Uber Accident Settlement Amounts: What to Know as an Injured Passenger
It seems like yesterday that taxi cabs were our primary mode of transportation (other than the subway and buses) around New York City. Ride-sharing companies like Uber exploded onto the streets in NYC in 2011 and haven’t looked back. While Uber rides are convenient, car accidents continue to rise as more vehicles take to our city streets.
According to the ride-sharing company website, Uber drivers are vetted with background checks and ongoing driver checks built into its platform. But NYC is a congested city, and Uber drivers are independent contractors with their pay based on how many rides they can get in a day. Many rush to get from one destination to another to make more money. That’s a recipe for a car accident.
What Happens if You’re Injured in a New York Uber Accident?
You should know your rights if you are injured as a passenger in an Uber accident, how the process works, and what type of accident settlement amounts you could be entitled to. The first thing to do is to contact a New York Uber accident lawyer to learn about your options. Schedule a free case evaluation with the Brooklyn Law Office of Nicholas E. Tzaneteas, an experienced Uber accident attorney who will guide you every step of the way.
Why Contact an Uber Accident Attorney?
Because Uber drivers are not employees and must carry auto insurance for business use, you can expect the ride-sharing company to challenge your claim and advise you first to pursue damages against the driver’s personal auto insurance. Unfortunately, the Uber driver’s policy will likely not have enough coverage to respond in the event of serious injuries — if they are covered at all.
If the Uber driver is at fault, an experienced attorney, depending on the circumstances of the case, will help you seek compensation from Uber’s insurance to cover your medical treatment for bodily injury. Uber must carry $1.25 million in bodily injury and property damage coverage on its commercial insurance policy. Coverage is applicable when:
- The Uber App is on, and the driver is waiting on a request to pick up a passenger;
- The driver has accepted the request of a passenger and is on the way to pick up the passenger; or
- The passenger is in the vehicle and ends when the passenger exits the car.
However, to file a personal injury claim against Uber, you must meet the serious injury threshold in New York, as the state is under the No-Fault system. According to New York law, ride-sharing app companies must carry minimum levels of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage (no-fault insurance) for accidents while an Uber driver transports a passenger.
If you meet the serious injury threshold, you may be entitled to recover compensation for lost income and pain and suffering, especially if you have severe injuries in a car accident involving a negligent Uber driver. Like any personal injury case, your Uber accident settlement amount will depend on your specific case.
A negligent driver is one who is intoxicated, speeding, aggressively driving, tailgating, changing lanes improperly, or violating traffic rules (like failing to stop at a red light or stop sign). You need to prove negligence with personal injury claims. An experienced car accident lawyer will investigate your case, search for videos of the collision, obtain accident reports, and interview eyewitnesses to help determine negligence.
What Damages Can You Recover in a New York Uber Car Accident?
Under the law, the damages you may obtain for Uber accident claims include compensation for
- Medical bills and expenses
- Past and future medical, hospital, rehabilitation, disability, and other healthcare-related expenses
- Long-term treatment
- Past economic losses, including lost wages, salary or income, and property damage
- Loss of quality of life
- Past and future physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, and physical impairment
- Loss of future income due to any long-term disability and permanent diminished earning capacity
- Punitive damages (for outrageous wrongful conduct)
- Wrongful death when the lawsuit is brought by the family of the loved one who died
It’s important to work with New York Uber accident lawyers to get the compensation you deserve for your serious injuries. Uber’s insurance company may quickly settle to minimize its liability and underestimate the amount you are due. While it’s challenging to say what the average Uber accident settlement should be, a personal injury lawyer understands the ins and outs of negotiating Uber accident settlements.
Contact the Law Office of Nicholas E. Tzaneteas, Experienced New York Uber Accident Attorneys
If you or a loved one was an Uber passenger and injured in an accident, call Nicholas E. Tzaneteas to help you navigate your Uber accident case. He will guide you every step of the way, fighting for your rights as injury victims. Attorney Tzaneteas has successfully represented hundreds of victims of car accidents and has recovered millions of dollars for these clients to repair themselves and their lives.