You can request an Uber vehicle from almost anywhere and at any time. The drivers who drive Uber vehicles are required to be very diligent in their work to avoid unnecessary accidents. In case you are involved in an accident, you need to know whether you can file a lawsuit by first understanding the difference between an employee and an independent contractor in relation to Uber. Thankfully, the car accident lawyers at Ellis Injury Law have provided some information on how these lawsuits work on their blog here: https://ellisinjurylaw.com/los-angeles-uber-accident-lawyers/can-i-file-a-lawsuit-against-uber-for-an-accident/
Employee VS independent contractor
The owners of the vehicles operating under Uber are independent contractors and not employees of the company. These are car owners who agree to use their cars as taxis but under the Uber brand and program. Uber does not hire the car owners, and as a result, they are contractors and not employees.
The car owners are independent entities which can be held liable whenever they do mistakes. In case a car is involved in an accident, the car owner would be the one held responsible and not the company. You should file a lawsuit against the contractor and their insurance company and not against Uber.
Creating independence between Uber and contractors
Uber has put in place an assortment of measures to ensure that the contractors become responsible even if they are independent. All contractors whose vehicles operate under Uber must be insured. The main objective of this is to ensure that people who are involved in accidents are compensated by the contractors and their insurance companies.
Uber also requires all contractors operating under its umbrella to follow the set-out guidelines. Contractors have to consider the safety of their passengers at all times. A contractor who does not follow the company’s guidelines can easily be removed from the list of drivers operating under the company.
What to do after being involved in an accident on an Uber vehicle
The very first thing you need is to contact a competent lawyer. You have higher chances of being compensated if a qualified lawyer files your lawsuit. Contractors and their insurance companies have their lawyers who would do almost anything to minimize expenses through reducing payouts, especially from accidents.
It is also essential to have an accident lawyer because most accidents have hidden factors such as the car being faulty. Without the help of a lawyer, you might not be able to identify these factors, and your chances of being compensated will be lower. The lawyer you hire should be able to apply his or her experience to identify the factors that might increase your chances of getting fair compensation.
It is also paramount to ensure you note all the information regarding the accident including details of the car involved. While filing a claim’s form, you shall need to submit every detail you have and also answer any question asked. To avoid your application being rejected, you need to work with a lawyer who is conversant with all the information required while dealing with an Uber related accident.
Therefore, you should understand that in case you are involved in an accident involving an Uber vehicle, you can file a lawsuit against the owner of the car and not the company. With a competent car accident lawyer, your chances of being fairly compensated increases significantly.