Uber is a rideshare company that has risen rapidly in popularity in the past decade, taking over a huge portion of the cab industry in the United States and many other countries. With this comes the inevitable increase in the number of car accidents that involve an Uber driver, many of which result in serious injuries and even deaths.
If you have been injured in a car accident that involved an Uber driver, you may be wondering whether you are eligible to sue Uber in order to recover compensation for your damages. Plus, if a loved one was killed in an Uber accident, who may also wish to know whether you can sue Uber for wrongful death.
In the majority of cases, it will not be possible to sue Uber as a company because of the way that they hire drivers on a contract basis rather than with traditional working contracts. This does not mean, however, that you cannot receive compensation for the pain and suffering that resulted from your accident.
If you have been injured in a car accident involving an Uber driver in Florida, then we advise you to seek legal advice as soon as possible. Our team of lawyers here at The Law Place has over 75 years of combined legal experience with car accident cases. With detailed knowledge of Florida’s auto accident liability laws and how they relate to personal injury cases involving rideshare companies, you can be assured that you are in safe hands. We offer a free case evaluation for new clients so that you can talk to an experienced attorney regarding the specifics of your case and receive personalized, no-obligation legal advice. This will help you decide whether you wish to pursue a lawsuit against Uber or the rideshare driver.
Contact our law offices today to take the first step towards getting the compensation you deserve. Our phone lines are open 24hrs a day, 7 days a week for the convenience of our clients. Call us today for a free consultation at (941) 444-4444.
How Does Uber Operate?
Unlike other traditional cab share companies which hire drivers on traditional working contracts, Uber instead hires its drivers on a contract basis. As its employees are hired on a contract basis, Uber’s insurance company does not have to deal with as many lawsuits as a traditional cab company and is less likely to have to pay out accident victims. This is advantageous to Uber, who, as a result, faces less risk of being sued and of having to pay out large sums in liability cases.
In legal terms, Uber as a company operates under vicarious liability laws. This means that Uber cannot usually be found liable for the negligence of its drivers, as they are technically not employed by Uber but instead are considered independent contractors.
This difference gives Uber drivers a different level of responsibility than a typical taxi company employee. Regular taxi drivers are granted workers’ rights that protect them from being sued by customers in case of an accident. Uber drivers, on the other hand, are more at risk of being sued if they are involved in an accident.
Can I Sue Uber Itself?
If you have been injured in an accident that involved an Uber driver, it is likely that you would rather open a personal injury case against the company rather than the individual Uber driver. As a large company, you would imagine that Uber would have higher insurance coverage limits than an individual driver’s insurance policy.
The vicarious liability laws under which Uber operates mean that the company is protected from being sued for the negligence of its drivers in most cases. There are some exceptions, however. Following an Uber accident, it would be possible for you to sue Uber for the suffering it caused you in the following cases:
- If you suffered a permanent injury.
- If you permanently lost the use of a bodily function.
- If you were left permanently scarred or paralyzed.
We’re here to serve you. Our phones are open 24 hours a day. Uber’s One Million Dollar Liability Insurance
Uber requires its drivers to hold their own auto insurance policies. If a person is injured in an accident involving an Uber driver and wishes to seek financial compensation, they would first have to file a lawsuit against the driver’s insurance company.
Uber also has their own insurance coverage, which acts as extra liability coverage if the damages are not covered by the driver’s policy. This policy only applies in certain situations, however. Specifically, the policy applies if, at the time of the accident:
- The driver had the Uber app switched on and was searching for a potential passenger. In this case, Uber’s insurance can award up to $5,000 for a personal injury.
- The Uber driver was transporting a passenger, which was found using the app, to their destination with the app switched on. In this case, Uber’s policy can pay up to 1 million dollars to supplement the costs of damages.
If a person is in an accident involving an Uber driver where they had the Uber app switched off, or they were off-duty, then the driver will be required to compensate the injured party using their own insurance coverage.
If you have been seriously injured because of the negligence of an Uber driver, then you may wish to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against Uber. We advise that you contact a reputable law firm such as The Law Place as soon as possible if you have been in an Uber accident.
Call today to arrange a free case evaluation with one of our experienced lawyers. In this consultation, your assigned attorney will go through the details of your case with you to help determine whether your injuries are serious enough to file a claim against Uber. You will receive personalized legal advice regarding your case and answers to any questions you might have. Call us today to see how we can help.
We’re Florida’s top litigation team with over 75 years of combined experience Can an Uber Driver Be Found Liable?
In accordance with Florida Statute 768.81, drivers in Florida operate under a comparative negligence system. This means that if a driver fails to meet their duty of care to keep other drivers safe, then a person injured as a result of this negligence can sue the at-fault driver for their proportion of the blame. If the driver was at fault, then his or her personal auto insurance policy could be required to pay for the damages to the injured party.
If you have been injured because of the negligence of an Uber driver, then this driver could be found liable for your injuries. Whether you can only seek compensation from their insurance policy or whether you can supplement extra costs using Uber’s insurance coverage will depend on the individual circumstances of your case.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers. Call The Law Place Today
If you have been involved in an accident involving an Uber driver, we advise you to seek legal representation as soon as possible. Contact The Law Place today to speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer, and receive free, no-obligation legal advice regarding your case.
Our phone lines are open 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. Call today for a free case evaluation at (941) 444-4444.
