Were you injured in an accident involving an Uber driver in Monterey County, CA? Call Mercado Kramer, LLP at (888) 311-4050 for the top-quality legal representation you deserve. An experienced Monterey County Uber accident lawyer can help you recover compensation for medical costs, lost income, and more.
We have extensive experience representing clients like you. If you were involved in an Uber accident, call today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Monterey County personal injury attorneys.
Why Choose Mercado Kramer, LLP for Help After an Uber Accident in Monterey County, CA?
The time following an accident can be extremely overwhelming and even chaotic. Serious injuries can leave a victim struggling with significant uncertainty.
When you hire our Monterey County personal injury lawyers, you can rest assured that your case is handled and that you have a skilled advocate fighting for every dollar you deserve.
At Mercado Kramer, LLP, we take a client-focused approach in every case. You shouldn’t be put in a position where you can’t reach your attorney or don’t understand what’s happening with your case. When you hire us in Monterey County, California, we’ll provide support and guidance at every stage of the legal process.
Dealing with Uber’s insurance company isn’t particularly pleasant. That’s even more true when you’re frustrated and dealing with painful injuries. Our Monterey County Uber accident attorneys are here to give you time to focus on healing, not fighting with an insurance company.
Are you ready to learn more about your legal options? Call for a free case review today.
What Is the Value of My Monterey County Uber Accident Case?
The value of your personal injury claim can vary significantly depending on the following facts:
- The nature and severity of your injuries
- The cost of your medical care to date
- Whether you’re forced to miss work and lose income due to the injury
- Any anticipated long-term or permanent disability
- The impact of a long-term impairment on your earning capacity
- How the injury impacts your quality of life
- Whether you share any blame for the accident
- Available insurance coverage
- Your anticipated future costs for medical care, rehabilitation, personal assistance, etc.
Larger policy values are typically at stake in Uber accident cases. That means the insurance company will work even harder to downplay your losses and reduce your case value. The more you know about your case value, the greater your chances of getting the full compensation you deserve.
Our California Uber accident lawyers are prepared to invest our resources as we evaluate your case and its value. We can give you more insight during a free case review. Call us today to arrange a time to talk with our team.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Uber Accident Victims in Monterey County?
Two main types of compensatory damages exist in California personal injury cases: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Examples of the types of damages you may have suffered include:
- Current medical bills for hospitalization, doctor’s visits, medications, etc.
- Anticipated future medical costs
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Lost employment benefits
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- PTSD
- Loss of consortium
Proving that these non-financial damages exist can be challenging. Translating their value into dollars and cents can be even more difficult. After an Uber accident, count on our attorneys to build a strong claim for the compensation you deserve. We’ll enlist trusted experts and use our past experiences to establish the full value of your damages.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Monterey County Personal Injury Lawyer to Handle My Uber Accident Claim?
Most personal injury law firms in California, including ours, operate on a contingency fee basis.
This means:
- You won’t be responsible for paying upfront fees or hourly rates.
- You only pay attorneys’ fees if we do secure compensation in your case.
- When you hire us, you’ll agree to pay a fixed percentage of your settlement or verdict.
The typical range for a contingency fee is between 33% and 40%. That said, the exact rate will depend on the details of your case. In all cases, you can rest assured that you can afford legal representation without draining your savings.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for My Uber Accident in California?
It’s likely. Under California pure comparative negligence laws, your case value is generally reduced to the extent you share any fault for the accident.
Assuming that there is real evidence that you were partly responsible, you’ll be assigned a percentage of fault (based on that evidence). Your damages are typically reduced by that percentage.
California’s shared fault laws are relatively victim-friendly. You can recover compensation regardless of the precise percentage of your fault.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Uber Accident Injuries in Monterey County, CA
Uber doesn’t offer any special protections against injuries in a crash. Drivers use their personal vehicles. They aren’t required to complete any special driving courses or training.
As such, victims are vulnerable to the same types of injuries as other car accident victims, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Broken bones
- Eye and facial injuries
- Nerve injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
Uber accidents can also prove to be fatal. If you lost a loved one, our wrongful death attorneys are here to help your family fight for fair compensation.
What Causes Most Uber Accidents in California?
Some of the most common causes of Uber accidents include:
- Distracted Uber drivers
- Speeding
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Fatigued Uber drivers
- Lane departures
- Aggressive driving
- Stopping in unsafe locations for passenger pickups and dropoffs
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Failure to check blind spots
- Drunk driving or drug use
- Improperly maintained Uber vehicles
Regardless of the nature of your injuries, it’s important to seek medical care after your wreck. Your medical records will provide critical evidence if you later decide to pursue compensation.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit After an Uber Accident in California?
Yes. The statute of limitations in most California personal injury cases is typically two years. That two-year clock usually starts running on the date your accident occurred. Once two years pass, a judge can dismiss your case, and the insurance company might refuse to consider your claim.
Who Is Responsible for Paying My Damages After an Uber Accident in Monterey County?
California is an “at-fault” state when it comes to car accidents. You can file a claim against anyone responsible for causing your car accident.
In an ordinary car accident case, you’d likely be dealing with the other driver’s car insurance company. Of course, if the driver wasn’t logged into the app, the case is treated like any other case.
Uber accidents are different when a driver is using the Uber app. Under state law, rideshare companies like Uber must carry commercial car insurance that kicks in when their drivers cause accidents.
The applicable insurance policy depends on what the Uber driver was doing when the crash occurred:
The Driver Is Logged Into the Uber App
When a driver is logged in and available to accept ride requests, the following insurance policy applies:
- $50,000 per accident victim for injuries or wrongful death
- $100,000 per accident, when multiple victims are hurt
- $25,000 in property damage per accident
For example, this coverage is available when the driver causes an accident while waiting for a passenger to make a request.
The Driver Has Accepted a Passenger Ride Request
Uber’s $1 million insurance policy becomes available when the driver accepts a passenger’s request. It remains available while the passenger is in the Uber vehicle until the ride ends within the app.
How Do I Prove Negligence After an Uber Accident in California?
Negligence is a key legal theory in personal injury cases. It’s very likely that your personal injury claim will be based on negligence, which is generally another driver’s failure to use reasonable caution behind the wheel.
Negligence is established based on proof of four elements:
- Legal duty of care. The at-fault party had a legal duty to exercise a reasonable amount of care
- Breach of duty. The defendant failed to fulfill their obligation
- Causation. The breach of duty was the direct cause of the accident
- Damages. You suffered some type of actual harm or losses
Strong evidence is critical to proving these elements. Accident reports, dash cam footage, medical records, and witness statements can be incredibly valuable. Count on our firm to collect the evidence to prove your case.
Contact Our Monterey County Uber Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Uber accident cases can involve complex insurance and legal issues. If you were involved in an accident, our experienced Monterey County Uber accident lawyer is prepared to handle any issue you encounter. Call Mercado Kramer, LLP to explore your legal options today.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Salinas, CA
450 Lincoln Ave Ste. 102, Salinas, CA 93901
(888) 311-4050
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