Alpharetta Uber/Lyft Rideshare Lawyer

We Advocate for the Rights of Car Accident Victims in Alpharetta, Milton, Cross Point & Fulton County

Uber has made getting around town incredibly easy. In using an app, anyone looking for a ride can get a car to pull up to their front door to deliver them to their preferred destination—all for a reasonable price. It’s no exaggeration that Uber has revolutionized transportation, even in Alpharetta.

At Ponton Law, we help those injured in Uber accidents. Accident victims cannot expect Uber or its insurer to make a reasonable settlement offer, so hiring an experienced attorney is your best move. Please reach out to our firm today to discuss your legal rights following a collision.

How Uber Works

Uber is a key cog in the gig economy. Anyone with a car can apply to drive for Uber. If approved, they sign up with the app, which consumers also use to request a vehicle. Uber drivers use their own cars, and they aren’t company employees. Instead, they are independent contractors who can be dropped by Uber at any moment.

As a rider, you can request and pay through the app, as well as leave feedback on your driver. Uber promises a safe and hassle-free riding experience, which many people enjoy. Unfortunately, these vehicles can get into accidents, just like any other vehicle.

Who is Liable for an Uber Accident?

Liability will depend on who is at fault for the collision. In most accidents between two vehicles, one or both drivers were negligent. This means they did not drive with sufficient care. Maybe they were distracted or were speeding, or else they made a mistake due to fatigue.

We have represented the following people in Uber accidents:

• Uber passengers
• Pedestrians struck by an Uber
• Motorists struck by an Uber

Some of the parties at fault for an accident include:

• Uber Driver: Some drivers are risky and like to speed, while others weave in and out of traffic. If the Uber driver was negligent, then an injured person can seek compensation from the driver’s insurance policy.
• Another Motorist: You might be an Uber passenger who is injured in a collision. However, your driver is not to blame. Your car might be T-boned while passing through an intersection, or you could get rear-ended at a light by a negligent motorist. You will need to submit a claim on the at-fault driver’s insurance policy.
• Municipality: Alpharetta might be responsible for failing to keep the roads safe, so they can be liable when a defect contributes to a wreck.

In most cases, a driver is to blame—either the Uber driver or another motorist. We recommend working with Ponton Law to help untangle who is to blame for the accident.

You Should Request Full Compensation

Accident victims often end up in an ambulance with major injuries. But even relatively “minor” injuries can cost thousands of dollars to treat and leave someone bedridden for weeks. When thinking about how much a claim is worth, do the following:

• Add up all your medical bills and receipts. You should request compensation for doctor visits, hospital visits, prescription medications, wheelchairs, rehab, and other medical care.
• Calculate your lost income. If you are a W-2 employee, find your average weekly wage and multiple by the number of weeks you couldn’t work. Self-employed people can request lost income, also.
• Include the cost of fixing your car. If you were struck by an Uber driver, you’ll need car repairs, or your vehicle could be so totaled it needs replacing. The Uber driver should pay for property damage when they are at fault.

You should also request compensation for less tangible losses like anxiety, physical pain, depression, and embarrassment. Someone with a facial injury could be too embarrassed to go outside. Any bodily injury makes it hard for people to sleep or even enjoy the time with their family members. The category “pain and suffering” covers these non-economic losses.

Ponton Law spends time fully documenting and analyzing all your losses. We know how much Uber has paid to other victims, and we will demand a fair amount for you, too.

Who Pays Compensation?

You can make an insurance claim with whatever driver is responsible for your accident. If you were struck by an Uber, then the maximum insurance liability will depend on whether the driver was logged in:

1. Not even logged into the app. The driver is no different from any other motorist on the road. Their personal insurance policy should come into play. Georgia requires any motorist to carry at least $25,000 per injured person in bodily injury liability coverage, up to $50,000 when two or more people are hurt. A Georgia driver should also carry at least $25,000 in property damage liability coverage.
2. Logged in and available for ride requests. More insurance kicks in: $50,000 per person in bodily injury liability, up to $100,000 per accident, and $50,000 for property damage.
3. Accepted a ride or has a passenger in the vehicle. The most insurance is available: $1 million.

Uber passengers will make a claim on whoever is responsible. If your driver is at fault, then a $1 million policy is available. But if another driver caused the crash, you make a claim with them. If they have insufficient insurance, Uber’s insurance will provide some uninsured motorist coverage.

What Steps Should I Take Following an Accident?

Anyone injured in an accident should try to complete as many of the following steps as possible, which will improve the odds of receiving compensation:

• Call the police to report the accident. Some Uber drivers might try to convince you not to call because they don’t want to be dropped by the company. You absolutely should call. The officer should draft a crash report and might take other steps, like investigate whether the driver was intoxicated.
• Speak to witnesses and ask for contact information. Witnesses can often make the difference when it comes to establishing fault for a crash.
• Take photographs of the vehicles involved. Try to get at least one photograph of each side. Take pictures from multiple angles of where the cars struck each other.
• Obtain insurance information from all drivers. Uber passengers need this information as well, since you will need to submit a claim for your injuries.
• Avoid admitting fault or saying anything that a person would interpret as you accepting responsibility.
• Go to the hospital as soon as possible. Early treatment improves the odds of recovery.

In the days following an accident, an Uber representative or insurance adjuster might call you at home. Please tell them to contact your attorney instead. You are not required to give a statement immediately after the crash, and you might be too hurt to really understand what you are saying.

Accidents With Lyft & Other Rideshare Companies

Uber is not the only rideshare company in Georgia. You might also get a Lyft or a ride with one of the many other rideshare companies that pop up overnight. These companies should be regulated much like Uber. The driver should have insurance to pay compensation when the driver is at fault for a wreck. Please contact Ponton Law to speak with our accident lawyer about what steps you should take.

Contact an Alpharetta Uber Accident Attorney

Uber has taken over the transportation industry. For a convenient price, Alpharetta residents can get a clean car to transport them around town. Unfortunately, accidents can happen any day of the week. If you were injured, you need an experienced attorney from Ponton Law to be your voice in the negotiation process. Please call our law firm today, (404) 418-8507 and schedule a free consultation with our law office to discuss your case.