What happens if your Uber gets in an accident depends on your actions in the moments, days, and weeks following the crash. If you seek prompt assistance from medical and legal professionals, you could:
- Receive all of the care you need to recover as fully as possible from your injuries—and, in the process, establish that they are connected to the Uber accident
- Find out whether the Uber driver, Uber itself, or another party was responsible for the accident
- File a case against all liable parties for the compensation you deserve based on your physical, financial, and emotional losses
Doctors and Lawyers Can Help After an Uber Accident
Whether you need to go to the ER or can wait to make an appointment with your primary care doctor, make sure you allow a medical professional to diagnose and treat your injuries. This way, you:
- Can find out the extent of your injuries and what treatments are available
- Create a paper trail showing that you sought treatment after the crash and that your injuries are connected to the Uber accident
- Save yourself unnecessary pain and suffering by receiving timely treatment
After consulting a doctor, you should consider consulting an attorney. A Maryland car accident lawyer in your area can help with all manner of legal tasks, including:
- Speaking to insurers on your behalf
- Investigating the collision to find out who was responsible and how much your injuries are worth
- Explaining how you can pursue damages from the at-fault party or parties
After that, what happens if your Uber gets in an accident is up to you. You have every right to take legal action against the responsible parties and ask them to compensate you for everything you have lost or expect to lose.
Liable Parties and Insurers in Uber Accidents
If you do decide to pursue legal action, an Uber accident attorney could be a big help. Uber accident cases are often more complicated than other types of traffic accident cases because:
- You would have to determine whether the driver’s insurer or Uber’s insurer is responsible for covering your damages.
- Both the driver and Uber might share responsibility for the accident, depending on how it happened. You would have to investigate the case thoroughly to figure out what percentage of blame to place on each party.
- A third party might have been involved in the crash if, for example, Uber malfunctioned due to a defective auto part. In this case, you would have to deal with the manufacturer and their insurer.
Make sure you find an attorney who has experience specifically with rideshare accident cases, not just traffic accident cases in general. As described above, Uber cases have many features that other kinds of cases do not. You want an attorney who will not have trouble guiding you through the legal process.
Filing Your Case in Time
Remember that you have only so much time to take action following an Uber accident. This time limit is called the statute of limitations.
Every state has its own statute of limitations, and many have more than one. For instance, according to Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code § 5-101, people injured in Maryland generally have three years to file a case. Your deadline may be shorter or longer, depending on:
- Where you live
- What kind of case did you file (personal injury versus wrongful death)
- Who do you intend to sue
Once the statute expires, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for your attorney to secure any compensation for you. The best way to protect your rights and interests is to start your case before:
- The deadline expires
- Witnesses forget the details of the event
- People start to delete crucial evidence, like photos or company records
Get on the road to recovery with competent legal representation and high-quality medical professionals. Contact our Maryland personal injury lawyer today.
Getting Compensation After an Uber Accident
Whoever the liable party is, it is likely that their insurance company will be reluctant to pay a fair settlement. They might try to derail your case by:
- Pushing you to record a statement about the accident, which they can then use to try to undermine your request for compensation
- Responding very slowly to your accident in the hopes of delaying your case until you give up
- Offering a token settlement that does not meet your needs
- Refusing to negotiate with you
- Telling you things that are not true, e.g., that your case would go faster if you do not hire a lawyer
What a Lawyer Can Do for You
Rather than try to fight Uber and the various insurers alone, you can hire a law firm to do the work for you. They can start off by:
- Educating you about your rights and how to respond if another party infringes on those rights
- Offering ideas on how you can seek compensation and what role they would play in your case
- Warning you about the challenges you might face and how the firm can help you overcome them
Then, your lawyer can fight your case while you get to relax with your family and concentrate on getting better. With an Uber accident lawyer at the helm, your case might follow these steps:
- Run the right calculations to determine how much compensation would be fair
- Negotiate with the insurer for a settlement—or take the liable party to court for a jury award
- Show evidence that proves you deserve what you have asked for, whether at the negotiating table or in the courtroom
- Completing any paperwork, such as a settlement agreement, that is necessary to close out your case
After an Uber accident, you can get all the damages you need to make a fresh start, but only if you take swift action to protect yourself by hiring an attorney.
Have You Been in an Uber Accident?
Being involved in any kind of accident can be scary and confusing, especially if, like with Uber accidents, there are complicating factors. Adam Smallow Injury Lawyers could help you by explaining what happens if your Uber gets in an accident and how you can recover the compensation you need. Contact us today to learn more at no charge.