Encino Uber Accident Lawyers
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Get The Legal Help You Need From Our Encino Uber Accident Lawyers
An Uber accident can disrupt your life, leaving you with physical injuries, financial burdens, and emotional challenges. But you don’t have to face these alone. At Arash Law, our Encino Uber accident lawyers will handle the paperwork for you so you can focus on your recovery. We aim to assist you in seeking compensation for your losses. Call us at (888) 488-1391 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Los Angeles County holds the unfortunate reputation of having the highest accident rate in the state. Even in the tranquil and relatively affluent neighborhood of Encino, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, accidents can happen unexpectedly and cause immense distress among residents.
If you’ve been injured in an Uber accident, our lawyers are prepared to assist you. We’ll promptly evaluate your accident and injuries, and should we take on your case, we’ll use our experience to advocate for your interests. Our attorneys will take care of the legal paperwork, negotiations, and court appearances, allowing you to prioritize your recovery.
A farm worker, suffered multiple broken bones and other orthopedic injuries resulting from an auto accident where the defendant driver attempted to make a left turn in front of our client in heavy fog.– ARASH KHORSANDI
Why Choose Our Encino Uber Accident Attorneys To Represent Your Case?
Choosing the right legal representation is crucial when pursuing a case. It’s not a decision to take lightly, given the abundance of options available. Here’s how we help accident victims around California:
- We conduct thorough initial witness interviews and preliminary evidence. We’ll also go to nearby businesses, traffic cameras, and even dashcam footage to identify crucial details about the accident.
- We’ll examine the accident scene for overlooked clues, such as skid marks, debris patterns, and damaged signs, while also reviewing digital evidence like the Uber app’s data and traffic light patterns.
- We’ll delve into the company’s policies and procedures to identify shortcomings that may have contributed to the accident, like inadequate driver training or lax background checks.
- We’ll leverage the available evidence in your case to pursue compensation that may address your needs.
Unlike minor fender-benders, Uber accidents may present some legal challenges. Our Encino Uber accident lawyers can dissect the evidence, help determine fault, and implement a legal strategy.
What To Do After An Uber Accident In Encino, CA
The feeling of being overwhelmed and disoriented after an Uber accident is normal. However, you need to act quickly to protect your health and legal rights. Here are some recommended steps you can follow:
- If possible, move to a safe location to avoid further incidents or injuries.
- Call the police and medical personnel immediately.
- File a police report and notify Uber through their app or customer support.
- Do not admit fault for the accident.
- Take photos of all involved vehicles from various angles, including any relevant objects like traffic lights or signs.
- Collect names, contact details, and insurance information from everyone involved, including witnesses.
- Even if you feel unharmed, get checked out by a medical professional and document all medical records.
- Consult our Uber accident lawyers in Encino to guide you through the legal process. Our legal team will advocate for your rights and help you pursue compensation for your injuries.
Insurance Coverage For Uber Drivers
Uber offers varying levels of insurance coverage, which are determined by the driver’s status at the time an accident occurs.
Here’s a quick rundown of the available insurance coverage for Uber drivers:
- Not Logged Into the App — When not using the app, your Uber driver’s covered just like any other motorist. If they cause an accident, their personal auto insurance steps in as long as they meet the state minimums: $30,000 per person for injury/death, $60,000 total for multiple injuries/fatalities, and $15,000 for property damage.
- Logged Into the App and Awaiting a Ride Request — If the Uber driver is logged in to the Uber app and is actively awaiting a ride request, Uber offers the following insurance coverage: $50,000 for injury or death to a single individual, $100,000 for injury or death involving multiple individuals, $30,000 for property damage.
- Accepted a Ride Request or Currently With a Rideshare Passenger — Once the Uber driver has accepted a ride request and until the passenger arrives at their location, Uber’s $1 million in third-party liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury, and contingent comprehensive and collision insurance come into play.
If you’re an Uber passenger, the coverage should protect you up to the policy’s limit if there’s an accident during your ride, independent of who caused it. However, in the unfortunate event you sustain severe injuries, this coverage may not be enough. In these situations, the assistance of our Encino Uber accident lawyers can be helpful. They can guide you through the dense maze of legal and insurance-related issues.
Common Causes Of Uber Accidents In Encino, CA
As convenient and groundbreaking as Uber rides are, they’re not without risks. Uber accidents do occur, and the resulting losses can be significant.
