Carbondale Uber Accident Lawyer

Carbondale Uber Accident Lawyer

Companies like Uber provide a convenient service to the public, but they can also go to great lengths to avoid liability when things go wrong. Large companies including Uber have extensive resources and large defense teams to protect their interests. You deserve the same level of protection.

If you were injured in a car accident involving an Uber driver in Carbondale, call Munley Law for a free consultation today. We can establish liability and negligence, determine whose insurance should pay for your damages, and fight for the maximum recovery for you. Our attorneys have decades of experience fighting for people like you against large, powerful companies.

We offer virtual consultations, as well as in-person meetings in our Carbondale office location. Or, if you are seriously injured and cannot travel, we can come to meet with you in the hospital or at your home. Call, chat, or email us today to schedule a free consultation. There is no fee for our services unless we win your case.

Munley Law Handles All Kinds of Uber Accident Cases in Carbondale

Every Uber case is different.

We represent Uber passengers who have been injured in a crash while being transported, whether the accident was caused by the Uber driver or another vehicle. This also includes single-vehicle Uber accidents. For example, if you were a passenger in an Uber that collided with a guardrail, tree, or other stationary object, you still have the right to seek compensation from your driver.

We represent drivers and passengers in vehicles who were hit by an Uber driver. Often, the people hurt in an accident with an Uber driver weren’t Uber passengers, but other motorists. We can help you determine liability and insurance coverage to get the full amount of compensation you are owed.

We also represent pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcycle riders who were hit by an Uber in Carbondale.

Finally, we represent Uber drivers themselves who were injured in a crash caused by another driver.

How a Carbondale Uber Accident Lawyer Can Help

When you’ve been seriously hurt in an Uber accident, an Uber accident lawsuit can ensure that you receive the full, fair amount of compensation you need to recover from your injuries and recoup your losses. Having the right lawyer can make all the difference in making sure the at-fault parties don’t escape justice.

An Uber accident lawyer at Munley Law will first listen to your story and help you understand the process for obtaining financial compensation. We will work to identify all liable parties, establish liability and negligence, and ensure that all paperwork is filed properly.

Our team will perform a thorough investigation of your crash, including the discovery of the Uber driver’s phone records and safety records.

We will work with medical and economic experts to calculate the full extent of your damages and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to get the maximum amount you deserve. If an appropriate settlement can’t be reached, we will be prepared to take your case to court in front of a jury.

Insurance Coverage in an Uber Accident

One of the most difficult questions after an Uber accident is: whose insurance should pay for damages? The Uber driver’s personal policy? Uber’s commercial insurance? Both?

Uber drivers are required to carry their own auto insurance policies but are not required to carry commercial insurance. However, their personal auto insurance does not cover them while they are using their vehicle for business purposes – like driving for Uber. The rideshare company provides their drivers with up to one million dollars in liability coverage, but this coverage only applies under certain circumstances.

Available coverage will depend on the Uber driver’s status at the time of the crash:

If the driver works for Uber but was not logged into the app at the time of the crash, they would be covered by their own auto policy; Uber’s coverage would not apply.

If the Uber driver was active on the app and awaiting a ride request, the driver would first be protected by their own coverage. Then, Uber offers supplemental coverage up to $50,000 in bodily injury per person, $100,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 in property damage.

If the Uber driver had the app turned on and had a passenger in the vehicle, or was en route to a pickup location, Uber provides one million dollars in liability coverage for accidents in which the Uber driver was at fault.

If you were a passenger in an Uber and were involved in an accident for which the Uber driver was not at fault, you would seek compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance.

A Carbondale Uber accident lawyer can sort out whose insurance is responsible for your damages.

Causes of Uber Accidents in Carbondale

Distraction – All drivers are prone to distraction behind the wheel. Some may argue that the problem is worse among rideshare drivers whose jobs inherently combine driving with tech interactions. Uber and Uber Eats drivers frequently make pick-ups and drop-offs in unfamiliar neighborhoods, relying heavily on navigation systems to direct them to their destination. Even hands-free and Bluetooth systems can be cognitive distractions that can cause an accident. Your lawyer will review the driver’s phone activity to determine if technological distraction contributed to your crash. Other types of distraction include eating and drinking, conversations with passengers, and any form of multitasking.

Fatigue – Many Uber or Uber Eats drivers work multiple jobs. Fatigued driving can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.

