Rideshare services have proven to be lifesavers in numerous situations. Considering the hefty costs of owning a vehicle, it’s no surprise that most people have turned to Uber and Lyft as their primary means of transportation.
Unfortunately, despite their usefulness, these rideshare apps can be the reason you become the victim of an accident. The good news is that you’re entitled to compensation from somebody when you’ve been subjected to pain and suffering for no fault of yours.
However, you would first have to establish responsibility for the culprit. The process of proving liability in an Uber accident case can be strenuous for all parties involved. There will be different challenges, and the possible outcomes vary.
The purpose of this article is to discuss all the potential liable parties in an Uber accident.
Types of Damages That Can Be Recovered
As a victim of an Uber accident, you can make a claim against the negligent party and file for compensation. Compensation is usually a sum of money equivalent to the amount of pain and damages you have suffered as a result of the accident.
These damages are categorized into the following groups:
- Economic damages: This is compensation for all the bills and expenses the victim accrued while trying to treat and manage the impact of the accident. This can range from medical bills to lost wages and even the replacement of damaged properties.
- Non-economic damages: These refer to the mental impact of the accident on the victim. An accident can leave the victim in a state of mental shock and emotional suffering. While these cannot be monetarily quantified, the sum given will go into therapy and mental health care.
- Punitive damages: These are fines against the negligent party to punish them for their recklessness. Punitive damages can only be awarded by the jury or judge.
Potential Liable Parties
Here is a list of the parties potentially liable for paying compensation to the victim of the accident:
Your Uber Driver
If your driver is proven to be solely guilty of causing the accident, they can be sued to cover the compensation for the victim. Fortunately, Uber provides a personal insurance scheme for their drivers, so the victim can be easily compensated without much hassle.
Other Drivers
If the at-fault party is another driver, your attorney can spring to action by first identifying them. If it was a hit-and-run, they would begin to scour traffic cameras and surveillance footage to identify and locate the drivers as soon as possible.
After they have been identified, the police are usually notified, and the legal process begins. Here’s another good news: Uber has contingent liability coverage, which is meant to compensate the victim in case the other party has insufficient insurance coverage.
Uber
You can sue the parent company, Uber, but only if you can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they were negligent in hiring or training their drivers. Another possible scenario would be that there was a defect in the app that triggered or contributed to the accident.
The Vehicle’s Manufacturers
Uber is only a rideshare company; they do not manufacture the vehicles. If it is proven that the accident was due to equipment failure or a defect in the car’s engine, then the manufacturers of the car can be sued.
Vehicle Accessory Manufacturers
There are several external accessories that facilitate a car’s functionality. Tires are one of them. If the defect was from one of these external components, the claim would be against the manufacturers of these products.
The Government
Sometimes, accidents occur because the government does not live up to its responsibility of making the road safe for users. If they fail to provide traffic lights, signs, or maintain roads, they can be held responsible for any accident that happens as a result.
Wrapping Up
Proving liability in an accident is difficult. But, with the right evidence and, of course, the right lawyer, you can go through the process and emerge victorious.