Slater & Zurz LLP is Always Here When You Need Us
You rarely hear people say, “Call a cab,” anymore. Nowadays, it’s “Get an Uber.”
They’re a convenient and easy way to get home. But, with so many rides happening in so many places, the inevitable accident is going to happen.
And if you’re a passenger during one of these car accidents, what to do next depends on who you ask.
If you check Uber’s website after you’re involved in an accident, it says: “There is no need to report to your personal insurance company.”
Is Uber trying to protect its drivers? Regardless, they know if you call an attorney, he or she will fight to protect you and make sure you’re treated fairly.
In fact, according to Uber’s help website, the gig economy giant wants your first call after 911 to be to them. But, as we’ll explain, there are many other steps to consider.
What To Do After An Accident In An Uber?
The most important thing is your safety. Address any injuries immediately. Minor or major, all accidents are serious, and Slater & Zurz says taking the correct first steps will have an impact on everything else that follows.
You may think you just bumped your elbow, but what if it’s fractured and leads to movement problems down the road because you shook it off at the accident scene as a minor injury. Think about everything you use your elbow for!
And delaying treatment for an injury could allow an insurance company to claim your injury was not related to the accident.
So, get out of the car and get to a safe spot if you can. Then, call 911. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Uber already knows an accident has occurred, where it happened, and who is on board. You may get a call from Uber very quickly. Under the guise of customer service and care, you will be assured the company will take care of you, and valuable information will be asked.
We all like using these ride-sharing services, but these companies have plenty of insurance to cover any medical bills you may incur and to pay any additional damages, such as missed work, rehabilitation, etc. Companies like Uber are businesses, and, just like all businesses, they, too want to maximize profits and minimize costs. You are not being unreasonable by seeking an Uber accident lawyer to help you protect what’s best for you, and Slater & Zurz knows what’s best.
We here at Slater & Zurz have been helping people protect themselves during situations just like this for decades. If you’ve been involved in a car accident as an Uber passenger, please call us before accepting any offers. Let us enlighten you to what you truly may be entitled to.
To recap:
- Seek a safe spot away from the crash, but please do not leave the scene
- Call 911, even if you think your injuries are minor
- If you are able, tell the police what happened and stick to the facts
- Get your phone out and take pictures of the scene, if possible
- The police will write a report at the scene with information on all people involved in the crash; don’t leave without it
- If you are debating whether to go to the hospital, just go; get checked out
- Call your insurance company and tell them what happened, but, again, stick to the facts
- Before accepting any deals or offers from anyone, call us so we can get to work protecting your interests immediately.
What If I’m Driving My Car and Get Into An Accident With An Uber Driver?
You could still have a case. While no two accidents are the same, you could have your car repaired or replaced. In this scenario, it will likely be personal insurance companies involved, and, depending on who is at fault, liability could be assigned.
Again, ensure everyone is safe, all injuries are attended to, document as much as you can, and call us. The sooner Slater & Zurz gets the call, the faster we get to work.
If an accident has occurred, you are under no obligation to contact Uber. Contact your insurance company and call a Uber accident lawyer. Slater & Zurz specialize in personal injury cases, so why wouldn’t you call the experts?
Determining Who Is At Fault
Uber passengers typically have no liability during an accident. Once the accident scene calms and injuries are attended to, the conversation quickly turns to who is responsible for paying to clean up the mess.
Different states have different laws for how liability is decided. The police, through its investigation, will usually determine who is at fault and, therefore, responsible for paying damages. Some scenes may require accident reconstruction technicians or other field experts to determine fault. You really need a good injury counselor to help navigate these many rules and regulations, and Ohio has some of the best at Slater & Zurz.
Most accidents involve more than one vehicle, so there are multiple agencies in play. It can get confusing. Just remember that after you call 911, you want to document as much as you can and have your wits about you when the insurance companies come calling. And if you were smart and retained a lawyer before those calls, it is illegal for them to ask you questions directly, or without your attorney. Just kindly tell them to call Slater & Zurz as you did.
What the Dutch May Have Figured Out
Technically, you cannot sue Uber if you are in an accident with one of its drivers because they are not considered employees. They are classified as independent contractors.
But, recently, in the Netherlands, there was a court ruling that classified its drivers as employees of the ride-sharing company. And while Uber is appealing the decision, litigation is still possible by suing the driver directly, and Uber’s insurance company must still handle that claim.
And no matter who is at fault for an accident, insurance companies are still supposed to repair or replace vehicles. When an injury, or worse, is caused by someone’s negligence that resulted in an accident, damages can be awarded to the injured party.
Settlement Offers Can Be Tempting
In some cases, whether you have a simple auto claim to get your car repaired or replaced, or a much more complex liability case involving injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, etc., a direct settlement offer from an insurance company can look tempting.
But there are loopholes some insurance companies can exploit to settle cases for the lowest dollar amount possible. Did the offer include future and unforeseen expenses? Does it cover the cost of all your repairs? Your car accident lawyer knows those loopholes all too well and will protect you from accepting offers that are not in your best interest.
We Want The Call
We advocate strongly on behalf of injured victims across Ohio, with convenient locations in Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo.
Even before the courts started trying to determine whether Uber has employees or contractors, Slater & Zurz car accident law firm has been busy staying up to date on everything you need to know to win your claim. If you’ve been involved in an accident while riding in an Uber or, worse, if you were injured, Call and speak with our car accident lawyers at Slater & Zurz now. It’s free to talk to one of our many experts and understand how these claims work. We’re here 24/7 at 888-534-4850 or by visiting slaterzurz.com.
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