How a Rideshare Accident Attorney Will Maximize Your Uber Accident Settlement
35 percent of Las Vegas visitors prefer using ridesharing services. Only 19 percent of visitors opt for taxi cabs. It’s hard to believe that it took less than 10 years for the ridesharing industry to overrun an industry that has existed for almost a century. What’s the secret? Ultimate convenience and cost-effectiveness. Learn how a Las Vegas Uber Accident Lawyer can help you out.
You can call an Uber anywhere, any place, and at any time. No struggle to hail a car on a busy street or worry about parking challenges. It’s the best form of on-demand transport available in the market.
However, you’re still vulnerable to accidents in one of the busiest cities in America. In fact, you may be more vulnerable considering Uber drivers are usually not as well-trained as taxi cab drivers. A lot of Uber drivers are simply doing this gig part-time.
There are over 5,200 rideshare drivers operating in Las Vegas. Their number has rapidly grown over the past few years, which has led to a spike in ridesharing accidents.
Many Uber and Lyft drivers do this gig part-time. They aren’t as professionally trained as taxi cab drivers. So it’s not surprising to see them struggle to cope with the busy Las Vegas streets.
And if you get into an accident with an Uber driver, you may qualify for multiple avenues of compensation for your damages. It’s not going to be easy with multiple parties involved who will challenge your claim. A reputed Las Vegas Uber accident lawyer will protect your rights and secure the settlement you deserve.
The Impact of Rideshare Services in Las Vegas
The digital revolution has paved the way for the gig economy to create millions of new jobs. People can take up multiple part-time gigs to make extra money by working the hours they want.
You can use your car to generate value for a change. Travelers can easily find a ride within minutes to reach their destination.
Here are the pros of ridesharing services:
- You can find a ride in most cities at any place and at any time
- It’s easier to avoid drunk driving situations by finding a safe ride home
- They offer competitive rates for their services
- Ridesharing platforms like Uber and Lyft can potentially cover your accident injuries
Here are the cons of ridesharing services:
- The prices may surge heavily when there’s high demand for vehicles in your area
- Drivers may not be too experienced
- Ridesharing companies may give you a tough time denying or resisting your insurance claim if you get into an accident
Anthem Injury Lawyers: Your Rideshare Accident Allies
Although you may be eligible for multiple sources of compensation when many parties are involved in an accident, they’re all going to actively oppose you. Even your own insurer isn’t really on your side. They are only trying to protect their profits. And if you don’t have the legal know-how to see through their tricks, you may end up with a poor settlement.
Your rideshare accident lawyer is the only one whose interests are tied to yours. They will deal with all the legal burden of protecting you from liability and getting you a comfortable settlement.
Anthem’s Las Vegas rideshare accident lawyers have a proven track record of helping several Uber accident victims get fully compensated.
We know how distressing the consequences of serious injuries are. You don’t have the time, energy, or expertise to take up a complicated legal battle when you can barely get out of bed. Don’t worry! We’ll cover every step from filing your claim to winning your settlement. You just focus on making a comfortable recovery while we recover a comfortable settlement for you.
Call us today for a free consultation for your rideshare accident case. Worried about the burden of legal fees? We’ve got that covered too. You won’t have to pay us anything unless we win your settlement.
Proven Steps to Handle Rideshare Accidents
Here are the essential steps your lawyer will take to build your Uber injury claim:
- Determining fault and establishing liability – It’s possible that Uber, third-party maintenance companies, the vehicle manufacturer, or other parties may share some liability for your accident. Your lawyer will identify their role and extent of fault by leading a thorough investigation of your Uber accident. It will involve eyewitnesses, experts, reports, hiring and maintenance records.
- Precise valuation of claims – You need to maintain a clear record of your medical expenses and other damages related to the accident. Your lawyer will use these details to accurately present your claim.
- Negotiating with insurers for fair compensation – Your lawyer will evaluate your coverage and ensure insurance adjusters don’t take advantage of you. Adjusters often try to trick or intimidate you to sabotage your claim so they can avoid paying you. A skillful rideshare accident lawyer can help you get 3-4 times more money than what insurers will offer you without any legal representation.
- Safeguarding legal rights and minimizing blame – Multiple parties will try to counter your claim by trying to hold you liable for the accident. Your lawyer will ensure you don’t say or sign anything that can be used against you. They know how to preserve your legal rights and protect you from undue blame.
The Spectrum of Liability in Rideshare Accidents
Nevada is a fault state that makes any party that played a role in causing the accident liable for paying damages to victims. However, the modified comparative negligence standard plays an equally vital role in determining your final settlement. It’s built on a simple principle – your compensation depends on your share of liability. You can only seek compensation if you share no more than 50 percent of the fault for the accident.
