Uber Accidents In Maricopa County
There are many options for traveling around major cities like Phoenix and Glendale, such as city buses, trains, taxi cabs, automobiles, scooters, bicycles, and walking. But no traveling option has become as popular in the last decade as ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft. Phoenix residents use the Uber app to request rides to transport them from point A to point B. Simply put, consumers can request an Uber ride with the click of a button. Taxi rates are frequently higher than those of Uber, and the cars tend to be of a much higher quality. At the same time, Uber vehicles have greater mobility than buses or trains that must follow a fixed route or track.
Although there are many upsides to traveling by Uber, there are also many risks. As the number of Uber vehicles grows in Phoenix, so do the number of car accidents and injuries associated with them. If you’ve recently been in an Uber accident in Arizona, contact our Phoenix Uber accident attorney at Klink Law, PLLC today. We’ll make sure we exhaust every resource to hold the negligent party or parties responsible for your injuries. Contact our office today for a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help.
Uber’s Auto Insurance Coverage
According to Uber, their drivers are not employees. Instead, Uber drivers are considered independent contractors. Despite the controversy, many people believe it will eventually alter, Uber continue to consider drivers as independent contractors. The difference between a contractor and an employee is critical to comprehend since employees have different legal protections than independent contractors. Employees may, for example, qualify for unemployment compensation. A business, on the other hand, is more likely to be held liable for its workers’ errors than it is for its own contractors.
In any case, if the rideshare driver was at fault for the accident, Uber insurance would most likely cover it. A Phoenix Uber accident attorney can properly advise you on the best actions to take to obtain compensation for your injuries. If you are injured in an Uber accident in Arizona, the following insurance coverages apply:
- If the Uber driver is on a ride with a passenger, or on the way to pick up a passenger, the company provides its drivers with $1 Million in liability coverage. This is usually through Allstate Insurance in Illinois. They also provide $1 million in uninsured and underinsured coverage for Uber drivers and passengers.
- However, if the Uber driver is available or waiting for a ride request, the company only provides liability insurance of $50,000 per person, $100,000 per occurrence.
- Finally, if the app is off, the Uber driver’s personal auto insurance would cover the loss. Here, unfortunately, you will often find a lot of their drivers have minimum or substandard auto insurance coverage.
Factors Affecting Uber Accident Claims In Arizona
The most significant problem in obtaining compensation for an Uber accident in Phoenix is that none of the drivers are considered employees. To put it another way, the firm is solely responsible for his or her actions outside of a certain period when they are working with the company’s network. Essentially, once that app screen is off, Uber is no longer responsible for their drivers.
There have been several requests from concerned legal representatives pleading for Uber to recognize its drivers as employees, but as of 2022, it has yet to do so. If you’ve been involved in an Uber accident you must understand the phases of Uber’s operation in order to determine whether they will be a party in your personal injury claim:
Offline Phase
If the driver is not connected to the Uber network and thus has no access to the app, the firm has no involvement in what happens. The vehicle is in sole control of the driver, who will be solely responsible for any accidents.
Available Phase
If the driver has enabled the app screen and is welcoming Uber users but hasn’t received a ride, the firm will be solely to blame for any negative events.
En Route Phase
While a passenger is being transported, a driver may get involved in an accident and, if this happens, the firm will be fully responsible for the injuries and damages sustained to the victim.
On Trip Phase
The same applies to Uber, which provides comprehensive insurance coverage for any passengers in one of its vehicles.
Knowing the company’s phase of operation and its level of involvement in an Uber accident is the first step toward obtaining compensation. You’re not alone if you’re confused and frightened by the intricacy of it all; many victims have similar concerns. Contact Klink Law, PLLC today to speak with our skilled Phoenix Uber accident attorney.
Ubers Vs Taxicabs: What’s The Difference?