Here are some of the common causes of these accidents:
- Distracted Driving — A common cause of most automobile accidents, distracted driving, also applies to Uber accidents. The distraction can stem from a variety of sources, such as checking the Uber app for passenger details, using a GPS system for navigation, eating, or even answering phone calls. Anything that takes a driver’s attention off the road can lead to an accident.
- Fatigue — To earn more, some Uber drivers work long hours or pick up rides late at night, leading to driver fatigue. This can decrease alertness, slow reaction times, and increase the risk of an accident.
- Speeding — In a bid to complete as many trips as possible within a given timeframe, some Uber drivers may exceed speed limits. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway and extends the distance required to stop a vehicle.
- Lack of Experience — While Uber has specific requirements for their drivers, such as a minimum age of 21 and at least one year of driving experience, these requirements may not cover all driving scenarios or conditions.
- Vehicle Maintenance Issues — Improperly maintained vehicles increase the risk of accidents. While Uber enforces certain vehicle requirements, including periodic inspections, unforeseen issues such as brake failures or tire blowouts can still occur.
- Impaired Driving — Though Uber has a zero-tolerance policy toward drugs and alcohol for its drivers, instances of impaired driving still occur.
- External Factors — Factors beyond a driver’s control, like bad weather, poor road conditions, or the actions of other drivers, can also lead to accidents.
Our Encino Uber accident lawyers can guide you through the complicated terrain of ridesharing accidents, helping you understand your rights and options for pursuing compensation.
What Compensation Can You Pursue After An Uber Accident?
Compensation or damages are typically classified into two broad categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. These categories encompass the various ways in which a victim may suffer loss or harm.
Economic Damages
An economic damage claim compensates the victim for out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of the accident. Their pecuniary nature means that they can be objectively calculated and verified through bills, receipts, or salary statements. These damages include the following:
- Medical Expenses — This type of damage includes hospital stays, physical therapy, medication, surgeries, and future healthcare costs related to the injury.
- Loss of Earnings — The victim may be compensated for lost income due to missed work.
- Loss of Future Earning Capacity — If the victim’s ability to work in the future is affected, they can claim damages for potential future losses.
- Property Damages — Any costs associated with repairs or replacement of damaged property, such as vehicles, are compensated under this category.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate for losses that are more subjective in nature. These damages account for the negative impact that an accident or injury has caused in the victim’s life, which doesn’t easily translate into a dollar amount. They include:
- Pain and Suffering — This type of damage accounts for any physical pain and suffering endured by the victim as a result of the injury.
- Mental Anguish — Emotional distress, anxiety, depression, or diminished quality of life fall under this category.
- Loss of Consortium — If the injuries have caused the loss of the ability to maintain a relationship with a spouse or partner, victims may be awarded damages for loss of companionship, affection, sexual relations, etc.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life — If the injury prevents the victim from enjoying day-to-day activities, hobbies, exercise, and other pleasure sources, they could be entitled to these damages.
In cases where the defendant’s behavior involves gross negligence or intent, the court may also award punitive or exemplary damages. This type of compensation goes above and beyond the tangible costs. The intention is two-fold: firstly, to penalize the wrongdoer, and secondly, to deter others from repeating such reprehensible actions.
Damages in personal injury cases can vary significantly in nature and amount. Our experienced Encino Uber accident lawyers can help you understand which of these damages may apply to your case.
Common Causes Of Uber Accidents In Encino, CA
Most Uber accidents happen for the same causes as all other vehicular accidents. These causes include:
Distracted Driving
Uber drivers need to constantly monitor their devices for updates on pick-ups, drop-offs, and dynamic GPS routes, leading to swerves, missed signals, and, ultimately, accidents.
Driver Fatigue
Long hours behind the wheel can leave even the most seasoned driver drowsy. Exhaustion impairs judgment and reaction times, making it harder to navigate sudden situations and avoid collisions.
Improper Vehicle Maintenance
Uber drivers are responsible for their vehicle’s maintenance, a task that some neglect due to costs or time constraints. This oversight can lead to mechanical failures, resulting in unfortunate accidents.
Speeding
Meeting personal quotas and enhancing profits can tempt some drivers to push the pedal a little too hard. Speeding is a recipe for disaster, increasing the severity of any potential crash.
