Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft have become extremely popular. But sometimes Uber drivers can cause motor vehicle accidents. When that happens, passengers can be seriously injured. People who have been injured in an Uber need an experienced Uber personal injury lawyer. Attorney John Mattiacci and the legal team at Mattiacci Law have experienced in handling ride share accident cases against companies such as Uber.

Can an Uber Driver Be Held Responsible for an Accident?

An Uber driver can be held responsible for a car accident if the driver was negligent. If an Uber driver drives in an unsafe manner, he or she may be negligent. This can include speeding, running a stop sign, rear-ending another vehicle, or looking at his or her phone instead of the road and causing a collision. If that negligence results in a crash and injures someone, then the Uber driver may be responsible.

How Much Insurance Does an Uber Vehicle Carry?

One positive about being a passenger in an Uber vehicle that if there is an accident there is usually a significant insurance policy available. Typically, Uber vehicles carry a $1 million while the Uber vehicle is on its way to pick up a scheduled passenger or while a passenger is being driven in the vehicle. This amount of money is far in excess of what is typically carried by regular taxi cabs in Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, a regular taxi is only required to carry $15,000 in liability coverage. That is only a fraction of the money available under an Uber policy, where there is $1 million in coverage available while a passenger is being driven in the vehicle.

However, the $1 million does not always apply. There may be less insurance money available if an Uber driver causes an accident while that driver is simply driving around waiting to be matched with a passenger.

Issues like these are why it is important to have an experienced Uber personal injury lawyer to evaluate your case. The team at Mattiacci Law has more than seventeen years of experience handling car accident cases. Our team of Philadelphia car accident lawyers have not only handled accidents against taxis and ride share services, but also against commercial vehicles, trucks, and commercial shuttles.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motor Vehicle Insurance

One of the most important types of car insurance is uninsured and underinsured motor vehicle coverage. This insurance helps to protect you if you are in an Uber vehicle and another driver in another car causes an accident and injures you. If the driver who causes the accident doesn’t have insurance, then Uber should have up to $1 million in uninsured motorist coverage (UM) available. This is insurance that comes into play when the other driver doesn’t have insurance to pay for your injuries.

Underinsured motorist coverage can help pay your damages if the other driver who injuries you doesn’t have enough insurance to fully compensate you for your injuries and damages. If another driver is at fault and doesn’t have enough money, then Uber should have up to $1 million in underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) to help pay for your injuries and damages. 

It is incredibly important for you to hire an experienced Uber accident lawyer if you are in an accident. Our firm knows the ins and outs of these cases. Call us today for a free consultation.

Tips for Staying Safe in an Uber

Ride-sharing services like Uber can be very convenient. However, there are way to make sure you stay safe when you use this service. This goes beyond wearing a seat belt, which is something that should be done.

First, make sure you match the car that is identified on the app as your assigned vehicle is the one that you get into. The app should identify the make, model, and color of the car that is coming to pick you up. It should also list the license plate. Be sure to match the description and plate number on the app to the vehicle that picks you up. Do this before you enter the vehicle.

Another way to stay as safe as possible is to have the driver confirm your name when you get into the car. The assigned driver should have your name from the driver’s Uber app. If the driver cannot identify you when you ask, then you should not get into the vehicle.

Finally, you can share your ride information with family or friends. The Uber app has a “Share Trip Status” feature built into it. This allows you to share your ride information, route, and ETA with the person you choose to share it with. If you use this feature, it should allow you to send this information to a family member or friend. That person should also receive updates via text or notifications about the status of your trip and the ETA.

We Don’t Get Paid Unless We Recover Money

We never charge anything for an initial consultation. Our firm does not charge a retainer. We don’t require our clients to pay a dime up front. Our firm uses a contingent fee. This means that we only get paid if we win the case and recover money. If we don’t win your case, then we do not get paid anything.

Call Now If You Have Been Injured in an Uber Vehicle

Contact Uber accident lawyer John Mattiacci today if you have been in an accident. We stand ready to fight for you.