Thanks to Uber rideshare vehicles, you no longer have to call a taxi, friend, or family member to pick you up and drive you somewhere. With an app on your smartphone, you can book an Uber ride in seconds.
As the popularity of rideshares continues to grow, there are more Uber drivers on the road. This growth in unregulated drivers increases the chances for Uber car accidents. If you’ve been hurt in an Uber car accident, call a Houma Uber accident lawyer for a free consultation.
Uber Rideshare Risks
Uber rideshares offer convenience, but there are associated safety risks. These may be caused by continual distractions, long hours spent behind the wheel, and unintentional carelessness on the part of the Uber driver. An Uber car accident can result in physical injuries for the passenger. A secondary risk is the roadworthiness of the Uber vehicle itself.
Vehicles must undergo periodic inspections for other ride-for-hire businesses like limousines or taxis. Inspections for Uber vehicles, however, are not required in all states. The drivers of limousines and taxis must also submit to random alcohol and drug testing. This is not always true for all Uber drivers.
Uber Car Insurance
Limousine and taxi services carry comprehensive car insurance to protect the company if a car accident occurs and a passenger is injured. If you’re injured as a passenger during a car crash in a limo or taxi, it’s usually a straightforward process to seeking compensation for your pain and suffering.
Insurance coverage is very different regarding an Uber rideshare vehicle. Suppose you are injured while a passenger in an Uber vehicle — how will you figure out which insurance company is liable for compensating you? Is it Uber, the Uber driver, the other motorist, or where the municipality the car crash occurred?
Uber is not the same as booking a ride with a taxi or limo service. Transportations Network Companies (TNCs), as rideshare companies are technically known, aren’t as heavily regulated. Rideshare companies like Uber consider the people who drive for them to be independent contractors, while taxi and limousine companies consider their drivers as their employees.
Uber Liability
Uber treats their drivers as independent contractors, which creates a vague and distant relationship between Uber and its drivers. Rideshare companies like Uber have done something very cunning to distance themselves from as much liability as possible. They claim they only facilitate fares, meaning they are just the middleman and not the ride provider.
This is Uber saying that once you’ve used their app to request a ride, they have nothing to do with the situation. However, courts have been ruling against this stance taken by Uber.
For a free legal consultation with a uber accident lawyer serving Houma, call (337) 777-7777
Rideshare Safety Tips
- Call 911 immediately if your Uber driver threatens you or in any way makes you feel uncomfortable
- Never rideshare alone if you are female
- Don’t give your driver too much information about yourself.
- Share your route with friends, coworkers, and family members that use the Uber app ERA feature, so they know where you are and that you’re on your way. Any deviation from the route by your driver and will know
- Snap a picture of your driver and immediately send it to someone you trust before getting in the Uber vehicle
No matter what kind of injury you experience as a passenger in an Uber rideshare vehicle, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers has a staff of lawyers who will treat you with dignity and respect. They will not stop working for you until justice is served and you are duly compensated.
Houma Uber Accident Lawyer Near Me (337) 777-7777
Uber Driver Auto Insurance
Uber drivers do have their own cars insured, as all private citizens do. However, many don’t purchase commercial policies that cover Uber passengers should there be an accident. When an Uber rideshare vehicle is involved in a car accident, the Uber driver’s insurance company may deny compensation to the injured passenger because the driver did not purchase commercial car insurance.
Seeking damages for compensation can become a tangled web. In many instances, you may need an accident lawyer to get you the financial compensation for which you are eligible.
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When Is Uber Liable for an Accident?
The rideshare industry is still relatively new. As issues arise, they are addressed by state governments with the drafting of new statutes or adding on to existing ones.
Currently, Uber drivers are still considered independent contractors and not Uber employees. Uber’s noteworthy stance is that it is not responsible for any mistakes made by Uber rideshare drivers. But to hedge its bets, Uber does carry a $1 million insurance policy for any Uber car accident caused by an Uber driver.
Suppose you are a passenger in an Uber vehicle during an accident and are injured. In that case, if your physical injuries and property damage are greater than the Uber driver’s liability coverage, you can file a claim against the Uber company’s insurance policy. However, keep in mind that it’s always possible the driver’s insurance company will deny any payout at all because the driver was using his vehicle in a commercial capacity.
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Call a Houma Uber Accident Lawyer Today
Any physical injury or death resulting from an Uber accident requires the at-fault driver to be held legally responsible for their negligent driving. Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers have a solid reputation for our noteworthy performance on behalf of our clients.
Call a Houma Uber accident lawyer for a free consultation. Our staff will assess your case and advise you on options for filing an insurance claim.
Call or text (337) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
