Santa Maria Uber Accident Lawyers

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Award-Winning Santa Maria Uber Accident Lawyers Dedicated To Protecting Your Rights, Securing Fair Compensation

Uber drivers are no different than other drivers on the road—they are just as capable of being involved in motor vehicle accidents. Fortunately, in many cases, Uber’s insurance policy covers their drivers, so victims can recover compensation for their losses. By working with Arash Law’s Santa Maria Uber accident lawyers, you can give yourself the best possible chance of holding the negligent party accountable and being able to recover everything you are entitled to. Call (888) 488-1391 for a free consultation.
Ridesharing companies have changed the way many of us get around, and Uber has become one of the most prolific rideshare providers in the United States. Since its founding in 2009, the company has essentially become synonymous with ridesharing for many people. The company claims to have provided more than 5 billion rides. Unfortunately, its drivers have also injured thousands of people.

At Arash Law, we understand how complicated Uber accidents can be for people to navigate. Our firm, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., works hard to ensure people are able to recover everything they need and deserve to be able to move on with their lives. You can count on one of California’s biggest and leading personal injury law firms to assist you with every aspect of your Uber accident case.

You should work with an attorney who knows how to find any way to obtain compensation from Uber itself or a negligent driver’s insurance company. Pursuing compensation can often be an uphill fight for most people, and working with experienced Santa Maria Uber accident attorneys is your best bet in ensuring that you are able to recover as much compensation as possible.

Uber will often do its best to try and deny any liability for a crash, but there can still be cases in which the company cannot deny that it does bear some responsibility for an accident. You should not try to take on Uber by yourself. Instead, speak to an Uber accident lawyer right away. With over $750 Million in settlement awards recovered for clients and a proven track record of success, Arash Law can level the field to help you win the financial recovery you need.

Ride Share Company Accident
$1,000,000.00
Settlement in a Under Insured Motorist Claim against ride share company; client suffered spinal injuries
–  JUDD ROSS ALLEN

Reasons To Hire Santa Maria Uber Accident Lawyers

Many people who are involved in Uber accidents want to believe they can handle their injury claims on their own and not pay an attorney anything. There are several problems with this approach, with the most common issue being that most people will end up having to settle for accepting payments that are much less than what they are actually entitled to.

There are several reasons you will want to get Santa Maria Uber accident lawyers at Arash Law involved in your case as soon as possible, including:

  • Important Evidence Might Not Be Available Indefinitely – The first benefit of working with an attorney will be their ability to perform their own independent investigation that typically involves them collecting and preserving all of the relevant evidence in your case. Certain types of evidence in these cases may be extremely time-sensitive, such as surveillance footage recorded by third parties. You should retain a lawyer who knows how to secure important evidence without delay.
  • Evidence Could Be Withheld – It is always possible that the Uber driver could possess important evidence in your case but is not willing to share it. When you have an attorney, they will know the legal means to obtain this evidence, such as seeking a subpoena. This can be very important when the Uber driver, for example, had a dashcam that recorded the accident.
  • An Insurance Company Will Probably Seek A Statement From You – It is far from uncommon for an insurer to tell a victim that it needs a recorded statement to proceed with handling an injury claim, but you should not be fooled by this trick. In most cases, an insurance company actually wants to get you on the record and will try to get you to unknowingly make certain damaging admissions that ultimately hurt your case. When you have a lawyer, they can help you avoid having to deal with an insurer and prevent any chance to make these statements.
  • An Insurance Company Will Probably Not Extend A Fair Offer – Although an insurance company may be quick to extend a settlement offer to you, it is important to understand that most initial offers are very lowball figures that are usually nowhere near what people are actually entitled to. While you could certainly try to negotiate a settlement on your own, insurers always relish the opportunity to deal with people who do not have legal representation because they will feel more empowered to dramatically lessen what they have to pay. Arash Law’s Santa Maria Uber accident lawyers know how to collect all the evidence that can prove all your actual losses so you can recover as much as possible.
  • Certain Mistakes Can Cause Major Problems – The average person simply does not know the best way to handle an injury claim, and this can often lead to people making any one of several common errors that have very damaging effects on their injury cases. One common problem relates to what people share on social media websites, as insurers routinely examine these accounts and pull damaging admissions to use as reasons for lessening their payments. It is also possible that people may miss important doctor’s appointments or return to work too soon against a doctor’s orders.

