MARYLAND UBER ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
Maryland Uber Car Accidents
Uber, as a service, has revolutionized getting around an area. Whereas once we had to hail a cab, if one was available, now we can tap a few buttons, and have a ride within minutes. For the most part, these rides are smooth, safe, and convenient.
Unfortunately, with the sheer volume of drivers on the road, there are accidents. As with taxicab companies, these can range from minor fender benders to serious motor vehicle accidents that can seriously harm every one from passengers to pedestrians to other motorists. Contact a Maryland Uber accident attorney today who can assist in investigating and evaluating your claim for injuries and other damages, as the result of a Maryland Uber accident.
Call 703-879-5910 for a free consultation, anyone in Maryland!
How Uber Works
Uber, like Lyft, is an Ridesharing app-based program where smart-phone users summon an available driver. Drivers have the right to accept rides at any time. Some drivers only cover a ride or two a day, while some have made Uber a full-time job. However, there is no specific training to be an Uber driver.
Because there is not specific training required, it is no different than getting in a friend's car (except that you are paying, of course!)
Is There Regulation For Uber in Maryland?
Yes. Maryland Uber drivers are regulated by the Maryland Public Service Commission. The MPSC is supposed to keep a database of all authorized drivers. This is very useful, as we have encountered accidents where Uber drivers have been involved in hit-and-runs, and we can request searches of this database to confirm whether or not someone is a bona-fide Uber driver.
Additionally, Maryland has set out specific insurance requirements for Uber, to operate within the state. Maryland is one of many states where Uber does business under an alias, called Raiser, LLC. This does not change how a car accident claim involving an Uber driver is handled, but it is important to know. Many companies, especially national ones, set up shell-corporations and other entities to try to limit their total liability, in the event of an incident.
Do Uber Drivers Have Insurance in Maryland For Car Accidents?
Yes. Maryland law requires Uber drivers to be covered by insurance. However, they are covered by different insurance companies at different times. Uber drivers work in stages, and they are:
Stage 1 - the Uber app is not active, regardless of what signage the driver has in his or her windows. If the app is not active, then there is no Uber insurance. The driver's personal automobile insurance coverage is in effect.
Stage 2 - the Uber app is active, but the driver 1) does not have a passenger, and 2) is not en-route to pick-up a passenger. This is the phase when the Uber driver is waiting to be assigned a ride. During this stage, the Uber Driver is protected by a $50,000 car insurance policy provided by Farmers Insurance
Stage 3 - the Uber app is active, and the Uber Driver is en-route to pick up a passenger, or already has a passenger in board., In Stage 3, the Uber Driver is protected by a $1,000,000 car insurance policy provided by Farmers.
The insurance issues surrounding Uber, as well as Lyft, can be very difficult to appreciate. Call a Maryland Uber Accident Attorney right away.
What Can I Claim?
If you have been involved in a Maryland car crash that was not your fault, you are entitled to compensation for any injuries that you sustained.
Uber drivers have a responsibility to drive with due care, and to follow all of the rules of the road. If a rideshare driver has violated those rules, caused a collision, and caused injury to you, then you are entitled to make a claim for those injuries. A sum total of what a person may claim is referred to as a person’s “damages.”
Damages is a legal term that is meant to encapsulate all of the ways that the crash has impacted the many areas of your life: financial, economical, mental, physical. Some of the most common elements of your damages after a car accident include:
Pain and suffering
Medical Costs and Expenses
Time lost from work
Future damages, such as forecasted time lost from work, or future medical expenses
Permanent Injury
Scarring
Disfigurement
and more
It is important to remember that there is no law book that determines what pain and suffering is worth in Maryland – it is what a Judge or jury says it is. Just because your friend had a case worth X in a different state, doesn't mean that your case is the same - it isn't. Your case is what we can prove it is. An experienced, aggressive car accident attorney who knows the Maryland Court System is vital to proving your case, and fully proving your damages.
Speak to a Maryland Uber Accident Attorney Today
Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare vehicles are on the road, every day and every night, normally driven by competent, intelligent drivers trying to earn a little extra money, or a lot of extra money! But sometimes, one violates the rules of the road, and causes an crash that injures an innocent person. If an Uber driver's negligence has injured you in a car accident that is not your fault, email us, or call Blaszkow Legal today – 703-879-5910
Though our office is in Alexandria, our attorneys represent people all over Maryland, Northern Virginia, and DC!
