Maison Law can help you through the aftermath of a car accident in Manhattan Beach. Like most beach communities in the South Bay, there’s thousands of people streaming in and out of Manhattan Beach almost every day. That offers a lot of opportunities for Uber and other rideshares, but that also means that there’s a higher chance of an accident with one. We can help you understand your options and guide you through the process. Set up a free consultation today.
Does a Lawyer Make Sense After an Uber Accident?
When you’re looking forward to a fun day at the beach or a night out on El Porto, an Uber ride is usually a safe way to get around the city. But like any other car ride, it could result in an accident.
And with a car accident, there’s always questions that come up—and the more complicated things are, the more talking to our Uber accident lawyers makes sense. We can help you by:
- Explaining your options in plain, straightforward language.
- Looking into the accident and figuring out who all might be responsible.
- Getting important evidence to strengthen your claim.
- Handling the insurance companies and settlement negotiations.
- Taking your case to court if a fair settlement doesn’t happen.
The last thing you should have to worry about while recovering is sorting through insurance policies and questions. We’ll handle that part while you focus on getting better.
Information That Can Help After an Uber Accident
Although it’s a bit different in real-life, an Uber accident is still a car accident at its core. That makes it a bit easier to narrow down the types of information that can help you. But the challenge is that there’s a couple additional things that you’ll need later.
But before you reach that point, the very first thing you should do is call 911 to report the accident and get medical help. You can also report the accident to Uber on your end, although the driver is probably going to have a more involved procedure from their end. While you’re waiting for the ambulance and police, that’s a good opportunity to get the basics, like:
- Pictures of the vehicles, your injuries, road conditions, traffic signals, and anything else related to the accident.
- Contact information from any witnesses or bystanders
- Insurance and contact information from the other driver, as well as your Uber driver
- Screenshots of your trip receipt, the driver’s profile, pickup and drop-off locations, your route, and any messages exchanged through the app
Of course, because it’s a car accident, there’s important things that won’t be available right away. You still need to keep track of them, though. This usually involves:
- The police report. This helps document when and where the accident happened, who was involved, and what the responding officer saw at the scene.
- Medical records. ER visits, follow-up appointments, imaging, prescriptions, and physical therapy all help connect your injuries to the accident.
- Surveillance or dashcam footage. Video from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, or dashcams can be some of the strongest evidence in an Uber accident case.
With an Uber accident, information can feel like it’s coming from everywhere. But don’t worry if you can’t get all this information right away. Focus on what you have for now, and our team can fill in the gaps later.
Who’s Responsible For Your Injuries in an Uber Accident?
Again, there’s a lot that feels different with an Uber accident. And while there are certainly differences, you have to remember that it’s still a car accident, so responsibility for your injuries is still determined in the same way: showing negligence.
That means responsibility could fall on some combination of:
- The Uber driver
- Another driver involved in the accident
- A city or government agency if dangerous road conditions played a role
- A vehicle manufacturer if a defective vehicle or part caused the accident
With all that said, probably the biggest difference in an Uber accident is how insurance coverage is applied. Because Uber drivers are considered “independent contractors,” the insurance that’s available depends on what the driver was doing when the accident happened.
- During an active trip or while driving to pick up a passenger, Uber generally provides up to $1 million in liability coverage.
- While logged into the app and waiting for a ride request, lower coverage limits typically apply.
- When the app is off, the driver’s personal auto insurance policy usually applies.
So, there’s a lot of moving parts with an Uber accident, but things don’t actually work all that differently than a normal car accident. From your perspective, you still have options for getting financial help.
Damages That You Can Get When You File an Uber Accident Claim
Whether you’re riding in the Uber or driving your own car, an accident can still leave you facing all the same things that any other car accident does. And again, your options are the same as they would be if it were a car accident with any other driver. You can either go through insurance or file a lawsuit to get damages.
Every case is different, but the goal is the same: getting financial for the losses the accident has caused. Depending on your injuries and the facts of your case, you may be able to recover damages for:
- Medical bills
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Damage to your personal property
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
Again, every situation is different because every accident is different. With that said, it’s also important to look at the specifics of Uber accidents here.
Where Uber Accidents Happen Most Often in Manhattan Beach
Uber drivers spend most of their time where people need rides, which also happens to be where traffic is heaviest. While an accident can happen anywhere, there are a few places around Manhattan Beach where rideshare crashes are more common.
- Downtown Manhattan Beach, with its restaurants, shops, pedestrians, and nightlife.
- The Manhattan Beach Pier and The Strand throughout the day, especially on weekends.
- Manhattan Village and nearby shopping centers, particularly during evenings and weekends.
- Sepulveda Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue each see higher speeds, congestion, and constant lane changes.
No matter where your accident happened, though, the important question isn’t the location—it’s what caused the accident and what you’ve been left dealing with. That’s where the claims process comes in, and our team will be with you from the start to help.
Reach Out to Maison Law After a Manhattan Beach Uber Accident
An Uber ride should get you where you’re going safely. When it doesn’t, the aftermath can leave you dealing with medical bills, missed work, insurance companies, and plenty of unanswered questions.
At Maison Law, our Manhattan Beach Uber accident lawyers can help you understand your options and guide you through everything. Reach out today to set up a free consultation.
