they are now acting at Uber’s direction by driving to pick up a rider. An accident victim during this stage of a driver’s duties receives enhanced coverage from Uber – the total liability limit increases to $1 million from $100,000.
Period 3: From the Time the Driver Has Picked Up a Rider Under They End the Trip on the AppUber’s coverage increases once more during this stage of a trip. Damages from any accident with a passenger in the vehicles may be covered by:
If you’re injured in an Uber accident, you know firsthand the physical, emotional, and financial headaches that can result from fighting with insurance companies to get a fair settlement while trying to recover from injuries and deal with mounting expenses resulting from the crash. The skilled San Fernando Uber accident lawyers at Walch Law understand how much you would benefit from the financial relief and closure of a stressful chapter in your life, so we’ll work to get you greatest possible amount of compensation as soon as you hire us. Get in touch with us today to learn more about lawsuits and the recovery process, see how our 98% success rate over 45 years of practice can benefit you, and get started today.