Practice Areas Car Accidents Uber Accidents

Boca Raton Attorneys Helping Car Crash Victims

As ride-sharing apps increase in popularity, so does the potential for accidents and injuries involving their services. Uber, as one of the first companies to offer passengers this option, is also one of the first that should have proper measures in place to ensure their safety. When an Uber accident results from a driver’s careless conduct, the car accident attorneys at The Grife Law Firm are ready to advocate for the victims. Although this specific area of personal injury law is relatively new, our experience in dealing with insurance companies, employers, and other large parties helps protect the rights of our clients. Our Boca Raton Uber accident lawyers can represent people in many areas of South Florida.

Ride-Sharing Company Requirements and Accountability for Uber Accidents

Unlike traditional taxi services, which require drivers to be licensed and bonded, Uber has no such regulations regarding the drivers whom it employs. As a new type of “transportation network company,” Uber may be laxer when it comes to engaging in background checks, training, and other measures taken by cab companies. Uber advertises high-limit insurance policies that allow for $1 million in damages when a passenger is injured in an accident. However, this amount may not be enough in cases of severe or permanent injuries, or when more than one person has been involved in the same accident, since that limit is aggregated among victims. In these types of situations, a victim may need to pursue legal action against a driver, or against Uber, in order to be properly compensated for their harm.

Uber has often argued that its drivers are independent contractors, rather than employees of the company. However, its drivers have filed numerous employment actions in order to argue against that classification, with mixed results. As a result, Uber sometimes may be vicariously liable for the negligent actions of a driver if an argument may be made that the driver was acting within the scope of their employment at the time of a crash. Aside from passengers, numerous other people may be injured if they have been involved in a crash with an Uber driver, including pedestrians and bicyclists.

If someone is injured as a passenger in an Uber, they may file a claim to recover damages based on the legal theory of negligence. To establish negligence, a victim must show that the defendant owed a duty of care and fell short of that duty in their actions, causing the victim’s injuries and resulting in damages. Uber drivers must act as a reasonable driver would act in similar circumstances. When a driver decides to keep picking up passengers after becoming fatigued and spending many hours on the road, for example, they may be held liable for a resulting crash. In addition, Uber itself may be held accountable for its negligent hiring or retention of drivers who have a history of driving under the influence, or other infractions indicating negligent decision-making on the road. If liability can be proved, victims may be able to recover damages for medical expenses, loss of income, loss of earning capacity, pain, and suffering, and other forms of harm, depending on the extent of their injuries.