Katy Uber Accident Lawyers

People in Katy and the Greater Houston area often use Uber and other ride-sharing services to get around. After all, Katy is a sprawling area with many neighborhoods and activities, and not all of them are easily accessible via public transportation. Many residents and tourists see Uber as an ideal solution: it’s convenient, inexpensive, and fast. As Uber becomes more popular, however, Uber accidents become more and more common. If you or a loved one is in a Katy Uber accident, don’t try to handle it alone. Insurance rules and regulations in Uber crashes are extremely complicated, and Uber will attempt to minimize its liability. To ensure justice, you need an experienced Katy Uber accident lawyer like those of Trust Guss Injury Lawyers. We are a national law firm based in Houston with multiple offices around the country. We also work with affiliate law firms in most states that share our focus and dedication to excellence. No matter where you are located, we may be able to help you, so call or contact us now. We are open, for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 800-898-4877, or you may contact us now to submit your case for review. The first meeting to discuss your case is always free, so call today.

Uber Accidents Happen in Katy

Uber accidents can occur just as easily and often as accidents in other types of vehicles, and Texas already experiences car accident rates significantly above the national average. In fact, a fatal Uber accident recently occurred off the Katy Freeway. In this particular instance, the driver died, but anyone could be hurt or killed in a Katy Uber accident—the driver, passengers, occupants of another vehicle, or even pedestrians.

Who Is Responsible For Injuries Suffered in a Katy Uber Accident?

Under Texas law, the party that caused an accident is responsible for injuries and deaths resulting from the accident. This system is known as “fault” insurance, and it stands in contrast to “no-fault,” in which injured individuals must first turn to their own insurance policies. Make no mistake: in Texas, the party that caused an accident pays for injuries and other harm. This principle applies in Uber accidents just as much as in other car accidents, but because it’s an Uber, actually receiving damages and assessing fault becomes much more complicated. If you’re in a regular, non-Uber accident with another car, there’s only one driver per car. You only need to find out what insurance carrier the driver uses, and if the driver is found to be at fault, you can approach the insurance company for payment of damages. If a Uber driver bears responsibility for an accident, some elbow grease is required just to determine what stage of the ride the driver was in—because each stage of an Uber ride is covered by separate insurance policies. Uber itself will only cover accidents in specific stages, and each stage has separate insurance coverage, as follows:

• If the driver has the Uber app on and is available or waiting for an app request, an Uber policy applies. The limit is $50,000 in bodily injury per person, $100,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 in property damage per accident. These cases may also involve the Uber driver’s personal auto accident policy.
• If the driver is on the way to pick up passengers or has the passenger in the vehicle already, Uber’s insurance also applies. The limit here is $1 million in third-party liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury, and contingent comprehensive and collision. This stage is somewhat complicated, as the coverage will apply only if the driver is responsible and is under- or uninsured.
• If the driver has the Uber app turned off (say they are on the way home or have not yet begun working), then only the driver’s personal car insurance coverage will apply.

Additional factors complicate this insurance coverage even more.

• First, Uber set up its insurance coverages to be secondary. In practical terms, that means injured people must first exhaust all other avenues to insurance compensation, such as the driver’s insurance policy.
• Second, Uber drivers are not employees of Uber. Uber drivers are independent contractors. Uber uses a contract system partly to save money: Uber doesn’t pay drivers benefits and doesn’t contribute to the purchase or maintenance of the cars. The cars are the driver’s responsibility. Uber maintains this distance for economic reasons, and you can bet that Uber will fight to deflect insurance responsibility in an accident as much as possible.
• Third, proving the stage the Uber driver was in might pose difficulties. Suppose the driver dropped a passenger off at a restaurant or nightclub, and then was immediately hailed by an exiting patron. Hopefully, the driver resets the app (and refuses a ride that doesn’t come through the app, because of potential insurance headaches). With the help of a lawyer, phone records can be obtained to confirm the context of your accident and the stage of the Uber ride.

