White Marsh Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer

Many People rely on rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft to get to work, have a fun night out, or travel somewhere where parking is not the greatest. Unfortunately, drivers of Uber or Lyft vehicles get into accidents just like everyone else. Sadly, victims of these accidents are often badly injured and need to undergo costly medical treatment to return to some sense of normalcy.

Fortunately, we can help. Our lawyers know how to handle these cases and have the drive, professionalism, and knowledge to help you work with insurance companies and take those responsible for your injuries to court.

The Uber & Lyft accident lawyers from Rice, Murtha & Psoras are just a phone call away when you contact our office at (410) 694-7291.

Causes of Uber & Lyft Accidents in White Marsh

Uber accidents can happen for all sorts of reasons. For the purposes of your legal claims, determining the causes of your accident is important to building your case, as it can help determine who is liable for your injuries and whether certain insurance policies apply to your claim or not.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is a major cause of Uber & Lyft accidents. Uber drivers potentially have more distractions than ordinary drivers, so they may be more likely to get into accidents because of distracted driving. Uber and Lyft drivers often travel in unfamiliar territory. They may rely on a GPS either on their phone or in their vehicle to know where to go. If a rideshare driver pays too much attention to their GPS at the expense of keeping an eye on the road, that could easily lead to an accident. Additionally, just like any other motorist, Uber drivers may text or become engrossed in a phone call when they should be looking at the road, so that could also lead to a car crash.

Speeding

Speeding also frequently leads to rideshare accidents. Uber drivers may be more likely to speed because they have incentives to get their passengers to their destination quickly. Passengers who get where they are going quickly may be more likely to leave tips and positive reviews, and drivers who get their passengers where they need to be faster can pick up more passengers during their shift and potentially make more money. However, just because Uber drivers may speed does not mean that other drivers will not. If another driver hits you because they were speeding, you can sue them instead of your rideshare driver.

Driving Under the Influence

Driving under the influence is incredibly dangerous and against the law in every state. Intoxication makes reaction times slower and decision-making worse. Neither of those things is conducive to safe driving. Rideshare drivers are not supposed to be drunk when they are working, but if they are and get in an accident, you can certainly sue them for that conduct.

Keep in mind, though, that since driving drunk is a crime, there may be a criminal trial that has to happen before your civil claim is heard. The benefit of that, though, is that a criminal conviction for drunk driving during your accident can be introduced as evidence in your civil trial and help your case.

Tired Driving

Driving when you are tired or fatigued is just as dangerous as driving drunk. Uber drivers often have busy schedules and hectic shifts. An Uber driver who is tired and working late at night may not want to end their shift early and push through, which could lead to an accident happening because they are too tired to be driving.

Defective Vehicles

Sometimes, the reason for an accident is a problem with one of the cars involved, not anything a driver did. The law calls cars that have issues “defective.” A defect can be something like improper electrical wiring, use of substandard materials when building the vehicle, or improperly installed brakes or airbags.

Damages From Uber & Lyft Accident Lawsuits in White Marsh

If you take your case to court and prove that the defendant was liable for your injuries, you can get financial compensation called damages. Damages are the way that courts try to turn back the clock on events for the plaintiff so that they are in a similar spot to where they were before they got hurt. There are multiple kinds of damages you may get in a lawsuit, including:

Economic Damages

Economic damages come from things that can have their value readily displayed to the court. Your medical bills, property damage, and lost wages are all examples of economic damages you can seek in court. Evidence you can use to support economic damages include bills, receipts, pay stubs, and other “paper trails” showing their value. Even though there is documentation of the value of these damages, defendants may still try and mitigate them, so it is important to have a solid amount of evidence to support them.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages do not have their value spelled out in something like a bill or receipt. Instead, you will have to prove their value to the court through evidence and legal arguments. Examples of non-economic damages include pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are different from economic and non-economic damages in that they are not based on your condition but on the conduct of the defendant. You must ask for punitive damages in your initial filings, and courts will only award them if you prove that the defendant’s conduct goes beyond mere negligence. You should discuss with our lawyers whether seeking punitive damages is right for your claim.

Get in Touch with our White Marsh Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers Today

The Uber & Lyft accident legal professionals from Rice, Murtha & Psoras can review your claim for free when you call our office at (410) 694-7291.