Uber and other rideshare services have become incredibly popular across the country with over 36% of adults using them, and Bakersfield is no exception. Rather than fighting city traffic, you can sit back and relax while someone else drives you to your destination. Unfortunately, Ubering won’t guarantee your safety. In fact, studies suggest that Ubers have made roads more dangerous over the past few years.
If you’ve been involved in an Uber accident you shouldn’t have to suffer alone. You may have the right to hold the rideshare company and/or your driver responsible for your injuries. The Bakersfield personal injury lawyers at Bakersfield Personal Injury Law can help you fight for the money you deserve. Call our law firm today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and learn more.
Contents
- 1 How Our Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After Your Bakersfield Uber Accident
- 2 Common Uber Accident Injuries
- 3 Causes of Uber Accidents in Bakersfield
- 4 Recovering Compensation For Your Uber Accident Injuries
- 5 Damages Available to Uber Accident Victims in Bakersfield
- 6 Filing a Timely Uber Accident Claim
- 7 Call Our Bakersfield Attorneys For Help After Your Uber Accident
How Our Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After Your Bakersfield Uber Accident
Car accidents have the potential to cause severe and life-threatening injuries. Uber accidents are no exception. Your injuries can have overwhelming physical, emotional, and financial repercussions. You may find that it’s difficult to keep up with day-to-day expenses, let alone medical bills and other costs associated with your accident. Filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit can help you obtain the money you need as you get back on your feet. If you’ve been injured in an Uber accident in Los Angeles, contact our L.A. office for help.
Uber accident cases tend to be particularly complicated. While you can pursue compensation on your own, you risk not getting every dollar you deserve. Hiring an attorney to handle your case will put you in the best position to maximize your financial award.
Here’s why you should call our experienced attorneys for help with your Uber injury case:
- Insurance companies will do whatever they can to limit or deny the financial payout you deserve
- You may not realize that more than one person may be liable for your injuries
- It can be tough to know how much your Uber accident case is worth, and
- You may be blamed for your own injuries.
Our attorneys will protect you and your right to recover compensation after your Uber accident. We’ll be your biggest advocates, whether you were a passenger in the Uber or driving in another vehicle. Call our Bakersfield office to schedule your free case assessment today.
Common Uber Accident Injuries
Uber accident victims can suffer a wide range of injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Crushing injury
- Concussion
- Whiplash
- Brain injury
- Burns
- Spinal cord damage
- Degloving injury
- Back and neck injury
- Amputation
- Paralysis, and more.
Our attorneys are prepared to help you recover compensation for your Uber accident injuries. No case is too big or too small. Call our experienced legal team for help today. We’ll review your case and answer any questions you have.
Causes of Uber Accidents in Bakersfield
Studies suggest that Uber hasn’t made California’s roads safer. In fact, fatal accidents have only increased since Uber was first unveiled. When accidents aren’t fatal, the consequences can still be devastating.
Why are Uber accidents happening so frequently in Bakersfield? Experts believe that there are two primary reasons for the uptick in accidents involving Ubers.
First, Uber vehicles add to traffic and congestion in Bakersfield. The more cars there are on the road, the greater the chances of a collision.
Second, many individuals have ditched public transportation in favor of Uber and other rideshare services. As a result, there are not only more cars on the road, but more people in those cars.
However, just because there are more cars and people on the roads doesn’t mean that accidents will automatically occur. There are certain underlying factors and causes of the crashes themselves. Common causes of Uber crashes in Bakersfield include:
Distracted Driving: Uber drivers aren’t always paying attention to the road and traffic around them. Instead, they’re focused on the Uber app or navigation system. Other times, they’re engaged in lively conversation with passengers, which takes their concentration away from driving. Distracted driving is a leading cause of all car accidents, including those involving Ubers.
Inexperienced Drivers: Your Uber driver isn’t a professional. In fact, driving an Uber probably is probably just a way to earn some extra money. In order to be an Uber driver, a person just has to have a valid license, a vehicle, and a valid insurance policy. There’s no guarantee that your driver has a safe driving record or fully understands local traffic laws and customs.
Drunk Driving: You’d hope that your Uber driver is clean and sober behind the wheel. However, this isn’t always the case.
Aggressive Driving: More than 4.3 million miles are driven in Bakersfield every day. With each passing year, traffic and congestion are just getting worse. Many drivers, including those operating Ubers, become impatient and engage in aggressive driving practices. Speeding, changing lanes without signaling, failing to yield the right of way, and racing through intersections are all contributing factors to Bakersfield Uber accidents.