Speeding or reckless driving – Even though Uber drivers are responsible for the safety of their passengers and other drivers on the road, they can be susceptible to road rage, aggressive driving, and careless driving. A delayed pickup or late dropoff can negatively impact their rating, tips, and income, prompting them to speed or drive too fast for the traffic or weather conditions.

Carbondale Uber Accident FAQs

Is Uber considered a common carrier in Pennsylvania?

One of the things that makes Uber accident cases so complicated is that laws vary by state. For instance, some states consider rideshare companies like Uber to be common carriers. A common carrier is an entity that transports passengers or goods for a fee and is open to the public. This distinction matters because common carriers are held to a higher standard when it comes to their duty to keep the public safe. In Pennsylvania, however, Uber and other rideshare companies are not considered common carriers. An Uber accident lawyer can help you understand what this means for the liability in your case.

What should I do after a crash in an Uber?

After an Uber crash in Carbondale, it can be difficult to know what to do. Should you report the accident to your insurance, or Uber, or both? Who will pay for your medical bills? A Carbondale Uber accident lawyer can answer these kinds of questions for you. In the meantime, these are the steps you should take to protect yourself:

• First, seek medical attention for yourself and any passengers who were injured in the crash. Failure to obtain medical treatment can negatively impact your case, not to mention your health. Some injuries like traumatic brain injury aren’t immediately apparent, so it is important to be checked by a doctor to prevent complications from untreated injuries.
• If you are not incapacitated at the scene of the accident itself, obtain all the information you can. Be sure the police report to the scene and complete an accident report. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses at the scene. And, take photos of the crash scene, damage to vehicles, and your injuries.
• Document everything. Keep track of your doctor visits, missed time from work, and any other expenses related to your accident.
• Report the accident to Uber and your own car insurance if you were driving your own vehicle, but do not provide a recorded statement to the rideshare company, the Uber driver, or their insurer.
• Contact an experienced Uber accident lawyer. Car accident cases involving Uber are especially complicated. It can be difficult to determine insurance coverage and liability. Not all car accident lawyers in Carbondale have handled rideshare cases. Munley Law has experience with rideshare cases and commercial insurance policies of all kinds. An Uber accident lawyer at Munley Law will review your case for free and advise you on how to proceed.

How much is an Uber accident case worth?

As the victim of an Uber accident, you will face many unexpected expenses through no fault of your own. You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s negligence. “Damages” is another word for the financial compensation plaintiffs (victims) can collect by filing a personal injury lawsuit. Uber accident victims can sue for economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include:

• Medical bills
• Hospital stays
• Ambulance transport and emergency care
• Prescription medicine
• Lost wages
• Diminished earning power
• Physical therapy

Non-economic damages cover things like mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of companionship, and pain and suffering.
The amount of compensation an Uber accident victim will receive depends on the exact circumstances of the accident. It will depend on the extent of the injuries, the cost of medical care and future treatment, income, and future earning capacity. An Uber accident lawyer at Munley Law will work with medical and economic experts to evaluate your injuries and calculate the full extent of your damages.

How safe is Uber?

According to Uber’s own U.S. safety report, the rate of fatal motor vehicle accidents involving Uber drivers is below the national average for all drivers. However, this data does not include non-fatal accidents and crashes resulting in serious, even life-changing injuries. The truth is that while services like Uber can cut down on drunk or drowsy driving among passengers, Uber drivers can be involved in a crash, just like any other driver.

Can I sue Uber for an accident?

Because Uber drivers are considered independent contractors instead of employees, Uber can deny liability for the actions of their drivers. In most cases, you would sue the driver, not the company. However, there can be some exceptions to this rule. If you believe that Uber was negligent, you may be able to hold them accountable. For example, if you have reason to believe that Uber failed to properly screen their drivers, or they ignored passengers’ safety complaints and this led to your crash, you may be able to sue. A Carbondale Uber accident lawyer at Munley Law will evaluate your case and identify all potential defendants.

I am an Uber driver who was injured in a crash caused by someone else in Carbondale. Can you help me?

Transportation-related occupations, including Uber drivers, have high rates of work-related injury and fatality. We know that crashes involving Uber drivers are not always the Uber driver’s fault. Our attorneys can help you recover compensation from the at-fault party and/or from Uber’s insurance coverage for your losses. If the at-fault driver does not have sufficient coverage to compensate for your damages, we will look to the uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage available through your own policy or Uber’s.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

41 N. Main St.,
Carbondale, PA 18407
(570)280-2502