Common Causes Of Uber Accidents

The California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) reported that there were 187,211 injury crashes and 3,438 fatal crashes in 2019, with 269,031 people injured and 3,737 people killed. The causes of these accidents can always vary depending on the crash, and many accidents can involve disputes about liability.

The following are the most frequent causes of traffic accidents, some of which include Uber:
  • Distracted driving – The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reported that 3,522 people were killed nationwide in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2021, accounting for 8.2% of all traffic deaths.
  • Driver fatigue – Uber drivers and other rideshare drivers are not subjected to the same restrictions regarding time on the road that apply to commercial truck drivers, so it is not uncommon for some drivers to work well beyond their personal limits and risk being drowsy while behind the wheel. A fatigued driver can be much more likely to commit basic errors that cause various accidents.
  • Driving under the influence (DUI) – The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) notes that it is illegal for people to drive if they have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher if they are over 21 years of age, 0.01 percent or higher if they are under 21 years of age or are on DUI probation, or 0.04 percent or higher if they drive a vehicle requiring a commercial driver’s license or are driving a passenger for hire.
  • Speeding – According to OTS, 29.1% of California’s 3,623 motor vehicle fatalities that were speeding-related was the second-highest number of speeding-related fatalities in the nation in 2016.
  • Aggressive driving – Also known as “road rage,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive driving as “the operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger persons or property.” It can involve drivers following too closely (tailgating), driving at excessive speeds, weaving through traffic, running stop lights or other traffic signs, as well as gesturing in anger or yelling at other motorists, confrontations, or physical assaults.
  • Weather – While California generally has very favorable weather conditions, there can still be times in which hard rain, snow, or other inclement conditions play a role in causing a motor vehicle accident.
Emperatriz Ayala
Emperatriz Ayala
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My husband had an accident 2 years ago, a 85 years old man hit him, the Arash law group works very well on my husband case that took 9 month and he won the case and my husband was happy with the results. A year later I got into an accident as well and I’m still waiting in my case is almost resolving and it’s 9 months already. This people knows the law and they do their job right to help you out in getting the most for you to fight on your behalf. I strongly recommend the Arash Law firm they do things right in a efficient and professional manner.
Chris Zavala
Chris Zavala
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Had a great experience with all the people at Arash law. Long story short was in a bad car accident. It was overwhelming and the whole process was a lot, but they kept me in the loop. They answered all my questions and gave me great advice. Couldn't be any happier. Would definitely recommend anyone looking for a personal injury lawyer. They'll guide you through the whole process!
Jill Smith
Jill Smith
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Having Arash Law handle my auto accident was the best decision I could have made. Everyone I interacted with was kind, professional and detail oriented. I am extremely happy with the outcome and would recommend them highly.
Joseph R. Porter
Joseph R. Porter
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From start to finish, Arash Law firm is there every step of the way with close, constant, personal contact and attention. I never knew a Law firm could actually care so much for me as a person and what I was personally going through as well as the settlement I was going to recieve once my case was finally completed. Thank you to everyone at Arash Law for your ongoing support and communication. You are the ONLY firm I will ever recommend to someone who is need of a great attorny.
Monica Parra
Monica Parra
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I had an excellent experience with Arash Law. I will definitely recommend to my family and friends. I interviewed a few firms before deciding to work with Arash Law. What made my experience excellent was (i.e. head attorney being accessible to talk to and he answered all my questions and concerns, sensitive and thorough personel who completed in home intake & follow up process, being connected immediately to quality Physicians who addressed my injuries and recovery process, clear contract-read throughly to ensure its something you can commit to). Being in a car accident is a traumatic experience and I had a sense of peace knowing Arash Firm was walking with me throughout the whole process. Thank you Arash Firm for all your hard work and help. I am so grateful and appreciative for you all! 🙏 With Gratitude, Monica Parra
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Other Risks Of Ridesharing Services
Uber driver background checks generally include pulling motor vehicle records on all applicants as well as performing criminal background checks. To pass, drivers must not have more than three minor moving violations (like speeding tickets) in the past three years, no major moving violations (DUI, reckless driving) in the past seven years, and a criminal record that does not include convictions for felonies, violent crimes, or sexual offenses such as a registration on the United States Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public website in the last seven years. Uber says they utilize a service called Checkr.