An investigation into the accident and its causes may be necessary in order to clear up these complications. It’s something we see often in accidents involving commercial big rigs and their commercial insurance policies. Something to remember: Just because it’s an Uber accident, that doesn’t automatically mean that the Uber driver is at fault. Fault in accidents may refer to the degree of negligence involved, and when it comes to negligence, there are numerous possibilities. Negligence is a violation of the duty of care reasonably expected. Drivers, for example, owe a duty of care that consists of obeying all traffic laws, driving safely, and maintaining their vehicles in good repair. Failing to take any of these steps constitutes negligence. Negligent behavior results in liability, or financial responsibility for accidents. However, other drivers can also exhibit negligence. So can bicyclists and pedestrians if, for example, they dart in front of a car. Car and component manufacturers can bear responsibility if defects in their products cause an accident. In such cases, the insurance company that covers the manufacturer will have to pay out the damages claims. Mechanics or repair shops that provided maintenance or repair services may be found negligent if they failed to fix the problems — or created new ones. Additionally, government agencies can bear responsibility if their actions caused or contributed to an accident. Poor road repair (for example, unfixed potholes — a familiar experience for all Houstonians!) and confusing signage are just two examples of potential government agency negligence. In some instances, Uber passengers may contribute to an accident if they create a driver distraction by acting disorderly. They may interfere with the driver’s ability to respond to traffic conditions or even hear approaching vehicles or other signs of danger, such as an approaching siren. In that instance, the passengers may also bear responsibility for the accident.

Why Do Ubers Have Accidents?

While Ubers can have accidents for the same reasons all cars do—poor judgment, disobeying traffic laws, maintenance, manufacturer issues, and so on—Ubers may be more prone to accidents for several reasons. Excessive speed is one of the primary causes of car accidents, both nationwide and in Texas. Uber drivers may be more tempted to speed than the average driver. Why? Because the quicker they complete a trip, the faster they can get to the next one, and the more money they ultimately earn. Additionally, some passengers may want to get somewhere quickly, such as to a movie or airport. Like all of us, Uber drivers want to earn repeat business, 5 star reviews, and good tips, so they may be pressured into speeding at their passenger’s behest. Distracted driving is a prime source of car accidents nationwide, but many car drivers operate their vehicles in familiar territory. Uber drivers, on the other hand, may drive in unfamiliar places and need to frequently consult their phones and GPS devices, or scan for pick-up and drop-off locations. Uber drivers may also work long shifts to increase their incomes. Unsurprisingly, exhaustion and drowsiness are also leading causes of Uber accidents. The more Uber drivers become fatigued or tired, the greater their chances of causing an accident. Fatigue causes a noticeable drop in reflexes, reaction time, and judgment—all accident-causing factors. Furthermore, Uber drivers may have received only cursory training as commercial drivers. Unlike federally-regulated commercial semi truck drivers, there is no accepted set of training and credentialing requirements for Uber drivers. In fact, Texas has only recently mandated background checks for Uber drivers. As such, Uber drivers may simply not follow good driving practices. Finally, Uber drivers are responsible for the condition of their own vehicles. This brings up a ton of safety issues. What if drivers are concerned about shelling out for adequate maintenance or repair? What if they don’t want to put their cars out of service for the required amount of time? Once again, no agency oversees the quality and condition of the vehicles, and Uber’s current employment scheme doesn’t incentivize drivers to keep their vehicles in top condition.

What Kind of Injuries Stem From Uber Accidents in Katy?

Uber accidents are car accidents. Many types of injuries can result from car accidents, depending on the site of impact, the intensity of the impact, and the speed of the respective cars. Potential injuries include:

• Cuts, sprains, and bruises
• Soft tissue injuries
• Broken bones
• Internal injuries
• Nerve damage
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord injury (SCI)
• Amputations or loss of bodily organs
• Burns
• Coma
• Death

In some cases, such as sprains, injuries may result in fairly simple treatment and resolve quickly. In others, such as soft tissue injuries or burns, they may require months of treatment or become chronic. In catastrophic accidents, like those that result in TBIs or SCIs, patients may never fully recover from the effects and will need life-long care.

