Uber Accident Lawyer

In less than a decade, Uber went from a company that was off most people’s radar to a household name. As a rideshare company, Uber allows users to summon a personal ride with a few taps on their smartphone. The benefits Uber provides to users are undeniable; however, ridesharing also presents considerable dangers and rideshare car accidents are common. If you’ve been injured in an accident, reach out to a dedicated Uber accident lawyer at Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada for immediate assistance. For the past 45 years, we’ve successfully represented clients in all types of South Florida car accident cases, including those involving Uber drivers.

The rideshare industry relies on passengers getting into a vehicle with an unknown driver. On its face, this is not an unfamiliar concept—for decades, people have used taxis to get around. However, whenever you get into any vehicle, you take on a certain amount of risk. An Uber is no exception.

While the causes of Uber accidents are similar to those of other types of car accidents, a few aspects of the rideshare concept increase the risks of an accident.

Inexperienced Drivers – Under Florida law, anyone over the age of 23 can drive for Uber if they have at least one year of driving experience. Additionally, there is no driving test required to become an Uber driver. The result is that many Uber drivers lack the experience needed to safely navigate many of the dangerous situations they might encounter while on the road.

Distracted Driving – When an Uber driver picks up a passenger, the Uber app provides the driver with directions. However, to follow these directions, the driver must frequently divert their attention away from the road to look down at their phone. It only takes a momentary distraction to miss a merging vehicle or a changing traffic signal.

Aggressive Driving – Uber pays its drivers based on the number of trips they complete. While drivers are paid per trip, they may also qualify for bonuses if they make a certain number of trips in a shift. This incentivizes drivers to complete trips as quickly as possible. While most Uber drivers understand the dangers of speeding and other forms of aggressive driving, that is unfortunately not always the case.

If you’ve been injured in a rideshare car accident, a Miami Uber accident attorney can help you pursue compensation for your injuries.

The rideshare industry presents many unique issues that are not present in other car accident cases. Primarily, these hurdles surround the availability of insurance coverage. Uber drivers are not employees of Uber; they are officially independent contractors. Under state law, a company cannot be liable for the negligent acts of an independent contractor. Thus, after an Uber accident, you cannot sue Uber based on a driver’s negligence.

However, state law requires that rideshare companies purchase liability insurance on behalf of their drivers. If an Uber driver is carrying in the process of an official ride, the company provides coverage up to $1 million. However, outside of official rides, Uber’s insurance policy only provides coverage of $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident. While this may sound like a lot of money, the medical bills alone after a serious car accident can easily exceed the available insurance coverage.

Also, just because insurance coverage is available does not mean that the insurance company will fairly compensate accident victims for their injuries. Insurance companies are notorious for low-balling accident victims and relying on technicalities to deny a passenger’s claim. A Miami Uber accident lawyer can help accident victims negotiate with the insurance company to secure a better settlement agreement.

If you recently suffered injuries in a rideshare accident, give the experienced Miami Uber accident attorneys at Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada a call. At our personal injury law firm, we have a long history of providing exceptional representation to accident victims from all walks of life. We understand that the weeks and months after an accident are an incredibly challenging time for you and your family and will cater our representation according to what is important to you. We also provide free consultations to all accident victims and, once we take your case, we will never charge you for our services unless we can help you recover for your injuries. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation, call 305-448-8585. We serve clients in Miami and throughout Florida, including but not limited to Naples, Homestead, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.