A car accident claim involving an Uber or another rideshare can be relatively complicated. You may have the option to seek compensation from the driver’s personal insurance or Uber’s insurance coverage. If you were involved in an Uber accident, it’s important to speak with an experienced Uber accident lawyer who understands the complexities of these cases.
A knowledgeable Uber rideshare accident attorney will not only understand the nuances of insurance coverage involved in your claim; they’ll be able to explain this to you clearly so you understand your options.
Roderick C. Lopez Personal Injury Lawyers will do just that, and more. Contact us in Laredo, TX, online or call us at (956) 567-9160 to schedule a free consultation.
How Roderick C. Lopez Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After an Uber Accident in Laredo
Attorney Roderick C. Lopez has over 25 years of legal experience and has recovered over $30 million in compensation for injured clients over the years. He’s also received the following recognitions for his work:
- Avvo – Top Attorney with a 9.4 rating
- Avvo – Clients’ Choice Award
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Member of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys
When you hire Roderick C. Lopez Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ll handle every aspect of your case, including:
- Evaluating your case and discussing your options;
- Gathering facts about your case;
- Assessing your damages;
- Discussing your options with you;
- Developing a case strategy;
- Contacting the insurance companies and negotiating a settlement on your behalf; and
- Taking your case to court when necessary.
To schedule a free consultation with a member of our team, contact our office in Laredo, Texas, today.
How Common Are Uber Accidents?
There are almost six million car accidents in the United States each year, on average. It’s hard to pinpoint how many of these accidents involve Uber or other rideshare drivers, as these companies don’t want to share the number of accidents their vehicles are involved in.
Uber disclosed in a report that the rate of fatal crashes involving their drivers in 2019 and 2020 was less than half of the national average. However, they did not include statistics regarding the overall number of accidents.
What Is My Laredo Uber Accident Case Worth?
There’s no simple formula for determining the value of your Uber accident claim. Rather, several factors will influence the value of your claim. Much of this information will not be immediately available and may take significant research or leg work to identify and assess.
The factors that will influence the value of your claim include:
- The extent of your injuries and any property damage;
- Whether you were also at fault in the accident; and
- The insurance policy limits.
When you hire our firm, we’ll take care to analyze how these factors impact your case to calculate the potential value of your claim.
What Kind of Damages Are Available to Uber Accident Victims?
If you were involved in an Uber accident in Laredo and another driver was at fault, then you can probably pursue damages as compensation for your injuries. Damages are a legal remedy available in personal injury cases for the injuries and losses a victim suffers.
Damages in personal injury cases can be divided into two main categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages concern the financial consequences of an accident or injury. Sometimes, they are referred to as “special damages” or “tangible damages.”
They include:
- Past and future medical costs;
- Vehicle or other property damage;
- Lost wages;
- Loss of earning capacity; and
- Other out-of-pocket expenses.
Most economic damages are easy to calculate because they are linked to a transaction, invoice, receipt, or other form of documentation. However, some future costs, such as long-term care or future medical expenses, are harder to calculate accurately.
These may require an expert witness to accurately assess and prove in a trial. Our experienced Laredo personal injury lawyer will help you assess the full extent of your economic damages.
Non-Economic Damages
As the name suggests, non-economic damages do not relate to the financial consequences of the accident. Instead, they relate to the intangible or emotional consequences of an accident or injury. For that reason, they are sometimes called “intangible damages” or “general damages.”
Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering;
- Mental anguish;
- Disability;
- Deformity;
- Loss of c
Because they relate to the subjective, emotional, or lifestyle changes experienced by a victim, non-economic damages are harder to calculate than economic damages. Nonetheless, a seasoned personal injury lawyer will understand which damages are available in your case and will help you fight to recover them.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire an Uber Accident Lawyer in Laredo?
Typically, personal injury lawyers (including ours) take cases on a contingency fee basis. The attorney collects a contingent fee at the end of the case—usually as a percentage of the client’s overall financial award. This percentage is usually between 33% and 40%. If the lawyer doesn’t obtain compensation for you, you owe them nothing in attorney’s fees.
Contingent fees can be beneficial to car accident victims, who may already be overwhelmed with medical costs, transportation costs, lost wages, and other unexpected costs. Because you don’t have to pay any attorney’s fees upfront, anyone can hire a personal injury lawyer, regardless of their financial resources.
A contingency fee can also help you feel assured that your attorney’s interests are aligned with your interests. They only get paid if you do, so you don’t have to worry that they’re charging you for any unnecessary work.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for an Uber Accident in Texas?
It depends. If you’re being blamed for an Uber accident in Texas, you can still recover compensation as long as you are not more at fault in the accident than the other party (or parties).
Texas adheres to a modified comparative negligence framework. This means that you can recover compensation if you are found to be 50% or less at fault in the accident. If you are 51% or more at fault, you will not be able to recover compensation.
Notably, if you can recover compensation, it will be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault. For example, if you incur $100,000 in damages in an Uber accident and are found to be 30% at fault and the other driver is 70% at fault, then you can recover up to $70,000—70% of your damages.
What Causes Most Uber Accidents in Laredo, TX?
Among the top causes of Uber accidents is distracted driving. This is one of the main causes of all car accidents. However, Uber drivers may be especially at risk of distracted driving, as they must interact with the rideshare app during the course of their work.
Other common causes of Uber accidents are speeding, reckless driving, driving while drowsy, and driving under the influence of alcohol.
How Do I Prove Negligence After an Uber Accident in Texas?
If your Uber accident case leads to filing a lawsuit, you will probably need to prove that the other driver was negligent to recover compensation. In the legal context, to be negligent means failing to exercise reasonable care and caution under the circumstances.
To successfully prove a negligence claim in Texas, you must establish the following four elements:
- Duty of care. A duty of care is a legal obligation to conform to a certain standard of care toward others and the public. You must prove that the defendant owed you a duty of care, such as a duty to drive reasonably under the circumstances.
- Breach. The defendant actually violated or breached the duty of care. Sometimes, it can be challenging to show that someone failed to act reasonably.
- Causation. The defendant’s actions or omissions were the factual and legal cause of your injuries.
- Damages. You suffered injuries or other harm.
You’ll need to assert each of these elements “by a preponderance of the evidence,” which means enough proof to show each is more likely true than not.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After an Uber Accident in Texas?
You have two years from the date of the Uber accident to file a lawsuit in Texas. This time limit applies to most personal injury cases. If your case is not filed on time, then you may be seriously hindered in your ability to recover compensation from the at-fault party.
There are exceptions to the two-year statute of limitations for some cases. Reach out to us as shortly as possible after your crash to preserve your legal rights.
Contact Our Laredo Uber Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you were injured in an Uber or other rideshare accident in Laredo, TX, our experienced car accident lawyer is here to help you navigate the complexities of an Uber accident claim and fight to recover compensation.
Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation with our dedicated Laredo Uber accident attorney.