Damage Compensation for a Katy Uber Accident

The settlements injured individuals receive should be designed to compensate them monetarily for damage and losses of all kinds. Victims can seek damage compensation in the following areas:

• Medical bills, present and future—for emergency treatment, doctor’s visits, diagnostic testing, surgery, hospitalization, prescription medication, rehab, and more
• Wages lost from work, if the accident causes victims to need time taken off work
• Lifetime value of earnings, if injured victims cannot work
• Personal property damage
• Pain and suffering for emotional, mental, and physical damage
• Loss of enjoyment of life

You can also bring an Uber accident suit in civil court, but usually, the insurance company is the first stop. Uber accident lawsuits are often used to put pressure on an insurance company to settle justly.

What to Do If a Katy Uber Accident Is Fatal

Tragically, people die in Uber accidents, either immediately or as a result of injuries sustained. If a decedent would have had grounds for a Uber accident suit had they lived, certain family members can bring a wrongful death lawsuit in Texas. The family members entitled to bring a wrongful death suit are:

• Surviving spouses
• Children, including adopted children and adult children
• Parents, including adoptive parents

The categories of permitted damage compensation are:

• The decedent’s mental and emotional anguish, pain, and suffering
• The decedent’s lost earning capacity
• Lost inheritance, including what the decedent would likely have passed on to surviving loved ones after a normal life span
• Lost care, maintenance, services, support that the decedent once supplied to family members
• Lost love, companionship, and comfort

Our Katy Uber Accident Lawyers Answer Your Questions Countless people use Uber every day. In fact, Uber drivers complete about 15 million rides every day. Uber provides a convenient and fast way to get around Katy and the Houston metropolitan area. Unfortunately, not every ride ends safely. Whether you are driving your own car or you are a passenger in an Uber, accidents can happen any time, any place. If you have suffered injuries in an Uber accident, you may not know who to hold liable for your injuries and medical bills. Is it Uber? Is it the driver? Both? You have a right to hold the negligent party liable for your suffering, and you deserve maximum compensation for your injuries. You may not know where to start your process, but a respected Katy Uber accident lawyer can help guide you through the complex legal process. Read on for more info, or contact Trust Guss Injury Lawyers, right now for more information about your legal options after an Uber accident. Let us help you collect every dollar you deserve.

Is Uber liable for my injuries?

When you are in an Uber accident as a passenger, you may not know who can be held liable. Unfortunately, Uber’s official policies don’t do much to clear up the confusion. That’s why you need to speak with an Uber accident attorney in Katy as soon as possible after your Uber accident. By leaning on the knowledge and experience of a legal advisor who has been down this road before, you can give yourself the best chance of making a complete recovery. The most important factor in determining who is liable is the status of your Uber driver at the time of the accident. If the Uber driver caused the accident, depending on driving status—whether they had a passenger or were on their way to pick one up—you can file a claim with Uber’s insurance. If an Uber driver hit your car, things can get even more complicated. Uber provides a $1 million policy but only when the Uber driver is heading to pick up a rider or has a rider in the vehicle. In those cases, when they cause an accident, we can help you tap into that policy. However, if the Uber driver does not have a passenger or if they are not en route to pick someone up, then only the Uber driver’s personal insurance would apply. This often leaves a gap in coverage, since individuals often carry far less coverage than companies. Finding out the status of the Uber driver at the time of the accident is the responsibility of your lawyer, along with many other investigatory matters. This is a newer area of the law, but it’s also a complex one. You don’t want to trust this important responsibility to just any lawyer. Look for a lawyer with proven experience investigating Uber accidents and aggressively protecting victim’s rights. The team of lawyers and legal professionals at Trust Guss Injury Lawyers, has extensive experience with Houston rideshare accidents and may be the right fit for you. Contact the office today to schedule a consultation.

How do I get money for my injuries?

