Many people assume we are safe from accidents if we are riding in a shared public transportation vehicle such as Uber. The reality is that accidents involving Uber and other rideshare vehicles happen all the time, and they can result in serious injuries.
If you have been injured in an accident involving an Uber driver in California and suffered losses, you might naturally wonder if you can sue Uber. The short answer is that it depends on the circumstances of the crash and who was to blame.
Uber accident claims can involve multiple parties and insurance claims, and they can be complex and challenging. To make sure that you receive full compensation for your Uber accident and injuries, contact a qualified rideshare accident attorney right away.
Who Do You Sue for an Uber Accident?
Because Uber drivers are independent contractors and not employees of Uber, you cannot automatically sue Uber directly if one of their drivers causes an accident and injuries to others. The principles of vicarious liability do not apply to Uber accidents as they would to an employee-driver who causes a crash.
However, even though these Uber drivers are independent contractors, they are all covered under Uber’s insurance policy for certain accidents. This means that in specific situations, you can file an insurance claim or lawsuit to seek compensation directly from Uber’s insurer. This is important since Uber must carry a $1 million policy under California law, and the individual driver’s policy is likely much less. Uber’s policy comes into play when a driver has accepted or is in the course of an active ride.
Some Uber accidents are not the fault of the Uber driver at all, but instead, a driver in another vehicle is the at-fault party. In this case, you would have to seek compensation from the negligent driver, and you would not recover from Uber or the Uber driver.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an Uber accident, it is a good idea to talk to an experienced Uber accident lawyer to make sure you obtain full monetary compensation for your injuries. Such compensation might be for:
- Medical expenses. Past, present, and future medical expenses
- Pain and suffering. Recovering from an accident can be a difficult and frustrating process, and this is doubly worse the longer it takes to recover. This often causes pain and suffering for those who have been injured, and to help cope with this, the law provides for one to be compensated for the pain and suffering.
- Lost wages. The law provides for compensation if you have lost wages or earnings because of the accident in which you were injured.
- Diminished capacity to earn in the future. If you suffered injuries from an Uber accident, then you may likely be unable to work for a long time, or you may find yourself forced to work in a lower-paying job when you return to work.
The right personal injury attorney can file claims with all the necessary insurance companies to seek the full amount you deserve for your losses.
