If you were injured in an accident involving a rideshare company, it’s important to consult an experienced Lake Charles Uber accident lawyer who understands how to protect your legal rights. Contact Hale Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today at (337) 426-1071.
These accidents often involve complex insurance issues. At Hale Injury Lawyers, we’re prepared to help you fight for compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and your personal suffering. Our lawyers have over 61 years of combined experience in personal injury law.
To learn more about how we can help you secure the compensation you need, contact our law offices in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Why Should I Hire Hale Injury Lawyers for Help After an Uber Accident in Lake Charles?
You’ll need the answers to many different questions before you can recover compensation after an Uber accident. Who caused the accident? What was the rideshare driver doing at the time of the crash? Can the rideshare company be held liable?
Our Lake Charles personal injury attorneys at Hale Injury Lawyers can help. We’ve helped our injured clients recover tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts over the years.
We’re ready to use our experience to help you stand up to the insurance company by:
- Investigating and gathering evidence to win your case
- Identifying the insurance policy that applies in your case
- Hiring experts as needed to establish causation
- Calculating the value of your personal injury case
- Negotiating with the rideshare company, at-fault driver, and insurance companies
- Fighting to recover fair compensation in court if necessary
Our Lake Charles personal injury lawyers have been recognized among the Top Trial Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers “Rising Stars.” Get in touch with our legal team today to schedule a free initial consultation to learn more about how we can fight for you.
Statistics on Louisiana Uber Accidents
Louisiana crash data does not specify whether a rideshare vehicle has been involved in an accident. That makes it tough to know exactly how frequently Uber accidents occur in the state.
Uber has released its own safety reports. In Uber’s most recent safety report, it found that motor vehicle fatalities involving an Uber vehicle increased by 7% between 2017 and 2020. In the year that includes 2019-2020, 101 people lost their lives in car accidents involving an Uber driver. The report does not discuss injuries sustained in Uber crashes.
An independent study found that Uber and Lyft may be making the roads more dangerous across the U.S. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research, fatal traffic accidents increased by between 2% and 4% each year since rideshare companies were introduced in U.S. cities.
What is My Lake Charles Uber Accident Case Worth?
When our lawyers calculate the value of your accident claim, we’ll consider all of the unique aspects of your case, including:
- The severity of your injuries
- Your current medical expenses
- Your need for future medical treatment
- The circumstances of the accident
- Whether you miss work and income during recovery
- Whether you will suffer a long-term or permanent disability
If you were injured in an accident, don’t hesitate to reach out to our lawyers in Lake Charles for legal advice today. We’d be happy to provide more information about your case value in a free case review.
What Damages Can Be Awarded to Uber Accident Victims in Lake Charles?
After a crash, Uber accident victims can seek full compensation for their economic and non-economic losses.
If your personal injury claim is successful, you may be entitled to receive compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Rehabilitation and nursing care
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
- Damages for wrongful death in fatal accident cases
Our lawyers are ready to help you fight to recover the fair compensation you deserve. Give us a call today to learn more about how an experienced Lake Charles car accident lawyer can fight for you.
How Do I Recover Compensation After a Rideshare Accident in Lake Charles?
Uber and Lyft don’t require their drivers to carry commercial insurance. Many Uber drivers only carry the minimum coverage required under state law.
However, insurance companies have the right to deny a claim if the driver was using their personal vehicle for commercial reasons. Because Uber drivers operate for a profit, their personal insurance policies typically aren’t available after a crash.
Fortunately, under Louisiana state law, Uber must carry its own commercial insurance coverage. If you were injured in an Uber accident, you may be entitled to file a claim with Uber’s insurance company. To access that policy, you will have to establish the driver’s status at the time of the crash.
Uber Driver is Available to Accept Ride Requests
If the driver is logged into the Uber app and available to accept ride requests, the following insurance coverage is available:
- $50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $100,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $25,000 in property damage per accident
This coverage is third-party liability coverage. It only becomes available when another insurance policy is not available to cover your damages.
Uber Driver Has Accepted a Passenger Request
Once the rideshare driver has accepted a passenger request, a larger insurance policy becomes available.
That coverage offers:
- $1,000,000 third-party liability coverage
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for bodily injury
- Contingent comprehensive and collision coverage
The $1 million policy applies while the driver is en route to pick up the passenger and for the duration of the passenger’s ride.
Uber Driver is Logged Out of the Uber App
If the Uber driver is not logged into the app, the accident is treated like any other motor vehicle accident. Injured parties can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s personal insurance carrier.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for an Uber Accident in Louisiana?
Under Louisiana’s pure comparative negligence law, it may be possible to recover compensation even if you share fault for the accident. In fact, it’s common for insurance companies to blame accident victims for their injuries.
If you share some fault for the accident, however, your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault.
Our Lake Charles Uber Accident Attorneys Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries
There’s no special protection for Uber passengers in a crash.
At Hale Injury Lawyers, we often represent accident victims who have sustained:
- Whiplash
- Concussions
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
It’s important to get medical care as soon as you can after an accident. Injuries can impact your life in unexpected ways. Our car accident lawyers in Lake Charles are here to help with the legal issues while you focus on getting better.
What Causes Most Uber Accidents in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
Uber and Lyft accidents happen for many different reasons. Uber drivers are often distracted by their GPS or looking for passengers instead of paying attention to road conditions.
Some of the most common causes of Uber accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Stopping in unsafe locations
- Tailgating, speeding, and aggressive driving
- Road rage
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Road hazards
- Fatigued Uber drivers
- Improper vehicle maintenance
Countless people rely on Uber drivers to reach their destinations safely. If you were injured due to someone else’s careless actions, contact our Lake Charles Uber accident attorneys for a free case evaluation today.
How Do I Prove Negligence if I Was Injured in an Uber Accident in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
Louisiana is an “at fault” state when it comes to car insurance. To recover compensation, you must prove that someone else caused your accident. Most crash victims must establish negligence.
Negligence consists of four elements:
- A legal duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
All drivers have a duty to drive carefully to prevent accidents. If you were injured, our lawyers are here to help you determine who was responsible. We’ll review your medical records and accident reports, interview witnesses, and even obtain data from the Uber app. Just give us a call to learn more about how we can help today.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Rideshare Accident in Louisiana?
You only have two years to file a lawsuit after a car crash in Louisiana. Once the two-year statute of limitations expires, you can no longer seek compensation from the at-fault driver.
Contact a Lake Charles Uber Accident Lawyer for a Free Initial Consultation
Uber and Lyft are extremely convenient. However, if you were injured in an accident, recovering fair compensation can be a challenge. Contact an experienced Lake Charles Uber accident lawyer at Hale Injury Lawyers to learn more about how our team can help.
