Bronx Uber Accident Attorneys
Traveling by Uber is a common way to get around in the Bronx and surrounding areas. However, what happens when you are in an Uber accident? Can you get compensation for your losses and injuries? Who should pay for your damages following the Uber crash? The answer may depend on the facts of your case and the parties involved.
An Uber accident lawyer in the Bronx can help you determine your rights after an Uber accident and whether you may file a claim under Uber’s insurance coverage or another insurer. Contact The Law Offices of Ivan M. Diamond as soon as possible for guidance and help with your rideshare accident case. We can discuss your Uber accident case and your options following a crash.
Why Choose The Law Offices of Ivan M. Diamond After an Uber Accident in the Bronx?
Attorney Ivan M. Diamond is a born and raised New Yorker that understands the unique challenges and risks that inhabitants and visitors to the area face every day. If you need a lawyer after an injury, including those from an Uber accident, The Law Offices of Ivan M. Diamond may help. Ivan M. Diamond, Esq. and his team have decades of experience handling personal injury cases in the Bronx and throughout the New York area.
Our office is just a few short blocks from 161 Street/Yankee Stadium Station and conveniently located across the way from the Bronx Supreme Court and Bronx Civil Court along Grand Concourse. We can meet at our office, arrange for an in-home or hospital appointment, or work around your schedule by offering evening, weekend, or online appointments.
Common Causes of Uber Accidents
Many situations might give rise to an Uber accident in the Bronx or other areas of New York City. Each accident has distinct characteristics, but here are some situations that frequently lead to Uber accidents:
- Distracted driving. All motorists struggle with distractions while driving, but Uber drivers are especially at risk. In addition to common distractions like eating, drinking, adjusting the radio, and cell phone usage, Uber drivers might have to deal with obnoxious passengers who are loud or have been drinking. Additionally, drivers must use the Uber app to find their next rider.
- Fatigued driving. Uber drivers cannot be signed into the app for more than 12 hours each day, but this doesn’t eliminate drowsiness and fatigue. The time limit doesn’t take into account other employment or extensive downtown between riders.
- Driving under the influence. Uber drivers who use drugs and alcohol create the same risk as other motorists who drive while impaired.
- Speeding. Uber drivers are under pressure to transport their riders as fast as possible, making it likely that they will speed. Passengers want a quick ride and drivers want to get to their next paying rider. Speeding causes drivers to lose control of their vehicle and makes crashes more likely to result in injury or death.
- Following too closely. Tailgating other vehicles comes from impatience and feeling rushed in traffic. Uber drivers who drive under a lot of pressure to go quickly might follow too closely, causing an accident when they don’t have the reaction time or distance to avoid an accident.
- Poor vehicle maintenance. New York State law requires Uber drivers to have their vehicles inspected every four months, so this common cause of Uber accidents isn’t as prevalent in New York City, but mechanical malfunctions can cause a driver to lose control and cause an accident.
Compensation Available in an Uber Accident Claim
When you are in an Uber accident, your day can suddenly go from normal and routine to chaos. If you suffer injuries, you may require a visit to the ER and may have to miss work. Your injuries may force you out of work for some time due to pain, discomfort, or loss of mobility and function because of your injuries. These impacts can result in a significant loss of earnings to you and can create financial burdens and difficulties you were not anticipating or prepared for.
As an Uber accident victim, you have a right to seek compensation for your damages from the parties responsible. The damages from an Uber accident with injuries can include economic and non-economic losses.
We can help you sort through your medical bills and other expenses arising after a crash to determine your maximum losses following a crash. We cannot guarantee how much money you can recover following an Uber accident, but we can calculate your past and future losses and work to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company when possible.
