A Maryland Uber Accident Lawyer Discusses Understanding Your Rights After an Uber Accident in Maryland

Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have a dramatic impact on the way Maryland residents get around. They have eaten into the market for taxi cabs by offering cheaper transportation costs, which has led to an increase in the number of drivers on the road.

With so many Uber drivers in the state, it should come as no surprise that they are frequently involved in serious motor vehicle collisions. If you were hurt in a crash with a rideshare operator, you might have a viable case for compensation.

An attorney from Timothy A. Dachille and Associates could review the facts of your case and advise you on whether you have a strong compensation claim. Let a Maryland Uber accident lawyer serve as your advocate during this important time.

You Have The Right to Seek Medical Care

If you were injured in a car crash, you are entitled to seek treatment. This is important, even in cases where you feel your injuries are minor. Adrenaline can mask pain and other symptoms in the hours after a collision, meaning you might only notice the severity of your injuries later. By seeing a doctor immediately, you improve your chances of making a full recovery.

You are entitled to care at an emergency room following an accident, regardless of your ability to pay. However, the extent of that treatment might only be to stabilize you or offer short-term care. At some point, you can expect to have to pay for your necessary medical bills.

If you have insurance, your policy might cover this expense. Alternatively, you could file a lawsuit against the other motorist in order to recoup the cost of your necessary care. In either situation, the guidance of a Maryland Uber accident lawyer may be invaluable.

You May Be Entitled to Proceeds From Uber’s Insurance Coverage

Unique challenges come with filing a personal injury lawsuit against a rideshare company. They treat their drivers as independent contractors, which limits the options for suing them for the acts of their employees. However, Maryland law requires these companies to carry liability insurance in most cases. If you suffered injuries in a crash with an Uber driver, you could have the right to make a claim on those policies.

The amount of available coverage depends on the circumstances. If the driver who struck you was not using the Uber app or actively transporting a customer at the time of the crash, the company is not obligated to provide you with coverage. You still have the opportunity to sue the driver directly or seek a claim on their personal policy.

If the driver was actively seeking a rider on the app, Uber is required to provide some limited supplemental insurance. These policies only pay out once the driver’s individual coverage reaches its limits. You could be entitled to as much as $50,000 for bodily injuries per person, $100,000 for bodily injuries per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident.

The limits are much higher if the Uber driver had accepted a passenger at the time of the accident. In this scenario, there is up to $1 million in coverage for bodily injury and property damage claims.

You Have the Right Not to Discuss Your Case

You are under no obligation to ever talk about your accident case. This is true when it comes to the other driver at the scene of the crash or with the adjuster for an insurance company.

It is vital that you exercise this right in the aftermath of an Uber accident. Insurance adjusters will take your statements out of context and use them as an excuse to deny your claim. The less you say about the crash, the better your chances of recovering compensation will be.

This is true when it comes to posting on social media as well. Not only do you have the right not to discuss your accident, but it is also vital to the success of your claim to avoid doing so. Any information you provide online can only help the other side.

You Have the Right to Hire a Maryland Uber Accident Lawyer

If you were hurt in a collision with a rideshare driver, now is the time to act. The right approach could help you secure the monetary compensation you deserve. Before you accept a settlement offer from Uber’s insurance company, discuss your options with a Maryland Uber Accident Lawyer from Timothy A. Dachille and Associates. Call today for a free consultation.