Many states in the U.S. follow a no-fault insurance model. This means that in the event of an accident, the person at fault will be responsible for paying your medical bills. The driver will be responsible for your medical bills if you get injured in an Uber or Lyft accident.
However, the driver won’t be required to pay if they are not found legally liable. To prove liability, it is crucial to hire a rideshare accident attorney immediately after an accident. The attorney will help you negotiate with the lawyers of the Uber driver and ensure you are fairly compensated.
Financial Responsibility After an Uber Accident
You will need immediate medical attention if you’ve been seriously injured in an Uber accident. This means that you will initially have to pay the medical bills. However, just because you will pay the medical bills doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek medical attention. Seeking immediate treatment will go a long way in strengthening your case.
By seeking medical treatment, you will not only be taking care of your health, but the cost of the treatment will aid your claim. Therefore, do not hesitate to get medical attention, even if you do not have money.
However, whether or not you will be compensated will depend on who was liable for causing the accident. If you are found to be partially or fully responsible for the accident, your compensation will be limited.
Determining fault in a car accident case involving an Uber can be difficult. You may think the driver was at fault, but perhaps it was a case of poor weather conditions. Therefore, before you consider pursuing the compensation on your own, ensure you have enough evidence to prove liability. A rideshare accident lawyer can help you gather evidence and build your case.
Who Pays for Medical Bills After an Uber Accident?
California, for instance, is an “at-fault” state. You can sue the Uber driver to recover your medical expenses or car repair costs. You must first pursue damages from the driver’s liability insurance coverage to do this. Many states follow this “at-fault” model for such accident cases.
You can sue the driver if the liability policy does not cover your losses. The police report filed at the accident scene will determine who was at fault. If the other driver was at fault, you can file a claim with their auto insurance company.
Sometimes, the insurance company will downplay the accident and your injuries, making it seem that it was not a big issue. Do not fall for such tricks. The insurance company may also offer a settlement immediately and try to make it seem like they are doing you a favor. In both instances, you can win a greater settlement if you work with a competent rideshare accident lawyer.
Based on the state’s law and recent rideshare accident judgments, an experienced attorney will know how much you are rightly entitled to. With this knowledge, it will be easier for the attorney to negotiate a reasonable settlement with the insurance company’s lawyers.
Most auto insurance lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means they don’t charge attorney fees before your case is concluded. Therefore, there is no reason why you should hesitate to hire an attorney.
However, remember that there may be other fees apart from the attorney fees. Still, these fees are affordable compared to the settlement you will be awarded; it is clear that working with an attorney is beneficial financially.
How Much Will You Be Awarded?
The amount of compensation you will be awarded will depend on various factors. For example, the insurance company will consider your financial losses, i.e., loss of income due to being hospitalized, medical bills, etc. Liability will also be considered when coming up with an award. The higher your liability, the less the settlement you will receive.
In any case, having an attorney representing you is the best option for getting the highest settlement when you are involved in an Uber accident.
