Ride Share Accidents
Injured In An Accident?
Ride-sharing service companies like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar have taken the transportation world by storm the last few years. Similar to taxis, ride-sharing services are typically hailed from a smartphone app. The convenience, affordability, and availability make ride-sharing an ideal form of transportation from quick trips across town to longer hauls across cities. However, there are many risks to ride-sharing services such as accidents and, in some cases, assaults.
If you’ve been injured in an accident, you deserve get the best representation possible. At Yanni Law, we never charge for consultations and only take a fee if we win your case. You pay no money up front and we only take a fee if we win your case. Having the right lawyer in your corner can be the difference between getting fair compensation for your injuries or taking little to no money that does not represent the harms and losses you have suffered in the accident. We will fight to get you compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, property damage, and more.
What Causes Ride Share Accidents?
Although you may think you are less likely to be in an accident in a ride-sharing service, this is not true. You are still in a car with a human driver, on the same roads you would be on if you drove yourself. Moreover, ride-sharing services – unlike taxis and buses – do not require their drivers to have special licenses or training. That means you are just as likely to be in an accident in a ride-sharing service than if you drove yourself. Simply put, Ride Share Accidents are caused by negligence. Some of the most common causes of Ride Share Accidents are:
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Distracted Driving
Distracted driving has become an epidemic on our roadways and is now the leading cause of car accidents for the past several decades. Whether it’s cell phones or eating, sometimes people do not pay attention to the roadway while they are driving.
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Speeding
Going 5-10 miles per hour over the speed limit may not seem like a big deal, but it can often be the difference between life and death. Although it can be tempting to push the speed limit when someone is running late, or the “coast is clear,” speeding is the second most common cause of Car Accidents in The U.S.
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Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is one of the most dangerous causes of accidents in The U.S. and is by far the deadliest. With today’s ride-sharing technology, there is never an excuse to drink and drive. Unfortunately, many people still make the terrible choice to drink and drive. Punitive damages are often allowed in drunk driving cases and can increase the value of your case exponentially.
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Running Red Lights / Stop Signs
It may seem obvious, but it bears repeating. Red always means stop. Even if it seems like no other cars are coming, serious accidents can happen by running a red light. Many of our clients were victims of people who tried to “beat” the light and ended up causing serious and permanent injuries to our clients. We’ve heard several excuses from busy delivery drivers trying to run through red lights while trying to make a delivery to business persons literally trying to answer to work emails and not paying attention to the roadways.
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Reckless Driving
Whether it’s changing lanes without looking, speeding well over the limit, or tailgating on the roads, reckless driving can lead to serious accidents. It’s important to keep a safe distance between your car and the car in front of you so there’s time to stop if the car in front makes a sudden stop. There’s never an excuse to follow basic safety rules of the roads while driving.
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Bad Weather Conditions
While you can’t always avoid driving in the rain, the slippery, treacherous road conditions caused by heavy rains should be avoided when at all possible. If visibility is too low to drive or the roads seem particularly slick, you should pull over and wait until the storm passes.
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Driving Without Glasses
Often times, we find out that the person who caused a Car Accident was not wearing their prescription eyeglasses or contacts as required by law. Usually, they’ll say something at the scene like “I didn’t see you! I don’t have my glasses!” The law requires those who have poor eyesight to wear corrective lenses while operating a motor vehicle.
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Inexperienced Driving
Teens don’t have the experience to know what to do in unsafe conditions and that naïveté causes accidents. Teens aren’t the only ones, however, without adequate experience. Different road conditions require different skills when driving. If the person that caused the accident did not have proper experience, they may be held liable for that lack of experience.
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Vehicle Design Defects
Car manufacturers are often willing to risk lives to save a few pennies. That’s why sometimes accidents are caused by flaws in the car itself. While you cannot always avoid this, make sure to take note of any recalls in the news and take your car in for regular maintenance. If you’ve been injured and believe it’s due to a vehicle defect, keep possession of your car until someone can inspect it for the potential defects.
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Driving At Night
Lack of visibility makes hazards more difficult to see at night. Sometimes it’s too dark because there isn’t adequate lighting on the roadway. Other times it’s the glare that prevents people from seeing hazards, like oncoming traffic.
What Should I Do If I’m In A Ride Share Accident?
First, don’t panic. Whether its cars, motorcycles, boats, trucks, buses, trains, or commercial vehicles, we handle Car Accident cases every day in our offices nationwide. We know the ins and outs of the insurance business and the tricks they often employ to get you to take little to nothing after an accident. We will always fight to get the money you deserve. The three most important things to do after an accident are:
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1) Stay Calm At The Scene
A Ride Share accident can be an especially traumatic event. Many times, our instinct to panic and start talking takes over. It’s important that you remain as calm as possible during this time so that you can collect all of the evidence you may need to prove you were not at fault for the accident. This includes taking photographs of both vehicles, getting the insurance information of both the Ride Share driver and person that hit you, and getting the Ride Share driver’s license information. Be sure to preserve any information about the ride and the driver on your smart phone app. Get Your Free Consultation
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2) Seek Medical Attention
The most important thing for you to do after being in a Ride Share Accident is to seek medical treatment immediately. Although you may feel fine after the initial accident, many times you will not know the extent of your injuries until days and weeks later when the adrenaline wears off and your body adjusts to the trauma of the crash. Many injuries such as herniated discs in the neck and back will not be realized until weeks and months later and only show up on an MRI well after the injury. That’s why it is important to document the accident and injuries immediately and make sure you are getting the best health care possible. Get Your Free Consultation
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3) Contact an Attorney
Finally, it is important to call an attorney for a free, no obligation consultation. Insurance companies do not like it when you “lawyer up” because they know they will no longer have the opportunity to trick you into taking little to nothing for your case. The insurance companies will try to scare and intimidated you into taking a quick and easy settlement. Don’t fall for their traps. You owe it to yourself and to your family to get maximum recovery for your injuries. Get Your Free Consultation
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Filing Insurance Claims
Insurance companies are not your friend and they are not in business to pay out claims. Quite the opposite, insurance companies often “low ball” or straight out deny legitimate claims. The other party’s insurance company may call you as soon as the next day after the accident knowing you are shocked, scared, and injured. Beware. Before talking to an insurance company after an accident, understand that anything you say or do can and will be held against you later. You are under no obligation to talk to the other party’s insurance company although they may tell you that if you don’t, they can’t pay your claim. This is a trap that the insurance company wants you to fall for so they can use it against you later. This is why it is important to talk to an attorney before talking to any insurance company or making your claims.
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Pursuing A Ride Share Accident Case
If you’ve been injured in an accident, you deserve get the best representation possible. At Yanni Law, we never charge for consultations and only take a fee if we win your case. You pay no money up front and we only take a fee if we win your case. Having the right lawyer in your corner can be the difference between getting fair compensation for your injuries or taking little to no money that does not represent the harms and losses you have suffered in the accident. We will fight to get you compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, property damage, and more.
