In the last decade, ridesharing services like Uber have become a predominant option for a vast majority of people. Sure, more traditional options like taxis still exist, but it needs to be said that they are not as popular as they used to be. Millions of people worldwide are using Uber to go to school, work, or shopping.
Since there are so many people out there who are using this service every day, it is safe to presume that a certain number have suffered some traffic accidents. Remember, even though this service seems safe, it needs to be said that people who work for the company are not professional drivers. They are common folk just like the clients.
No matter how careful they are, the chances of experiencing some sort of traffic accident are considerable. While there is no difference between suffering an accident in your car and when you use the services of Uber at the first sight, we need to say that legal situations are entirely different.
Today, we want to shine a light on this topic and focus on a case when it occurs in Las Vegas, Nevada.
1. Seek Medical Attention
After you suffer an accident while in Uber, the first step remains completely the same as when you are behind the wheel. We are talking about seeking medical attention as soon as you can. At first, this might not be a legal step, but that’s when many people are wrong. The reason why this is a legal move is that you will make your case stronger.
How’s that possible? Well, you will get the documents that prove all the injuries you have suffered. By having the evidence and proof of each one of them, then you can present your case to the court much more simpler. Whatever you have suffered, be sure to document them properly and let the police know about them.
When it comes to the tests you will need to undergo, we are talking about CT scans, X-Ray, physical examinations, and MRIs. Those we have named are more than enough to help you gather all the documentation that will help you build a strong case that will increase your chances of winning in front of the court.
2. Gather Evidence
The next thing we want to talk about is gathering all the pieces of evidence from the scene. The easiest way for you to do it is to take an image with your mobile phone. Sure, police will make sure that they document all the evidence, including photos, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do the same.
At the same time, you should take images of the road conditions and the scene itself. Even though it may not look like it, you should establish who is to blame for the accident. You need to know whom to sue for the stress or injuries you have sustained, right? Therefore, gathering the evidence will help you build your case. Also, don’t forget to take a screenshot of the information about your drive.
Another thing we want to point out is that you should ask the Uber driver for his information about its insurance. At the same time, do not miss on out asking for the insurance information from the other driver. Chances are you will have the opportunity to file a claim against both of the policies.
3. File a Claim Against Uber
If all the evidence point toward Uber driving as the one to blame for the accident, then you should file a claim against the company. Naturally, you will need the help of an experienced lawyer. We will talk about this aspect later in the article. But there is something you need to have in mind before filing a claim.
The company’s insurance policy applies solely in cases when a driver is on duty. It means that you can sue only if this occurred when a driver was on the way to pick up a client or when a client is already sitting in the vehicle. Make sure that your driver is actually on duty before you can take legal action.
If the driver is not on duty, then you cannot sue to company. Instead, it is possible only to take legal action against that particular individual. As you can see, this can be quite complicated to establish if things are not instantly clear. Therefore, the help of someone experienced is an absolute must in this case.
4. Find an Experienced Attorney
Last but not least, it is important to look for an experienced attorney who will represent you in front of the court. Naturally, you will need to seek a legal professional during the process of building the case. That way, it is possible to receive an insight into even the smallest of details that can help your case.
Even though it may not seem like that, many attorneys have specialized themselves in handling cases like these. They cannot be described as Uber attorneys, but they have probably handled similar situations occurring in taxis. If you need a service of this sort, be sure to check here.
How Common are Uber Accidents?
According to many studies on this subject, we can see that rideshare services are responsible only for 3% of traffic accidents since the beginning of the decade. The number of fatalities is not as high as is the case with any other categories of traffic accidents.
For instance, the number of Uber accidents in 2018 was only 58 in the whole of the US. When you take a look at it, it seems insignificant. The number of those who have occurred in the state of Nevada was only 2 that same year.
Summary
Taking legal action after you experience a Uber accident in Las Vegas, Nevada, is an absolute must. Here, we’ve described four main legal steps you should undergo when it happens. We’re sure you will find this helpful to be of much help.