Whereas Lyft rejects all applicants with convictions for violent crimes, felonies, or sexual offenses, Uber only rejects applicants with convictions in the past seven years. CNN reported in June 2022 that Uber said in a report that it received 3,824 reports of the five most severe categories of sexual assault, ranging from “non-consensual kissing of a non-sexual body part” to “non-consensual sexual penetration,” or rape, which was a decrease from the 5,981 reports it recorded in 2017 and 2018 in its first report.

It is thus far from uncommon for many people to have claims against Uber involving alleged physical or sexual assaults by the drivers. People can also be entitled to compensation for these types of incidents.
Other Risks Of Ridesharing Services
Reasons To Hire Santa Maria Uber Accident Lawyers

How Hard Is It To File A Personal Injury Claim Or Lawsuit Against Uber?

The California Department of Insurance reported in 2015 that Assembly Bill 2293 (AB 2293) was a law requiring rideshare drivers and companies to have liability insurance coverage during all three periods in which they use a ridesharing application. Under the law, Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) must maintain $1 million in liability coverage from the time a match is accepted until a passenger exits a vehicle.

The $1 million coverage only applies in periods two (when a match is accepted but a passenger has not yet been picked up) and three (when a passenger is in a vehicle until they exit the vehicle), but not period one (when an Uber app is open and a driver is still waiting for a match). The TNC company or driver must maintain primary liability insurance in the pre-match period (period one) of $50,000 for injury to a single person, $100,000 for injury to multiple persons, and $30,000 for property damage.

Uber denies most claims filed against the company on the basis that its drivers are independent contractors, leaving many people to deal with the insurance companies for the Uber drivers. Uber can still be held liable in certain cases and people will want to be sure they are working with experienced Santa Maria Uber accident lawyers who know how to prove that Uber should be accountable for an accident.

Uber’s Insurance Policy

Uber states that its own insurance policy for drivers works as follows:

