If you were injured in an accident involving a rideshare driver, you might be entitled to compensation. Contact the Santa Clarita personal injury lawyers of OnderLaw right now to learn about the available legal options and how we could help you hold the negligent party liable.
A rideshare service, such as Lyft or Uber, offers convenient transportation to passengers. You can get a ride to work, school, a restaurant, or another city. It is typically much more affordable than taking a taxi. You might assume you’re safe, but the driver’s misconduct could result in a severe car crash.
Most people don’t understand the danger of using a rideshare service. Employees aren’t professional drivers. They’re regular people transporting others to make money. They are susceptible to the same mistakes as other motorists. If they behave recklessly at the wheel, they could place their passengers and the occupants of other vehicles in harm’s way.
The Santa Clarita rideshare accident lawyers of OnderLaw understand the devastation of suffering injuries in a car accident. A wreck like that can take a significant physical and psychological toll. The economic strain of paying various medical bills and other costs could lead to massive debt. Out-of-pocket expenses should not burden you if your actions didn’t contribute to your injuries.
Call OnderLaw today for a free consultation and let us help you get on the road to recovery.
Pursuing compensation from a rideshare company can be a challenging process. If you choose to proceed without hiring a lawyer, you could end up without the money you’re owed. Most people don’t realize insurance companies aren’t looking out for the interests of accident victims. Insurance companies are out to save money whenever possible. They might look for evidence to show you were at fault instead of their policyholder so they can deny your claim.
It’s always beneficial to have an experienced legal team on your side. OnderLaw can investigate the accident and obtain all available evidence to prove you deserve compensation for your injuries. We don’t allow insurance companies to intimidate us or take advantage of our clients. We will aggressively seek the maximum settlement possible to pay for your hospitalization, prescriptions, physical therapy, and other expenses.
You can find yourself in a range of scenarios that lead to a rideshare accident. You don’t have to be a passenger to become involved in a collision with a negligent rideshare driver. Rideshare accidents can happen when you are:
A number of factors can lead to a collision with a rideshare driver. Negligence is a common basis for cases like this. “Negligence” is the failure to provide a reasonable degree of care to avoid causing injury to another person. When a motorist or another party is negligent, an accident can occur.
The most common causes of rideshare accidents include:
The Santa Clarita rideshare accident lawyers of OnderLaw know state laws regarding car accidents. We can perform a thorough investigation to determine who was at fault. We will gather all the available evidence to try to prove that the rideshare driver should be held liable and pursue the maximum compensation possible for your losses.
Car accidents typically cause injuries to the people involved. Even fender benders can lead to whiplash or minor scrapes and bruises. The most common injuries rideshare accidents cause are:
Some accident victims become paralyzed or suffer ongoing medical problems. A permanent disability can prevent you from returning to your usual routine and affect your quality of life. The careless rideshare driver should face the consequences of their misconduct. It is your right to hold them financially responsible for your incurred costs.
Many people experience financial strain following a car crash. If you suffered losses, you could file an insurance claim to compensate for:
Every motorist in California must carry auto insurance with liability coverage. If the accident happened while the driver’s rideshare app was off, you would have to file a claim with their personal auto insurance. However, some circumstances would allow you to pursue compensation from the rideshare company’s insurer.
For example, Uber provides these coverages to its drivers:
If you want to file a lawsuit against the rideshare driver, you could also pursue exemplary damages. Instead of compensating you for the losses you suffered, these damages punish the at-fault party and try to prevent them from engaging in similar actions in the future. However, clear and convincing evidence must prove the defendant acted with fraud, oppression, or malice.
There is a strict timeframe following a car crash allowing injured victims to sue the at-fault driver. This is called a statute of limitations. California has a two-year statute of limitations. That means you have two years from the date of the accident to initiate your lawsuit in civil court. Once the deadline passes, you will likely lose your right to seek compensation for your losses.
It’s critical to proceed with your case carefully. Avoid saying or doing anything that could negatively impact your lawsuit. Particularly, admitting any degree of fault could result in diminished compensation.
California follows a pure comparative negligence rule. This allows a jury to reduce a plaintiff’s financial award by the percentage of fault they share for an accident.
For example, if you suffered $100,000 in losses, but your actions were 20 percent responsible for your injuries, you could receive no more than $80,000. Even if you were 99 percent at fault for the crash, you could receive compensation for up to one percent of your total losses.
The moments following a car accident can be disorienting. Many people experience shock and can’t think clearly. Although it might be challenging, it’s critical to follow these steps to protect your rights.
First, go to the hospital. A physician in the emergency room should evaluate your condition to determine if you need additional medical care. Follow their orders if they recommend specific types of treatment to heal your injuries. Attend all of your doctor’s appointments regularly until your medical providers release you from their care. Skipping necessary treatment could not only ruin your recovery progress but also result in less compensation than you deserve.
Rehabilitation, prescriptions, hospitalization, ambulance services, and imaging tests are expenses you must pay while treating your injuries. However, the compensation you receive from the at-fault party could cover these costs. Be sure to keep a copy of your medical records, bills, and other documentation. These may be useful when we build a case to prove that someone else should be liable.
Hire a lawyer immediately after the accident. When you retain someone’s legal services, you won’t have to do any of the heavy lifting. Your lawyer will take on the responsibility for the case and complete every step on your behalf. Your primary focus should be on yourself and your recovery.
The Santa Clarita rideshare accident lawyers of OnderLaw have the resources and experience to meet your needs and try to reach a favorable outcome for you. We will remain in your corner until the end to fight for justice. You will receive the personalized attention you deserve from start to finish of the legal process.
Since 2002, OnderLaw has secured over $4 billion in settlements for accident victims. We take pride in the level of customer service we give to every client that hires us. You will be our top priority while working on your case. Our goal is to recover the full and fair compensation you need so you can pay for your treatment and move forward with your life.
If you were involved in an accident with a negligent rideshare driver, call OnderLaw immediately. One of our Santa Clarita rideshare accident lawyers can review the facts of your case during a free consultation and determine what we can do to help you in your time of need.