Damages in an Uber accident might include:
- Medical costs. In most car accidents, a victim can sustain injuries that vary between minor to severe or life-threatening. As an Uber accident victim, you may require emergency transport, ER care, hospitalization, surgery, and other medical interventions. The costs of this medical care are expensive, and the medical bills can begin to pile up rather quickly following an Uber crash. You can pursue compensation to cover all of your current and future medical expenses as part of an Uber claim for damages.
- Loss of income. Sustaining injuries is an inconvenience, but when the injuries are serious enough to leave you unable to go to work for any amount of time, that can cause widespread disruption to your life. Not being able to fulfill work responsibilities can leave you unable to earn the money you need to meet your daily living expenses and family obligations. If you suffer an injury in an Uber accident that leaves you unable to work and earn your income, you can pursue compensation for these losses in a claim.
- A victim’s pain and suffering. The pain and suffering you experience because of the injuries as well as the trauma you endure, are impactful and can cause many challenges to you following an Uber crash in the Bronx. Pain and suffering is a very personal loss, but it is recoverable in an Uber accident claim for personal injury. It is not easy to figure out how much money you may be eligible for when it comes to pain and suffering, but an Uber accident lawyer can walk you through the process and help you calculate your damages based on your injuries and the effects of those injuries on your life after the crash.
- Property damage. Uber accidents can affect many parties when they occur. If you are a passenger in the Uber at the time of the crash, you are not likely to have property damages relating to the accident. However, if you are in an Uber accident driving another vehicle impacted by the negligence of the Uber driver or another party, you likely will have damages to your car. You can seek compensation to cover these personal property repair costs or losses through an Uber claim.
Uber Accidents in the Bronx
Taking a rideshare trip to a destination in the Bronx or surrounding areas of New York City is common, and Uber is one of the biggest rideshare service providers in the area. Uber drivers are in high demand due to the speed of service and affordability often associated with this method of transportation in the Bronx.
Unfortunately, when Uber accidents happen, the legal issues that arise can create obstacles for a victim seeking compensation for their losses due to their injuries and other damages.
Whether you are a passenger in the rideshare at the time of the crash, an innocent bystander, or an occupant in another vehicle, you could be at risk of an Uber crash when traveling on or near the congested roads within the Bronx.
Intersections with a high incidence of accidents in the Bronx include:
- Third Avenue and East 135 Street
- Bruckner Boulevard and Leggett Avenue
- Exterior Street and Major Deegan Expressway ET 3 SB
- Bruckner Boulevard and White Plains Road
- East 158 Street and Grand Concourse
- East Mount Eden Avenue and Townsend Avenue
Uber Accident Scenarios and How They Can Affect Your Claim
An accident involving a rideshare vehicle such as an Uber has the potential to involve multiple parties, and the victims may be those within the Uber vehicle or others parties in the crash.
An Uber accident can refer to several different situations in which one or more of the vehicles involved in the crash are ridesharing or providing delivery services through the Uber application. If you are a victim in an Uber accident, you may pursue compensation in certain circumstances when an Uber is part of the crash.
A Passenger in the Uber
In many cases, a passenger of an Uber is likely a victim of a crash when a crash occurs. If their Uber driver is at fault for the collision, they may have a claim against the Uber insurance company or other available insurance coverage. If another driver is to blame for the crash, an Uber passenger may pursue a claim through the Uber liability coverage or the at-fault driver’s coverage.
A Driver or Occupant of Another Vehicle
If you are a victim in another vehicle involved in a crash due to an Uber driver’s negligence, you may seek compensation through an Uber insurance claim. Whether you may seek damages through Uber coverage and the policy limits for damages can depend on the moments leading up to the accident and the status of an Uber driver at the time of the collision.
A Pedestrian, Bicyclist, or Bystander near the Road
In areas like the Bronx and New York City, collisions between rideshares and pedestrians, bicyclists, or bystanders may happen far too often. Those traveling by foot or bicycle have the same rights as those driving on the roadways.
A rideshare driver cannot impede or disregard your right of way. When you suffer injuries because of an Uber driver’s reckless and negligent actions, you can seek damages against the driver and through their insurance coverage for your injuries and damages due to the accident.