There could be multiple parties potentially liable for rideshare accidents, such as:
- Your Uber driver
- The other drivers involved in the crash
- Uber
- Cyclists
- Pedestrians
- Maintenance companies
- Government authorities
- Your vehicle manufacturer
Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents
Driver negligence accounts for a significant portion of traffic accidents. These errors can range from simple distractions, such as using a cell phone while driving, to more serious mistakes, like driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Distracted driving – Operating a vehicle while engaging in any activity that takes the driver’s attention away from the road is dangerous. Common forms of distraction include cell phone use, eating, drinking, talking to passengers, and adjusting music or navigation systems.
- Speeding – Driving a vehicle faster than the posted speed limit or driving too fast for road conditions is a reckless behavior that increases the risk of car accidents. The City of Las Vegas typically sets a fine for speeding.
- Drunk driving – Under Nevada DUI laws, it is a crime to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and drugs or with a BAC of 0.08%. Depending on the offense, the at-fault driver may receive a fine, jail or prison time, and a license suspension, among other penalties.
- Failure to yield – A driver’s failure to allow another vehicle or pedestrian the right of way when required by law is considered a moving violation in many jurisdictions.
- Drowsy driving – When someone is driving for an extended period, their reaction time will be significantly slower, possibly leading to dangerous situations.
- Tailgating – Following a vehicle too closely often results in limited space for the front car to maneuver or react to sudden stops. This aggressive and dangerous driving behavior can increase the likelihood of a rear-end collision and is considered a traffic violation in most jurisdictions.
Uber Insurance Coverage
Uber offers an attractive $1 million insurance policy for ridesharing accident victims. However, getting access to it is not as easy as you think. You must meet highly specific clauses laid out in their policy’s terms and conditions to qualify for it.
Your driver’s status at the time of the accident plays a great role in activating this coverage.
Here are a few possible scenarios that you might encounter:
- The driver was offline – You can’t file a claim against Uber’s coverage in this case. You’ll have to seek compensation through the driver’s auto insurance.
- The driver was waiting – You can get liability coverage up to $50,000 per person and $100,000 total liability per accident.
- The driver had accepted the ride request and was about to pick you up – You can file a claim against Uber’s $1 million liability coverage.
- You were in the car while the driver was completing your trip – You can access liability coverage of up to $1 million, limited coverage for the driver’s car damages, and uninsured motorist coverage.
Immediate Actions After an Uber Accident
Here are the first steps you must take to protect your well-being and legal rights after an Uber accident:
- Seeking urgent medical care and treatment – Clearly document your injuries and begin treatment immediately to ensure a smooth recovery. It’ll protect you from any allegations of medical neglect by insurers or lawyers.
- Gathering all valid evidence – Collect photos and videos of your injuries and the car damages immediately after the collision if you’re not too injured.
- Hiring a lawyer – Your lawyer will coordinate with different authorities to secure your police accident report, surveillance footage, witness statements, and injury reports. You can give their contact details to any insurance provider that contacts you. They will file your claim and negotiate to maximize your settlement.
Navigating Statute of Limitations in Rideshare Claims
You may feel like delaying taking legal action till you fully recover or for some other reason. But the truth is, the longer you wait, the more you jeopardize your claim. Nevada has set a two-year legal deadline for injury claims. It means you can only qualify for compensation if you file a claim within two years from the date of the accident.
You forfeit your rights to seek damages if you miss this deadline. Waiting a few months can weaken your case too. Because it may be difficult to gather valuable evidence from the accident scene and other sources later.
Types of Injuries Eligible for Compensation
Here are the types of injuries commonly faced by people in rideshare accidents:
- Bruises and cuts
- Sprains and strains
- Severe lacerations
- Whiplash
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal injuries
- Burns
- Facial trauma
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- PTSD
Anthem injury lawyers will help you identify the eligible injuries for compensation. We’ll accurately evaluate your claim value based on the type of injury, severity, treatment costs, recovery time, and impact on your life.
Anthem Injury Lawyers: Your Path to Compensation
Our aim is to do everything in our power to protect your physical, mental, and financial well-being. We know how stressful and challenging this time is for accident victims. So we take every step of your legal journey with a balance of compassion and competence.
Anthem injury lawyers will navigate the complexities of your compensation claim and come up with the most effective legal strategy to win your claim. Whether it’s medical expenses, lost wages, or other losses, we’ll get a settlement that covers your immediate and long-term needs.
Last updated Sunday, March 10th, 2024