Liability, in relation to personal injury, is another term for responsibility. When on the road, people, including Uber drivers, are obligated to maintain a certain degree of responsibility and follow driving laws. If they fail to meet their duty of care, they are negligent. Negligence is an important consideration because it opens up the case to compensate for more than just physical injuries. If negligence is found, then emotional, reputational, and economic damages can also be awarded.

California has a shared fault law. What this means is that parties can each be liable for a certain percent of the damages done. This percentage of fault can influence how much compensation a victim can receive. For example, if someone is awarded $10,000, but they are found to be 30% responsible for the accident, that percent will be deducted from those earnings, so they will end up with $7,000. Settling out-of-court may help you receive the maximum compensation if you have shared fault.

All the concerns that apply to normal accidents also apply to rideshare accidents. Halt says that in 2019 alone, two million people experienced permanent injuries related to car accidents. Some of the most prominent causes of these motor vehicle accidents are:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances is one of the most harmful causes of accidents. People often think they are capable of driving after having some drinks. However, response times are slower and judgment is often impaired.
• Speeding is another major issue that prevents drivers from stopping in time to prevent a collision.
• People also have the tendency to make unsafe lane changes, which can lead to them colliding with another car.
• Another common issue is running a red light. It can cause problems when Uber and Lyft drivers push through yellow lights instead of slowing down.
• Distracted driving is something that many people are guilty of. These distractions include conversations with passengers, texting or calling someone, eating, or applying makeup.
• Bad weather like rain or snow can also lead to accidents due to limited visibility or slippery conditions.
• Night-time driving has an increased risk of accidents due to limited visibility. You can only see what your headlights and street lights illuminate. People also tend to be more fatigued at night, which has been found to create the same impairing effects as alcohol.
• Tailgating, or following other drivers too closely in your vehicle, can also put you at increased risk for an accident because you have less time to react if the driver ahead needs to abruptly stop or slow down.

If an accident occurred due to a negligent Uber or Lyft driver, contact our San Diego Uber accident lawyer today! We represent all kinds of car accident victims and make sure ridesharing companies take responsibility for their drivers.

An Uber or Lyft collision lawyer gets you results by taking on a number of legal tasks. We offer the following services for our clients:

• We investigate car accidents and determine who is liable in the case. Rideshare drivers may sometimes refuse to take responsibility. Such scenarios may make your case complicated and a fair settlement may be hard to obtain without proper representation.
• Gathering evidence is another important part of our jobs because we know what to look for in defense of our clients.  Police and other parties are not going to look extensively for evidence that helps your case.
• Negotiating with insurance companies to maximize the compensation you deserve.
• Estimating damages based on type and extent of injury or damage helps us come up with a sum we want to get for you.
• Send demand letters to the at-fault party informing them how much they are expected to pay back in damages.
• Taking the case to trial if it cannot be settled out of court.
• Conduct discovery to ask defendants or other parties for information. This helps to collect evidence and avoid surprises.