WHEN IS AN UBER / LYFT DRIVER AT FAULT FOR AN ACCIDENT?

IN MIAMI, THE PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER, JONATHAN PERAZZO OF THE PERAZZO LAW FIRM, ANSWERS THE QUESTION; “WHEN IS AN UBER DRIVER AT FAULT FOR AN ACCIDENT?”

Uber Drivers and Liability for Accidents

An Uber driver may be found at fault for an accident if the Uber or Lyft driver has acted negligently while behind the wheel of an of Uber or Lyft vehicle and caused an accident. At the scene of the accident, a police officer will write a report and if found at fault, the Uber driver will receive a citation,  usually for careless driving, failure to yield to oncoming traffic, or failure to yield to right of way, etc. The police report and eyewitness testimony are usually the two most important factors for determining fault in an accident that involves an Uber or Lyft driver. Almost all Uber or Lyft accidents will involve one or more of the following:

• Another car, SUV, or truck
• A motorbike
• A cyclist
• A pedestrian
• Fixed objects such as light poles
• Or other third-party victims

Following an Uber or Lyft  accident that initially finds the Uber or Lyft driver liable, a Perazzo Law Firm Uber accident lawyer in Miami will gather all pertinent information and testimony with which to file an insurance claim for compensation to present to the Uber driver’s insurance provider. Most often, Uber drivers are provided with a $1 million policy consisting of the following:

• Uninsured motorist coverage: which helps cover personal injury in the event that the other vehicle/s involved have no insurance with which to cover medical expenses or losses.
• Underinsured motorist coverage: which helps cover medical expenses that exceed the $10,000 provided by PIP (Personal Injury Protection).
• Bodily Injury coverage: which covers medical expenses and lost wages that the accident victim/s suffer as a result of the Uber accident when the Uber driver is or isn’t at fault.
• Comprehensive coverage:  which helps cover the cost of replacing or repairing a vehicle that has been stolen or damaged in situations that do not involve collisions. This may include fire, vandalism, or damage from adverse weather conditions.
• Collision coverage: which helps cover the cost of repairing or replacing a vehicle that is damaged in a collision that involves another motor vehicle or fixed object.

However, Uber / Lyft mandates that all Uber or Lyft drivers carry car insurance that includes the supplemental insurance coverages mentioned above while the app is on. However, when the app is not on, their personal vehicle insurance policy covers Uber drivers. It’s important to remember that regardless of fault, Uber drivers and passengers are covered from the moment the Uber App is on. Thus, if an accident occurs before, during, or after the Uber / Lyft ride, the Uber / Lyft driver is covered. Uber / Lyft drivers usually pay about $1,200 to $2,400 annually for insurance coverage. A cheaper alternative is rideshare insurance, for $10 to $350 per year, depending on your location and insurer.

DETERMINING FAULT IN AN UBER RIDE

An Uber / Lyft driver may be undeniably at fault for an accident when it is clear that the Uber or Lyft driver acted negligently while behind the wheel.

Some of the main acts of negligence by an Uber / Lyft driver may include one or more of the following:

Cellphone use while driving: negligent cellphone use is one of the main causes of accidents today. An Uber driver may be easily distracted by their cellphone when using a GPS service to reach their destination. Sometimes, an Uber driver may use their cellphone to text, talk, activate an app, or even check for other rides. If you are an Uber passenger and your Uber driver is using his/her cellphone at the time of the accident, he/she will almost certainly be found at fault for the Uber car accident.

Careless driving: not paying attention to the road for whatever reason is something that most drivers do every now and then. Most rear-end collisions, which are among the most common accidents faced by Uber drivers, are the result of not paying attention to traffic ahead, especially traffic that is slowed or stopped for whatever reason. When an Uber driver is careless and an Uber car accident occurs, the police officer arriving at the scene of the Uber car accident will be able to quickly determine fault by gathering statements from those involved, as well as inspecting the damage to vehicles. Slowed or stopped traffic ahead is common at intersections or on roadways experiencing heavy traffic. Uber drivers may be distracted by conversation or by the GPS instructions appearing on their cellphones display screens. Failure to yield to oncoming traffic is another example of careless driving, especially at intersections, on/off ramps, roundabouts, parking lot exits, and even driveways. When a police officer cites an Uber for careless driving following an Uber car accident, the Uber passenger or Uber car accident victim, will most often be able to settle for just compensation through an insurance claim filed by a personal injury lawyer acting on behalf of their client.

WHAT TO DO FOLLOWING AN UBER ACCIDENT

No matter where you are in South Florida, the Perazzo Law Firm in Miami handles Uber car accident cases successfully given their experience representing Uber accident clients after they fall victim to negligent Uber drivers. Though an accident is an accident, many Uber drivers can prevent accidents by driving responsibly. But what should an Uber accident victim do following an Uber accident? In Miami, the car accident lawyers at the Perazzo Law Firm advise Uber accident victims to treat the Uber accident just like any other car accident. Thus, they should follow these steps:

• Contact the authorities and report the accident and any bodily harm
• Save your Uber ride information
• Seek medical care after the incident
• Keep all medical records
• Contact the Perazzo Law Firm

THE MIAMI LAWYERS AT THE PERAZZO LAW FIRM, SHARE INSIGHT INTO UBER CAR ACCIDENTS AND INSURANCE CLAIMS 

Uber suspected of shady dealings in cities around the world

Confidential files made their way into the public spotlight and now Place the rideshare services company Uber, in the eyes of the law. The secret information that spilled over involves several Uber directors but government officials as well, who seem to have broken laws to allow Uber to operate in cities where taxis once ruled the streets. according to information by the local newspaper that  obtained the contents of the confidential files, Uber drivers and local police authorities were also victimized by Uber’s shady dealings. The files date back to the period when the Uber platform invaded cities with its app,  between the year 2013 and 2017. The files reveal close to 84,000 communications across different media platforms that discuss the unscrupulous ways in which Uber practically rubbed taxi services out of the picture in some 40 countries around the world. Uber is today one of the largest work platforms in the world and valued at $43 billion. It is estimated that the rideshare services company Uber makes some 19 million trips on average per day, raking in millions in profits.

As riots broke out around the world between taxi operators and drivers, government officials together with Uber directors, were meeting to roll-out the Uber App. They may now face legal accusations for breaking the law as dark shadows loom with an eminent investigation surely to reveal what government leaders of countries such as France, Spain, and Belgium, if they were urged to reform their laws so that Uber could operate and compete with traditional means of urban transportation

THE MIAMI MOTORCYCLE AND UBER ACCIDENT LAWYERS SHARE INSIGHT FOR DEALING WITH ACCIDENTS INVOLVING MOTORCYCLES AND UBER RIDESHARE VEHICLES

Uber and rideshare services vehicle are out in numbers taking South Florida residents where ever it is they need to go. Motorcycle riders on Miami avenues, streets, and highways commonly fall victim to negligence on behalf of Uber and other rideshare services vehicle drivers.

If you, a friend, or relative was involved in an Uber car accident or Uber related incident that led to injuries or damages, contact the personal injury staff at the Perazzo Law Firm in Miami-Dade ONLINE now for a FREE initial consultation and ZERO OUT-OF-POCKET FEES to our Uber car accident clients in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Orlando.

THE PERAZZO LAW FIRM – DEDICATED TO PUTTING YOUR INTERESTS FIRST!

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