  • When a driver is offline or the Uber Driver app is off – The driver’s personal insurance company and coverages will apply.
  • When a driver is available or waiting for a ride request – Uber maintains auto insurance on the driver’s behalf in case of a covered accident that offers third-party liability when the driver’s personal auto insurance does not apply. This policy provides $50,000 in bodily injury per person, $100,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 in property damage per accident.
  • When a driver is en route to pick up riders or is actively involved in a trip – Uber maintains auto insurance on a driver’s behalf in case of a covered accident that provides $1 million in third-party liability, uninsured or underinsured motorist bodily injury and/or first-party injury insurance, contingent comprehensive and collision, and up to actual cash value of a car with a $2,500 deductible.
Manuel S.
$1,000,000
Workers Compensation Settlement
The case was dropped by a large well-known law firm 4 months before trial, we came in and prepped for trial and were able to secure the maximum policy limits on the doorsteps of trial.
Workers Compensation Settlement
The case was dropped by a large well-known law firm 4 months before trial, we came in and prepped for trial and were able to secure the maximum policy limits on the doorsteps of trial.
How Does Uber’s Insurance Coverage Work?
Again, Uber’s own insurance policy only covers people when the Uber app is running and the driver is working for Uber. When a driver does not yet have a match and is still waiting to accept a new ride, it is usually the driver’s own personal insurance policy that will be in effect.
The driver’s insurance policy can be important because many insurers have policies specifically prohibiting their drivers from driving for hire, which often leads to them denying any Uber accident claims. A person will again want to be sure they have an attorney’s help in overcoming these types of obstacles in recovery.
The Santa Maria Uber accident attorneys at Arash Law are ready to help clients who need assistance with rideshare accident claims. Some of the most common Uber issues we help people with include the following:
  • Car accidents caused by Uber drivers
  • Car accidents involving Uber vehicles
  • Injuries caused by Uber drivers
  • Injuries caused by negligent behavior of Uber drivers
  • Assaults committed by Uber drivers
How Does Uber’s Insurance Coverage Work
Commercial Vehicle
$2,000,969.00
Gil v. Anderson Plumbing: verdict by a Los Angeles County Superior Court jury in Van Nuys awarded to a man who was injured when his vehicle was struck from behind by a large commercial plumbing van. Benny was part of the trial team that obtained this verdict.
–  BENNY KHORSANDI
What To Expect for A Settlement
People need to understand that settlement amounts can vary widely depending on the specific type of accident a person was involved in. Although Uber is certainly a major company, many cases will involve only a driver’s own personal insurance policy, and their insurer generally becomes responsible for paying the bulk of any settlement.
Another factor in any settlement can be the number of victims involved in an accident case. When an Uber accident harms multiple people, then there will be an increased chance of multiple claims being filed and insurance limits being exhausted.

Working with Uber accident lawyers in Santa Maria will give you the best chance of recovering as much as possible in any settlement because an attorney will know exactly who to hold liable and how much can be recovered. Both Uber and the insurance company representing any Uber driver have a goal of paying as little as possible to close an accident case. People need to be extremely cautious in their handling of these cases because the insurers are very likely to try and trick people into doing things that only hurt their cases.

Settling Claims With Santa Maria Uber Accident Lawyers

It is no secret that a great majority of automobile accident cases end up being resolved through settlements rather than civil jury trials. Both sides involved generally prefer to settle rather than spend the large sums of money necessary to take a case to trial. It is also important to remember that settlements can take some time to negotiate, and a case could stretch out over several months or possibly even years.
When an Uber driver is clearly at fault for causing a motor vehicle accident, it remains possible that either the driver’s insurance company or Uber itself could still challenge any claim against the driver and try to argue that another party was responsible. Most people will want to be sure they have a lawyer simply for assistance in proving the driver was negligent.
Settling any rideshare accident claim often requires the help of seasoned Santa Maria Uber accident attorneys, so Uber can be proven to be liable when possible. In many cases, Uber denies liability or tries to settle cases for far less than victims deserve.
Insurance companies for Uber drivers will not be any easier to deal with, but a skilled lawyer will know how to deal with these insurers and negotiate a much more fair settlement offer than a person is likely to achieve on their own. An attorney is also going to know how to seek the help of any other parties, such as independent witnesses, who might help a person’s case.

Contact Our Experienced Santa Maria Uber Accident Lawyers For A Free Consultation Today!

If you suffer severe injuries or your loved one was killed in an Uber accident in the greater Santa Maria area of Santa Barbara County, make sure that you do not wait to get legal help with every single aspect of your injury case. The team at Arash Law, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., has decades of experience fighting for people in these situations and knows the most effective ways to assist people in recovering all of the compensation they are entitled to.

Our firm offers a no-win, no-fee guarantee under which you do not pay us anything upfront to handle your case, as we only get paid when we win or settle your case. You can call (888) 488-1391 or contact us online to receive a free consultation so we will be able to thoroughly review your case and outline the steps you should take.

The Uber accident lawyers Santa Maria trusts also serve neighboring cities and communities, including Betteravia, Guadalupe, Bromela, Nipomo, Callender, Oceano, Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, Verde, Orcutt, Casmalia, Garey, Sisquoc, Los Alamos, Lompoc, Mission Hills, Vandenberg Village, and Vandenberg Space Force Base.

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