Injuries You Could Sustain in a Bronx Uber Accident
All traffic related accidents, including those involving an Uber, can result in various types of car injuries to victims. Uber accident injuries can vary depending on factors in each crash. The speed of the vehicles, the location of impact, and whether you were in a vehicle or outside of a vehicle at the time of the incident can all impact how severe your injuries are as a victim in an Uber accident.
Victims that sustain injuries in an Uber crash could have profound impacts that follow the accident and affect how they live and their prospects for the future. Some Uber accident victims can have permanent damage and effects as a result of the crash that prevents them from healing fully and going back to their normal life and routine as it was prior to the accident.
An Uber crash may sustain:
- Lacerations
- Broken bones or fractures
- Dislocations or damage to soft tissue such as ligaments, tendons, and muscles
- Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries
- Other head, neck, or back injuries
- Burns
- Crushing injuries
- Internal bleeding and injuries
Insurance Claims for Bronx Uber Accidents
The vast majority of motor vehicle accidents give rise to an insurance claim for compensation of the damages to the parties and victims involved. Uber accidents, however, can add an extra layer of complication to the process of seeking compensation because of the unique nature of the relationship between an Uber driver and a rideshare company. Uber drivers do not work for Uber and are independent contractors.
However, Uber’s insurance covers their at-fault drivers and the losses of certain Uber accident victims. Understanding when the Uber coverage kicks in can tell you what to expect in your case. Our Uber accident attorney can review your case and help you determine whether coverage from Uber for your losses may be available in your case and all other possible options for recovery available to you.
The Steps You Should Take After an Uber Accident in the Bronx.
How you proceed in the days and weeks after a rideshare accident can play a part in your case and influence the outcome of a claim. Your priority after an Uber crash is to heal from injuries, but you should also think about how you can protect your rights.
Continue to See Your Doctor
Your injuries cannot heal overnight. After getting the initial emergency treatment for your Uber accident injuries, you should continue to follow your doctor’s advice and treatment plan for you. An insurer will review whether you follow the doctor’s orders when evaluating your claim and damages.
Contact an Uber Accident Lawyer in the Bronx
Dealing with Uber accident insurance claims is a challenge, and you should get help to manage your claim and case following a crash. An Uber accident attorney in the Bronx can help you prepare your claim for an Uber crash and gather the evidence you need to build a strong case and prove liability for your injuries and the extent of your damages.
Frequently Asked Questions for Bronx Uber Accidents
Can I sue someone for my Bronx Uber accident injuries?
If you suffered anything but the most minor injuries, then chances are good you can. People who suffer only minor injuries may not have the right to sue if those injuries are fully covered by a personal injury protection insurance policy (also known as a no-fault policy). Consult an experienced Bronx Uber accident lawyer if you are unsure if this applies to you.
Victims of a Bronx Uber accident who suffer significant injuries generally have legal rights to seek compensation from anyone whose careless, reckless, or intentional actions caused their crash. That may include the Uber driver, the driver or owner of some other vehicle involved in the crash, an automotive manufacturer, the City of New York, and even Uber itself in some instances.
Talk to an experienced Bronx Uber accident lawyer today about the details of your accident to find out if you can sue an at-fault party for damages.
Doesn’t Uber have insurance that should pay for my injuries?
Sort of. It depends on the Uber driver’s status at the time of the accident.
Uber provides liability insurance for its drivers. That insurance exists to pay for damages the drivers cause to anyone (not just their own passengers) in an accident.
However, that insurance only provides coverage during certain periods of time, and it provides varying amounts of coverage during the periods when it applies:
- Period 0: This period refers to the point of time when the Uber driver is not logged on to the Uber app. Meaning, there is no liability insurance coverage available if an accident occurs during this time.
