Long Beach Uber Accident Lawyer

Uber is a convenient, inexpensive method of getting around Long Beach. Many visitors use Uber instead of taxis, and even long-time residents will request a ride using the app if they don’t want to drive. Uber has transformed transportation in California, but it hasn’t eliminated accidents. Some people speculate that the rise of Uber and other rideshare companies has led to increased congestion on the roads.

At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, we have worked with many people hurt in collisions, including those injured in Uber accidents. Reach out to our law firm. We offer free consultations, which you can request by calling or sending us your personal details online. We have served the community for decades, and our Long Beach Uber accident attorneys know how to win these cases.

Were You Injured as an Uber Passenger?

Many of our clients were riding in an Uber when it crashed. They have unique needs. One question is who is to blame for the accident. As a passenger, you might end up filing a claim against:

• Your Uber driver for driving recklessly or negligently. Your driver could have run a red light, failed to yield, or followed another vehicle too closely. Your driver might have crashed because of distraction or fatigue. In these examples, your driver is primarily at fault for the accident, so you submit a claim on their insurance.
• A different driver. Perhaps another driver on the road crashed into your Uber. In that case, the other driver is at fault, and you will submit a claim on their insurance.
• The government. A road defect could have caused your accident. For example, a work zone could have been set up improperly, or stop signs might be obscured or missing. The government is usually on the hook for an accident when a road defect is to blame.
• Car manufacturer. Sometimes, defective parts on a vehicle render a car unstable. You might have a legal claim against the manufacturer of the malfunctioning part.

Passengers are usually shaken up after a crash. Your driver might not even want to call the police, but you should do so. You want to record the accident. Take other sensible steps, such as speaking to witnesses and photographing the vehicles using your phone, if you aren’t in too much pain.

Were You Struck by an Uber?

We can also help other motorists or even pedestrians who are struck by an Uber. The company does not do the best job screening out dangerous drivers. Many Uber drivers are exhausted at the end of the day and can make a mistake due to fatigue. Other drivers are simply dangerous because they want to pick up as many rides as they can.

As a motorist, you have needs different than those of passengers riding in the Uber. For example, a major question is how much insurance is available for you. The answer depends on where the driver was in a ride cycle:

• Up to $1 million is available if the driver had a passenger in the Uber at the time of the crash or had accepted a ride and was on their way to pick them up.
• Less insurance is available if the driver was merely logged into the app but hadn’t yet accepted a ride.

If the driver wasn’t even logged in, then you’ll submit a claim on their personal insurance. The driver might have the minimum insurance in California, which as of 2024 is only $15,000 per injured person. That might not even cover your medical bills.

The Uber driver could also blame you for the crash, in which case California’s comparative negligence law would come into play. It will reduce your compensation by a percentage equal to your share of the fault. So a jaywalking pedestrian hit by an Uber might be 50% to blame. That will cut your compensation in half.

We Can Jump in to Represent You

An Uber accident is disorientating for everyone involved. An important consideration is hiring a lawyer to begin compiling evidence to use. Unfortunately, Uber’s insurer is not eager to just send you a check for your injuries. They might completely deny the Uber driver is at fault. You’ll then be forced to make a claim on a different driver’s policy—or get no compensation at all.

Our firm has established a reputation for aggressive advocacy on behalf of clients. We can:

• Screen out calls and mail so you aren’t bothered by insurance adjusters
• Visit the scene to collect evidence
• Interview witnesses to find out what they saw
• Search for additional information, such as surveillance video which might have recorded the accident
• Work with doctors and experts to understand your prognosis
• Negotiate a fair package for your injuries
• Take any other necessary steps to secure favorable compensation for our clients

Winning a settlement is hard work, but we’ve developed techniques over the years that improve our odds of success. Specifically, we understand how insurers think and what kinds of settlement offers they have made in the past. Based on this knowledge, we can more effectively negotiate with the defendant by pointing out how much your injuries are worth.

Our firm will also head into court, where appropriate, to protect you. Our lawyers cut their teeth on trial work and know how to build a case, prepare witnesses, and present evidence in a compelling way to judges and juries.

How Much Can You Request in a Settlement?

An important question for accident victims is, “How much compensation can I get after an Uber accident?” There are many pieces to this answer.

First, we want to know how much you’ve spent dealing with the aftermath of the crash. Add up medical expenses, rehab, physical therapy, and prescriptions. Also, include the cost of car repairs if your vehicle was damaged.

Next, we consider how much income you lost because your injuries prevented you from working. Add in your lost income, even self-employment or part-time income.

Finally, we consider how much to request for bodily pain and emotional injuries. Someone in acute pain who cannot sleep should receive meaningful compensation for this inconvenience. Non-economic losses like depression, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life are subjective. But there are certain guideposts we use when estimating what is “fair.”

We are aggressive negotiators with many satisfied clients. There is no point in settling for too little in compensation because you often get one chance to obtain a favorable settlement and we want to help ensure that settlement is maximized.

How Much Time Do You Have?

Ideally, you should call a lawyer right away. We can stay on top of deadlines that apply to your case and make sure the paperwork is filed in time.

You should report an accident to your insurance promptly. Don’t delay. Call on the way to the hospital or after receiving treatment.

California also has a statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit. You will only get two years to file from the day of the crash. Wait too long—even a day too long—and you lose any ability to sue. You might lose your only leverage over the defendant, also.

Talk to a Long Beach Uber Accident Attorney Today

Were you injured in an Uber accident? Call El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers today at (714) 536-9366 for a free consultation. Our firm began representing Uber accident victims soon after ridesharing companies started popping up in Long Beach. We understand Uber’s rules regarding insurance, and we will do everything we can to increase what you take home for a settlement. Call us today to speak with a lawyer.