Our Encino Uber accident lawyers can help you gather the necessary physical evidence to establish liability for your accident and evaluate the scope of your financial losses.
Verdict in a mild traumatic brain injury case involving a motor vehicle collision– JUDD ROSS ALLEN
Establishing Liability For An Uber Accident In Encino, CA
When liability is contested in a personal injury case, the state’s pure comparative negligence law comes into play. According to this legal framework, the plaintiff’s awarded compensation could be reduced by a percentage corresponding to their degree of fault for the accident. Liability can be assigned to multiple parties, including the driver, Uber, or other third parties.
To demonstrate liability, one must typically establish that negligence was the primary cause of the injury. If the defendant is found to have been negligent in carrying out their duty of care, they become liable for the damages suffered by the plaintiff.
Here are the elements that must be present to establish negligence:
- Duty of Care — This principle suggests that each person has a legal responsibility to avoid conduct or actions that could potentially harm others. In certain circumstances, it can be a professional duty, like a doctor’s obligation towards their patients.
- Breach of Duty — If it can be proven that the party at fault failed to fulfill their duty of care, a breach is said to have occurred. Establishing the existence of a breach of duty can often involve demonstrating that the defendant behaved in a way that is different from how a reasonable person would have acted under similar circumstances.
- Causation — There must be a direct and fair connection linking the breach of duty to the injury suffered by the plaintiff. It is necessary to demonstrate that the harmful outcome was not just a chance occurrence or related to another event.
- Damages — Economic damages could include medical bills or property damage, while non-economic damages might consist of pain and suffering or emotional distress. Regardless, the plaintiff must prove they suffered some type of harm as a result of the defendant’s negligence.
If you believe your personal injury case involves these elements of negligence, consult one of our Encino Uber accident lawyers, who can guide you through this process and give insights into your available options.
Uber Accident Statistics
Although so many people depend on Uber for their daily commute, it’s important to acknowledge that the system isn’t flawless and that convenience doesn’t guarantee safety.
Here are some key figures worth noting:
- Between 2017 and 2019, Uber vehicles were involved in 107 fatal crashes and 2,935 non-fatal accidents in the U.S., resulting in 3,221 related injuries.
- Uber’s Safety Report for 2019 and 2020 showed that Uber vehicles were involved in 91 fatal accidents, claiming the lives of 101 people.
- The two leading causes of these fatal accidents are speeding (32%) and drunk driving (23%).
- Pedestrians make up the largest group of victims (64%), followed by vulnerable road users (42%), motorcyclists (29%), and cyclists (7%).
If you find yourself struggling in the aftermath of an accident, we can help. We understand that dealing with ridesharing accident insurance and liability laws can be tricky. Our Encino Uber accident lawyers can guide you throughout the legal process.
Filing A Personal Injury Claim After An Uber Accident In Encino, CA
Filing a personal injury claim requires determining how the accident occurred, identifying the liable party, and proving that their actions directly resulted in your injuries and losses.
Remember, taking timely action is vital. Victims should seek medical care, collect evidence, and consult with an accident lawyer as soon as feasible after an injury occurs. Acting promptly helps preserve valuable evidence and witnesses that might be crucial for a positive resolution.
In Encino and the rest of California, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is two years from the date of the injury. The statute of limitations refers to the specific duration after an incident within which an individual must file a lawsuit. Failing to adhere to this time constraint could result in losing the opportunity to seek compensation for damages.
Encino Uber accident lawyers can help you understand California’s statute of limitations and handle the legwork so you can focus on healing. Let them help you with the filing process and other legal aspects of your claim.
Get Legal Help From Our Encino Uber Accident Lawyers
Being injured is never a pleasant experience, and it’s particularly disheartening when it wasn’t your fault. But you don’t have to suffer alone. Dedicated Encino Uber accident attorneys will be your voice and advocate during this confusing time.
At Arash Law, we work to help you navigate the claims process with rideshare companies and insurance providers. Contact us at (888) 488-1391 for a free initial consultation. Our Encino Uber accident lawyers have experience handling personal injury cases and helping accident victims through the legal process.
We offer legal services in Encino and various neighboring cities, including Sherman Oaks, Topanga, Calabasas, Northridge, North Hills, Westwood, West Hollywood, North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Panorama City, Hansen Hills, Sun Valley, Magnolia Park, Woodland Hills, and Chatsworth.