The distinction between Uber and other rideshare businesses is that they are not regarded as taxi companies. In reality, they are software firms that use an electronic platform to act as a middleman for freelance drivers’ services. Because they are treated differently than taxi businesses, rideshare providers like Uber and Lyft can avoid certain rules and responsibilities.
Ubers are not regarded as commercial vehicles, as they are privately owned by freelance drivers who only use ride-hailing apps to varying degrees. Because the cars are not considered commercial vehicles, Uber is not subject to the same rules that apply to taxi cabs. There is a lot of grey area when it comes to independent contractor drivers and how much responsibility their company truly has. That’s why it’s so critical to have an experienced Uber accident attorney in Phoenix representing your personal injury claim.
Shocking Uber Accident Statistics
According to a recent study published by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, ridesharing apps have resulted in an exponential rise in motor vehicle accidents and fatalities over the past decade. According to the research, rideshare providers like Uber and Lyft have caused a 3% increase in overall automobile accident deaths.
This statistic was determined by analyzing the eight financial quarters for both companies before and after their rollout dates, as well as the popularity of rideshare usage over the last ten years. This research on Uber and Lyft accidents also included data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and accident rates in various major cities where the rideshare applications were first released (compared to total vehicle miles traveled). Some additional eye-opening Uber accident statistics include the following:
- Uber provides roughly 15 million rides per day worldwide
- Uber currently employs approximately 2 million drivers
- There are about 100 Uber accident fatalities each year
- 90% of Uber fatalities took place in urban areas like Phoenix
- 30% of fatal Uber crashes involve pedestrians
- 2% of Uber-related fatalities were bicyclists
Frequently Asked Questions
How Is Liability Proven In Uber Accidents?
To establish liability for your damages, we must prove the at-fault party’s negligence. To do this, the following must be shown and proven:
- The responsible party owed you a duty of care
- They breached their duty of care
- This breach caused your Uber accident and injuries
- You suffered damages in the crash
Our Glendale Uber accident attorney will collect the evidence needed to establish these facts in your case. We may use a police report, eyewitness testimony, video from a surveillance camera or a dash cam, and other evidence to identify who was at fault in the Uber accident. We will appeal to the responsible party’s insurance policy after we have gathered enough documentation of your losses.
What Damages Are Available to Uber Accident Victims?
This is a frequent concern we hear from people who have been in any sort of vehicle accident. It’s natural to wonder who will pay your medical bills or repairs for your automobile. In Arizona, personal injury victims are entitled to economic and non-economic damages compensation for both tangible and intangible losses. Economic losses in Arizona reimburse injured victims for out-of-pocket expenditures such as past and future medical expenses, such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Future medical expenses
- Lost future earning capacity
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitative care
- Long-term care
- Property damage
What Causes Most Uber Accidents in Arizona?
Uber drivers are people, and mistakes happen. They, like other motorists, are held to the same safety standards. If you’re an Uber accident in Arizona caused by a negligent Uber driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Although Uber accidents are relatively uncommon compared to normal car or truck accidents, there are certain causes of Uber accidents that are much more common. The following are some of the most frequent causes of Uber accidents in Phoenix:
- Distracted driving
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Pulling over to pick up/drop off passengers in an unsafe location
- Aggressive driving
- Unsafe passing
- Illegal turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
Contact Our Uber Accident Attorney Today
It’s critical to understand when you’re entitled to compensation, as well as the legal procedures for receiving it. It’s also vital for drivers and passengers to be aware of such issues as policy limitations and valid liability insurance carriers in order to get paid promptly after an Uber accident in Phoenix. Klink Law, PLLC has handled these difficult circumstances and can assist you with your case. Our experience in dealing with Uber accident claims allows us to obtain excellent settlements for our clients. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a rideshare accident, our Phoenix Uber accident attorney can help you get full compensation for your injuries, pain, and suffering. Taking the first step toward receiving the compensation you deserve is the most important thing you can do now. Please contact Klink Law, PLLC, immediately for a free consultation and learn more about how we can help.