To get compensation for your injuries, you need to file a claim for damages. Your Katy Uber accident claim may allege that the Uber driver was negligent, careless, or reckless in the manner in which they drove, resulting in your injury. It doesn’t matter if you suffered these injuries as an Uber passenger or while driving your own vehicle when an Uber struck you. All that matters is that you have suffered injuries because of someone else’s negligence. Your Katy Uber accident attorney will work to prove the Uber driver was negligent in their operation of the car and hold them responsible and liable for your injuries.

What compensation could I get?

The point of filing a Katy Uber accident claim against the at-fault party is to collect compensation for your injuries. Your lawyer may try to get you compensation for:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Lost wages
• Lost earning potential
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of life enjoyment
• Present and future medical bills
• Rehabilitation costs

After a car accident you may have a mountain of medical bills sitting on your kitchen table, and there are more on the way. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may require a lifetime of medical attention. This medical care can cost thousands, if not millions, of dollars. Your injuries may also prevent you from returning to work for a long time… or at all. This will greatly reduce the amount of money you can earn over your lifetime. You may worry about how you will support your family and pay your regular bills. But, this should not be a burden you bear on your own. By holding the negligent driver responsible for your accident, you can attempt to collect maximum compensation to cover your financial losses. A Katy Uber accident lawyer can help you fight for a fair settlement.

Why can’t I just settle quickly?

Contrary to popular belief, insurance companies are not always on your side. Insurance companies are in the business of making money. If they pay out all of the damages you ask for right away, they may not make any money at all. Generally, the goal of insurance companies is to make you go away for as little money as they possibly can. No matter how bad your injuries and your pain are, the insurance company may try to downplay it in an attempt to get you to settle for less than your case is worth. The insurance company representing the at-fault party in your Uber accident will call you soon after your accident and may offer you a quick settlement. Many Uber accident victims get excited about putting this legal process behind them and want to take this quick offer. Not so fast. That is exactly what the insurance company wants you to do. If the insurance company wants you to take the settlement, think about whether it is actually in your best interest. It might not be. The initial offer from the insurance company will likely be a low ball offer. It may not even include enough money to cover all of those medical bills you have sitting on your kitchen table. Without an experienced Katy Uber accident attorney at your side, you could end up paying out of pocket for your medical expenses. Your lawyer could help you by reviewing the initial settlement offer and confirming it includes enough funds to cover your existing and future medical expenses, as well as all of your financial losses. It’s also important to remember that, most likely, the majority of your financial needs have yet to come. Together with your lawyer, you can create an accurate estimate of your future needs—taking into account your medical prognosis and your financial burden. At Trust Guss Injury Lawyers, we can help determine a starting point for the amount of money you need to recover. If you sign the low ball settlement offer without a lawyer guiding you, you may waive your right to bring any future claims against the insurance company for your Uber accident. This means that you could be on the hook for your medical expenses and financial losses. Did you know? Two-thirds of all Americans who file bankruptcy each year do so because of medical bills. Don’t let yourself become a statistic. Partner with a trusted Uber accident lawyer in Katy who can help you determine how much money you will need to recover. We will aggressively negotiate with the insurance company to get you every dollar you deserve.

Will my case go to trial?

We know you want to wrap up the legal process as quickly as possible and get back to your regular life. However, what we don’t want to see is you or your family experiencing financial hardship because of injuries you played no part in causing. If you settle for too little, that’s exactly what could happen. Months or years later, after the settlement funds run dry, you’ll still have medical expenses and financial responsibilities, but it will be too late to get assistance. This is also why it can be vital to the success of your claim to work with a lawyer who has proven Uber accident trial experience. When we expect that the insurance company will not settle for a reasonable amount, you may need to go to trial. While our goal is to settle your case quickly and for a fair and reasonable amount, we can also begin trial preparations the moment you hire us. That helps speed up the process, should a trial become necessary. The vast majority of Katy Uber accident cases settle out of court. We do everything in our power to aggressively protect your rights and settle your claim quickly and collect maximum damages for you.

Do I need to file a claim soon?