- Period 1: During this period, an Uber driver is logged in to the Uber app, but has not accepted a ride request yet. If the driver is an accident during this time, Uber provides coverage for any accident that is the fault of the Uber driver. Including coverage up to $50,000 per person that is injured, $25,000 property damage liability, and $100,000 total injury liability per accident.
- Period 2: During Period 2, an Uber driver has accepted a request and is on their way to pick up the passenger. If a crash occurs during this time, the coverage increases to $1million.
- Period 3: This period extends from the time the passenger is in the Uber through the drop-off. Coverage during this time is up to $1million, plus limited coverage for damages to the driver’s car, and uninsured motorist coverage.
In other words, if you suffered injuries in an accident involving an Uber car, it is important to find out the Uber driver’s status at the time of the accident as soon as possible. That determination can make a big difference in the amount of money available to pay your damages.
Contact an experienced Bronx Uber accident lawyer as soon as you can after an accident to begin investigating your rights to coverage under Uber’s driver insurance.
How much money can I recover for my Bronx Uber accident injuries?
It depends mostly on two broad factors: the severity of your injuries, and the amount of insurance or assets that an at-fault party has available to pay you.
The severity of your injuries matters because it influences the amount of damages a Bronx Uber accident victim can typically seek as compensation, such as the amounts of the victim’s:
- Medical bills—including past and future medical expenses;
- Lost wages-including past and future wages;
- Lost earning capacity;
- Rehabilitation costs;
- Household care services;
- Surgery costs;
- Personal property damages;
- Pain and Suffering;
- Mental anguish;
- Loss of enjoyment of life and activities;
- Loss of consortium; and
- Disfigurement.
The financial resources of the party that has legal liability for your injuries matter because the greater the resources, the better your chances of recovering the full amount of your injuries. That is why figuring out the Uber driver’s status is so important: It could mean the difference between $1 million in available insurance coverage, and a fraction of that amount.
An experienced Bronx Uber accident injury lawyer can evaluate your injuries to determine the full scope of damages you should have the right to recover, and can investigate your accident to identify all parties who have a legal liability to you.
Do I really need a Bronx Uber accident lawyer?
Yes, you do. There is little chance of you recovering the full value of the compensation you deserve without the services of an experienced Bronx car accident injury lawyer.
While you focus on recovering from your injuries, a skilled Uber crash lawyer can get to work tracking down the critical information necessary to determine the Uber driver’s status at the time of the crash. The lawyer can also investigate to figure out if other parties should also take some of the blame for causing the accident and your injuries. The lawyer can then devise an effective legal strategy, negotiate with defense lawyers and insurance companies, and (if necessary) take your case to court to pursue full and fair payment.
Do not trust just any lawyer with your Bronx Uber accident claim. If you or a family member suffered serious injuries in a Bronx car accident involving an Uber car, our experienced Uber accident injury lawyer, Ivan M. Diamond, is ready to talk to you today.
For a Free Uber Accident Case Review, Call The Law Offices of Ivan M. Diamond
Ivan M. Diamond Uber Accident Lawyer in Bronx
The Law Offices of Ivan M. Diamond are available to help the victims of an Uber accident in the Bronx. If you suffer injuries and damages as a passenger in an Uber, as a pedestrian, or as an occupant in another vehicle, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact us at (718) 588-2000 to schedule a free case review with a personal injury attorney in Bronx office and discuss your legal options.
The Law Offices of Ivan M. Diamond – Bronx Office
888 Grand Concourse Suite #1L, 10451
Phone: (718) 588-2000
Client Testimonial:
Review:
“I was blessed to have the law offices of Ivan M. Diamond represent me in an accident case I had a few years back. Throughout the process, Mr. Diamond was not just a attorney who fought and got me a cash settlement, but he showed me a decent and compassionate human being who should empathy and concern. I recommended him for over a half dozen cases since then and all clients feel the same as I do. This lawyer and firm is the best!”
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