Los Angeles Uber Accident Lawyer

Let’s face it, Los Angeles traffic is among the worst in the world. And even though you live just a few miles from where you work, that relatively short stretch along Rosecrans into downtown L.A. can sometimes take up to an hour! You still need a car to get just about anywhere in the city, but you’ve decided to use Uber for your daily commute. While it doesn’t make your commute any quicker, time is money and you can use that time catching up on email and making morning phone calls to clients and maybe cutting down on the stress that comes with being in the drivers seat.

But what happens when your Uber driver gets into an accident and you’re injured? Or, when you are driving your own car, how do you file a claim when you’re injured by a careless Uber driver? These scenarios can be quite complicated at times, especially when you consider the multiple parties involved and the fact that Uber drivers are not employees in the legal sense.

It’s not a bad idea to get a handle on these issues before an accident happens, but it’s crucial that you speak with an experienced Los Angeles Uber accident lawyer at Walch Law if it ever does happen. We have gotten our Uber accident clients maximum payments for their injuries and will do the same for you. The following is a summary of how liability is determined in Uber accidents, how coverage typically works, and some challenges that are unique to Uber claims.

After any automobile accident, your first priority should always be safety. If you’re out in the middle of traffic and you’re able to move your vehicle safely to the side of the road, then do so. Make sure anyone who needs immediate first aid is taken care of, and be sure not to move someone who may have a spinal injury. It’s also advised that you call the police to get an official report and, if necessary, emergency care (911).

Regardless of whether the accident involved a rideshare service, you’ll want to take note of the following information (as long as you’re not seriously injured):

• Names and contact information of any drivers involved in the accident
• License plate numbers and descriptions of all vehicles involved
• Insurance information

Whether you’re an Uber passenger or were hit by an Uber driver, make sure you check the following if you can. It will help your Los Angeles Uber accident lawyer with your claim:

• Is the driver logged into their Uber app? If not, it will affect how your claim is handled.
• Supposing the driver was logged in and searching for riders, then Uber provides up to $50,000 per person in injury liability ($100,000 per incident) and up to $30,000 in property damage coverage.
• Drivers that have accepted a ride and are on their way or who have passengers in the vehicle are covered by Uber for up to $1 million in liability coverage.
• Uber’s First Notice of Loss or Trip/Data Verification page allows you to verify the trip (you’ll enter the Uber driver’s name and other details).
• File an accident report with Uber.

Your attorney will be able to help you sort all of this out for you since we know how hectic the time after an accident can be. If you were too seriously injured to obtain all of this information, there should be some record or records of the accident from which to piece it together.

One of the reasons it’s so important to work with a Los Angeles accident attorney before accepting a settlement offer is because insurance companies have no incentive to write you a big check. They’re in the business of making a tidy profit, so they may offer a quick settlement offer in order to close the case quickly and keep payments low. And while Uber does provide liability coverage for passengers and third parties, attorneys are best suited to work out the arrangements among the various parties involved.

Some of the more widely reported problems people have reported in about claims for injuries involving an Uber driver (whether as passengers or other motorists) include, but aren’t limited to, the following:

• Denial of claim (regardless of evidence suggesting the driver’s fault)
• Failure to reply to claims or questions about claims
• Low settlement offers
• Downplaying the seriousness of the injury or claiming the injury was a preexisting condition

Because of the complexities discussed above, in addition to the usual advantages of legal counsel when filing injury claims, it’s advised that you work with a Los Angeles Uber accident lawyer instead of handling it on your own. A skilled attorney will know the ins and outs of the process and can help you properly assess the extent of your injuries. Call the experienced legal experts at the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, a Law Corporation to learn more. Unlike Uber, have your best interests in mind and will work hard to get you the most for your injuries and other damages following an Uber accident. Get in touch with us today to schedule your obligation-free consultation and we can answer your questions about the process, tell you how we can help and much more.