Yes. The statute of limitations for car accidents in Texas is two years. This means you only have two years after the date of your accident to file a Katy Uber accident claim for damages against the at-fault party. You might think that two years is a long time, but think about everything you may deal with during that time:

• Extended hospital stays
• Multiple surgeries
• Extended time out of work
• Multiple doctor visits
• In-facility rehabilitation
• In-home care

Not only do each of these items take time, they also cost you a great deal of money. When you face a long time out of work because of your Uber accident injuries, your family may feel the stress of taking on additional work or working overtime to compensate for your lost income. This is not a burden they should have to bear. This should be the sole responsibility of the at-fault party. Now you see why it’s so important to speak with a seasoned Uber accident lawyer in Katy as soon as possible after your accident. Many Uber accident victims think they should wait until they have recovered physically to bring a claim. They think that will help them because they can now prove all of their medical expenses. Unfortunately, that often results in lost evidence, forgetful witnesses, and missing the all-important two-year filing deadline. Do not wait another day. You do not have to wait until you are better to bring a Katy Uber accident claim. In fact, it is better if you bring the claim now to avoid missing the filing deadline. Don’t give up your right to bring a claim. Don’t get stuck paying out of pocket for your injuries. Speak with a Katy Uber accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident.

Why do I need a lawyer?

You need to focus on your health, your wellbeing, and getting back to your regular life. Your Katy Uber accident lawyer can help you by taking the legal stress off your shoulders, allowing you to focus on your physical recovery. Your lawyer can work to collect every dollar you deserve so you do not have to pay out of your own pocket for your Uber accident injuries. You may not know exactly how much your Uber accident injury claim is worth, but it’s our job to! The lawyer you choose can make a difference in your ability to recover compensation for your injuries and your financial losses. You want a lawyer with the skills and resources necessary to investigate your Uber accident, speak with medical experts, interview witnesses to your accident, aggressively negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, and help you collect maximum compensation. Entrust these responsibilities only to a lawyer with proven experience standing up to the big insurance companies. We’ve helped many Uber accident victims just like you recover. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries while riding in an Uber, reach out to an aggressive Katy Uber accident lawyer today. Contact Trust Guss Injury Lawyers, for an initial consultation and see what we can do for you.

How Is Responsibility for an Uber Accident Determined?

Evidence will answer the question of who or what was responsible for an accident. All victims and their legal teams need to present evidence to receive compensation. Many different forms of evidence are usable, including:

• The police report from the accident. Be sure to obtain a copy of this report, either at the scene or after.
• Pictures or videos showing the accident
• Eyewitness testimony
• Pictures or videos of the accident scene. The position of vehicles, the environment, signs (such as skid marks and property damage), and more can all contribute to an analysis of how the accident occurred.
• Doctor and other medical personnel’s reports of your injuries. The nature, position, and extent of a victim’s injuries can often contribute to an analysis of how the accident occurred.
• Forensic analysis reports. If other evidence isn’t available, lawyers can commission a forensic analysis. This involves looking at signs of impact on vehicles, the surrounding area (such as barriers, trees, and bushes), recreating the conditions at the time of day the accident happened, and more.

If you are not seriously injured or immediately taken away in an ambulance, you can help gather evidence by taking pictures of the accident scene and your injuries. Make sure to have a full examination by a doctor as soon as possible, and keep all records related to your treatment.

If you're searching for a car accident lawyer in Katy, Texas, look no further. Stewart J. Guss and his team have over 20 years of experience handling insurance accidents claims of all kinds. Whether you were in a car accident or a commercial slip and fall premises liability case, we're here to help.

Contact an Uber Accident Attorney in Katy

The legal team of Trust Guss Injury Lawyers, is nationally recognized for protecting the rights of injured victims for more than 20 years. If you were injured in a Katy Uber accident, call our office right now for a free consultation! We can help investigate an accident, determine responsibility, and help maximize the compensation you receive for your injuries. Because we take all of our personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, you will not owe us a dime unless we win your case. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so call us today at 800-898-4877 or contact us now by clicking here.

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