You can sue a rideshare service in the event of an accident. However, there are certain factors to keep in mind. Even though there are terms and agreements you sign up for when you begin using these types of rideshare services, they do not prevent the company from being liable in the event of an accident. Both the driver and the company that employs them can be held responsible if their negligence results in either physical injury or mental anguish for their passenger. Further, these lawsuits can apply to anybody who is affected by an accident with an Uber vehicle. For example, not only can a passenger sue if they were in the car at the time of an accident and suffered injuries in the process, so can the driver who was hit by the rideshare car, or a pedestrian, and so on. The company should be held liable for its employees’ accidents. The same would be true if a milk truck from a grocery story ran into you at a stoplight. Due to the milk truck’s affiliation with the grocery store, the grocery store may be brought into the lawsuit under certain circumstances. There are mitigating factors to keep in mind, like whether an employee was on the clock at the time of the accident in question, whether the company knew what they were doing, whether or not the driver was under the influence of illicit substances at the time of the accident, whether the driver was texting or otherwise using an electronic device while driving, and more.
Are Uber Accidents Common?
Unfortunately, Uber accidents are all too common. Uber and similar rideshare services have gained control over the majority of the rideshare market in the United States, and as a report from the University of Chicago found, accidents have been steadily climbing. These services have slowly replaced taxis in some cities—although certain cities ban their use in certain areas due to the economic and socio-economic impact it has on their working-class taxi drivers. An unintended side effect of this shift from taxi drivers to people who drive Uber is that the accident rate is higher. While this can be attributed to a variety of things, it mostly boils down to one key factor: inexperience. All it takes to get certified to become a rideshare driver is to fill out some forms, have a car in your name, and have a valid driver’s license. Suddenly, you are qualified to drive people around from dusk until dawn with nobody really watching your safety measures. Some rideshare services make their drivers pass background checks; some are more extensive than others. Typically, hardened criminals who have histories of dangerous behavior will be barred from employment, but people who have been guilty of dangerous driving practices in the past will be free to work as they please. Combine this with the long hours that some people work just to make ends meet, and it can be a recipe for disaster. An important factor to consider when thinking about an Uber driver’s aptitude to drive is how much driving can make a person tune out to their surroundings. If you have ever driven on a road trip for hours at a time, you know how disassociated you can become from staring at the road for long periods. When Uber drivers work long shifts, constantly picking up and dropping off clients, their senses can become dulled. On America’s roadways, even a second of delayed reaction time can end in tragedy. When a rideshare driver puts you in harm’s way, for any reason, somebody needs to be held responsible. Suing Uber for an accident can help protect your right to compensation for the pain and suffering you have been through.
A Law Firm Ready to Fight for You
When you call an Uber or similar rideshare service, you probably have a reasonable expectation of safety—and rightfully so. These companies owe it to their customers to keep them safe and out of harm’s way. When that expectation of safety is betrayed, it can be difficult to know where to turn. The team of personal injury lawyers at the Morris Bart law firm is here to help, whether that involves suing a rideshare service like Uber or taking other action. We have worked with countless clients who have suffered injuries in these types of accidents, so we have likely seen a case just like yours. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in any way at the hands of a rideshare driver, call us today at (800) 537-8185 to learn more about our services, which could include suing Uber for your accident. You do not have to go through this alone. We will fight to protect your right to compensation and find out who was truly at fault in your case so you can move on with the rest of your life and make ends meet moving forward.