Why Do You Need a Decatur Uber Accident Lawyer?
Experiencing long-term, life-altering injuries in an Uber accident may entitle you and your family to substantial benefits to cover the costs linked to your injuries. While it would be ideal if you were automatically awarded the full amount you deserve automatically after an accident, that is not the case. Instead, you’ll need to file a claim with the insurance company of Uber and potentially the insurer of the driver if they carry additional rideshare insurance, a claim that proves your damages and convinces the for-profit company to lose money to pay you in full.
As many injured persons learn, it is not simple to collect damages and can be even harder to accurately estimate what those damages are in the long-term. Working with an experienced Decatur Uber accident lawyer from Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC will ensure that sufficient evidence is gathered to fully measure your damages, then prove it to the insurance company or the court if filing a lawsuit is necessary.
Rideshare Accident Statistics
The increase in rideshare activity on the roads across America has contributed to a positive increase of around 3 percent in traffic-accident fatalities since 2011. Between 2017 and 2018, Uber vehicles were involved in 97 fatal crashes, resulting in 107 deaths. Of these victims of fatal crashes, 21 percent of the crash victims were the rider, 21 percent were the driver, and the other 58 percent were third parties, whether other vehicles or pedestrians. Beyond these fatal crashes, rideshare vehicles are involved in thousands of crashes that result in serious injuries each year.
Most Common Causes of Uber Accidents
While driver negligence in varying forms is a leading cause of rideshare accidents, vehicle malfunctions and overworking can also result in accidents and injuries that entitle the victims to compensation over. It is important to understand that the driver or Uber is not going to automatically cover the present and future costs linked to your injuries. Instead, Uber’s insurance company will challenge your claim and do whatever possible to avoid paying you, as the less insurance companies pay to injured parties, the greater their profit margins are. Insurance companies work for the revenues their customers pay them and related profits, not the costs associated with payments made to injured persons.
Distracted Driving is a Leading Cause of Georgia Car Accidents
Anytime a driver’s eyes are off the road, their mind is off their driving, or their hands are off the wheel, they are engaging in distracted driving. One of the most common forms of distracted driving is the use of a smartphone while driving, which given the ongoing need of Uber drivers to line up the next fare or rate their last is a common practice. Your lawyer will gather evidence to determine what the driver was doing in the moments leading up to the accident to identify when they are liable for the resulting injuries.
Drowsy or Fatigued Driving Causes Georgia Car Crashes
If you’ve ever read or observed news interviews with rideshare drivers, or heard about the ongoing class actions against independent contract rideshare drivers who feel they are being denied employee rights, you’ve likely heard of overworked rideshare drivers. Uber drivers are not paid when they are not transporting a fare, yet they may remain alert in their vehicle in an area of high business traffic in hopes of gaining fares and income.
The lack of guaranteed income on behalf of Uber drivers can lead to long shifts, and ultimately drowsy or fatigued driving. When a driver continues on the road when they are fatigued, they are putting themselves, other drivers, pedestrians, and property at risk. Fatigue and drowsiness causes a drop in awareness, reaction times, and responsiveness to changes in road conditions. Such drivers are negligent, and will be liable for the damages linked to any injuries that you suffer.
Aggressive Driving, Speeding, and Other Traffic Violations
All drivers on the road are required to follow the rules and laws of Georgia, including speed limits, rules against aggressive and intoxicated driving, and stop signs and traffic signals. If an Uber driver is in a rush to get a fare to their destination as fast as possible to receive a 5-star rating and they speed and cause an accident, the driver will be liable for the damages as their breaking of traffic laws represented a breach of their duty to drive safely on the roads.
Improper Maintenance and Vehicle Malfunctions
Uber drivers are notorious for putting great numbers of miles on their vehicles, many of which are city miles that can be harder on vehicles. Without regular and ongoing maintenance, vehicles naturally break down, decreasing the effectiveness of brakes, suspension, and other key components of the vehicle that ensure safety on the road. While Uber may not provide for the maintenance of the vehicles of their drivers, the insurance of Uber and any additional rideshare insurance the driver might have will be responsible for your damages.
Why Hire a Decatur Uber Accident Lawyer?
The experienced Georgia rideshare accident and personal injury lawyers from Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC have many years of combined experience assisting persons who have been seriously injured in accidents caused by the negligence of others. Our firm has recovered over $65 million on behalf of our clients, and we have a 99% success rate on our cases. The numbers speak for themselves, and our experienced team is standing by to review the unique facts and circumstances of your accident to determine if we can help.
How Much is My Decatur Uber Accident Injury Claim Worth?
Determining the amount that your Uber accident injuries are worth requires the input of medical and occupational experts. The damages that are generally available to victims of Georgia car accidents with serious injuries include:
- Short-term medical bills including the emergency room, pain medications, surgeries, and any other necessary treatments
- Long-term medical costs from the time of your injury through the remainder of your life, including rehabilitation, medications, counseling, and any other necessary related medical or mental health services
- Lost wages and earnings in the short-term during recovery following your accident
- Any long-term impact on your earnings potential that your injuries result in, from the time of your injury through the remainder of your working life
The injuries sustained from your Decatur Uber accident may entitle you to substantial amounts in damages, but you can only collect what you can prove with evidence. You’ll need to gather evidence to prove the amount in medical care and the long-term symptoms that you will suffer from a medical expert. An occupational expert analyzes the medical information linked to your injuries to determine if your symptoms will lead to disabilities that impact your capacity to maintain steady gainful employment.
The ultimate amount that your Uber accident is worth is a common answer that attorneys give to their clients, and while it might not be what you want to hear, the simple answer is: it depends. It depends on the unique facts and circumstances of your situation, and the skill, experience, and know-how of the lawyer you work with on your claim or case. You can only collect damages that you can prove, and with our network of medical and occupational experts familiar with the car accident claims process, Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC is poised to help you make the most of your claim.
Discuss Your Case with a Decatur Uber Accident Lawyer
The time to contact a personal injury attorney to best serve your claim or case is as soon as possible after receiving emergency medical care at the scene of the accident. We can help walk you through some of the steps to begin gathering evidence in support of your case, such as documenting the scene of the accident with the camera on your phone, if you are able to. Contacting emergency medical personnel and law enforcement for assistance and to generate a report of the incident is recommended.
As soon as you are able following your Decatur Uber accident, connect with Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC. Our experienced attorneys will carefully review your case to determine if it is a fit with our firm. We will review the circumstances of the accident including the parties involved, the breadth of your injuries, and whether or not we might be able to mount a successful case on your behalf. To make the most of your initial consultation, have your initial medical bills following the accident available, any police reports from the scene, and other evidence that you may have gathered linked to your Uber accident.
If we take your case, we only get paid if we win, and you have no out-of-pocket expenses, ever.
Give us a call at (678) 616-9290 or schedule your free consultation now.