Illegal Turns and Stops: You can request an Uber from anywhere. When a driver accepts a ride request, they’re not given a passenger’s specific location. Instead, they have a general idea of where that passenger is waiting to be picked up. Accidents tend to happen when drivers are more focused on finding and getting to a passenger, rather than paying attention to traffic. The drivers may stop suddenly in traffic, park at the corner of a busy intersection, or make a risky or illegal turn to get to a passenger. These behaviors can cause serious accidents.
Other Drivers: Uber drivers aren’t always to blame for an accident. Remember, they’re sharing the road with other vehicles and drivers. When another driver is distracted, drunk, fatigued, or aggressive, accidents can happen. Those accidents can involve Ubers.
Recovering Compensation For Your Uber Accident Injuries
Anyone injured in an Uber accident may have the right to obtain compensation. This includes Uber passengers, Uber drivers, passengers and drivers in other vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. There are two ways you can pursue the money you deserve. The first involves filing an insurance claim for benefits, while the second involves filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Uber Accident Insurance Claim
In California, insurance benefits are the primary source of compensation after any traffic accident.
Uber’s Insurance: Uber is required, by law, to carry at least $1 Million in insurance to cover the cost of an accident involving one of its drivers. This insurance policy is active whenever the driver has accepted a ride request and/or is engaged in an active ride with a passenger. If you’re involved in an Uber accident, you can submit a claim to recover benefits from Uber’s commercial insurance policy.
Uber Driver’s Insurance: Uber drivers are also required to purchase and carry their own personal insurance policy. This policy will typically be in effect whenever the Uber driver is:
- Not logged into the Uber app
- Waiting for a ride request
- Driving for personal or non-Uber related purposes.
Third Party Insurance: Uber drivers aren’t always to blame for an accident. Remember, they’re sharing the road with other vehicles and drivers. When another driver is distracted, drunk, fatigued, or aggressive, accidents can happen. Those accidents can involve Ubers. If a negligent third party driver causes your accident, you can submit a claim to recover benefits from that driver’s insurance policy.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage: What happens when your Uber driver or a negligent third party isn’t covered by insurance? If you own a vehicle of your own, you may have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. You may be able to recover benefits from your own policy.
Uber Accident Injury Lawsuit
Filing an insurance claim may not always work out in your best interest. When this happens, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against Uber, your Uber driver, or another negligent third party. You may consider filing an Uber accident lawsuit if:
- There are disputes over fault and liability
- The cost of your injuries exceed what’s covered by insurance, or
- Insurance companies simply refuse to negotiate a fair settlement.
Need help crafting an insurance claim or filing a lawsuit after your Bakersfield Uber accident? Contact Bakersfield Personal Injury Law for immediate legal assistance. Our attorneys are prepared to make sure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries. Call today to learn more.
Damages Available to Uber Accident Victims in Bakersfield
The costs of an Uber accident can be overwhelming. Medical bills can add up quickly. If you’re forced to miss time at work, losing your income for even a short period of time can make a tough situation worse. Filing a lawsuit or insurance claim can help you get the money you need during and after your recovery.
You may be able to obtain compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Property damage
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
Since 2005, our Bakersfield injury lawyers have recovered millions in compensation for our injured clients. We can help you get the financial compensation you need after your Uber accident. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation and learn more.
Filing a Timely Uber Accident Claim
You’ll only have a limited amount of time to ask for compensation after your Uber accident. You can be prevented from getting the money you deserve if you wait too long to file your injury claim. The time you’ll have will depend on whether you decide to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit.
Uber Insurance Claim: Insurance companies reserve the right to deny your request for benefits if you don’t submit your claim within a reasonable amount of time after your accident. What’s considered “reasonable” will vary with each insurer. Protect your claim by notifying the insurance company about the accident as soon as you can.
Uber Lawsuit: California law imposes a strict statute of limitations on all personal injury cases. Most Uber accident claims must be filed within two years of the date of your accident. However, you may have additional time to pursue compensation if there is a reasonable delay in discovering your injury.
You can protect your right to obtain compensation by contacting Bakersfield Personal Injury Law immediately after your Uber accident. Our attorneys will get to work on your case right away. If you call right away, we’ll work to make sure that a legal technicality doesn’t stand between you and the money you deserve.
Call Our Bakersfield Attorneys For Help After Your Uber Accident
An Uber accident can inflict severe physical, emotional, and financial injuries. You don’t have to deal with these consequences on your own. You may have the right to obtain compensation from Uber or a negligent driver. Our Bakersfield Uber accident lawyers can help you assert your legal rights.
We’ve been fighting for accident victims across California for more than 17 years. Contact our office today to find out how we can help you after your Bakersfield Uber accident. Your first consultation is free, so do not hesitate to call our office for assistance today.