Olympia Uber Accident Attorney

For residents of the South Puget Sound, using rideshare services like Uber has become a way of life. Many city dwellers do not want to bother with the expense and risk of owning a car, while others find them convenient to use after a night on the town. However, while rideshare apps have significantly increased safety measures, they still hold the risk of accidents. If you’re injured during a rideshare, you need the help of our Olympia Uber accident attorney.

Since 1980, Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey has represented injury victims in the South Puget Sound. We know the local and state laws and how to build a strong case of evidence for your Uber accident claim. Our Olympia car crash lawyer is ready to advocate for you and make sure that you get the compensation you are rightfully owed.

Uber Accidents in the South Puget Sound Area

Accidents occur every day, and rideshare vehicles are not immune, no matter how safe the company claims to be. According to Uber’s US Safety Report, 99.9% of trips made in the past two years of reporting data ended without an incident of any kind, including accidents. If you are injured in an accident due to an Uber driver’s negligence, it is important to know how to protect your legal rights and pursue compensation for your losses.

The Washington Department of Transportation reports a growing number of car accidents in the past few years. The data from the city of Olympia reveals that there were 940 accidents, 231 of which involved injuries or fatalities. The most common causes of the accidents were reported as distracted driving (102 crashes) and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (50 collisions). Since rideshare apps like Uber are not immune to these crashes, it is important to know how to build a solid personal injury claim in order to receive the financial compensation due to you.

Common Causes of Uber Accidents 

Just like car accidents, Uber accidents can occur for a variety of reasons. Some of these may include:

• Other drivers on the road who are being negligent
• Faulty manufactured car parts
• Poor road conditions or badly lit intersections
• Weather conditions like heavy rain, blowing winds, snow, or ice
• Distractions like phone use
• Driving under the influence
• Speeding and ignoring traffic laws
• Driver fatigue, especially if a driver is doing Uber as a “side hustle” and works late into the night

A common issue specific to rideshare drivers is the distraction of using a cell phone while driving. While driving a customer to a destination, a rideshare driver may become distracted by accepting the ride offer to pick up another customer after dropping you off. Or, if there is trouble navigating, the Uber driver may use their phone for a GPS to try to find a better route to speed up their trip. The temptation to speed, ignore traffic laws, or get distracted with a GPS can be strong for drivers who can make more money by transporting more customers. 

Our Law Firm Stands with Accident Victims Throughout Olympia, WA

In our decades of experience working with car accident cases, we have helped a wide variety of injury victims seek compensation for their losses. With Uber accidents, we can help clients like:

• Drivers, Pedestrians, and Cyclists Hit by an Uber Driver: Claims of these injury victims are typically filed against Uber’s insurance company directly, but some complications can arise in proving the driver was actually working for the company at the time of the accident. Our Uber accident attorneys will help you gather evidence to prove liability and build a strong claim for you.

• Rideshare Passengers Injured During Their Uber Route: If you were injured in an accident during an Uber trip as a passenger, where to file your claim will depend on which driver was negligent. Our Uber accident lawyers will thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident and help you establish which driver can be held liable for your losses.

• Rideshare Drivers Hit by Negligent Drivers: Uber drivers who are hit by other negligent drivers on the road may find unexpected difficulties while filing their claim against the liable party. We will help ensure that your documentation is correct and you have a strong case of evidence to support your claim.

No matter what your affiliation with Uber or other rideshare companies, we can help you pursue compensation to aid in your recovery and get you back to where you belong. Contact an Uber accident lawyer today to help you recover compensation through a claim or a lawsuit.

There Is a Deadline to File an Uber Accident Claim

It is best to get started on your claim as soon as you can to avoid missing out on your window of time to claim compensation. In Washington State, the statute of limitations, or the deadline for when you can pursue compensation, is three years from the date the accident occurred.

Some exceptions to this three-year deadline exist depending on the nature of the Uber accident. Once the deadline has passed, you will not be able to file a claim.

Avoid Missing Your Chance to Claim Compensation

Getting started sooner is generally recommended, as it allows your Uber accident lawyer more time to build a strong claim, and the evidence will be fresher. In the first few weeks after an accident, your lawyer may be able to gather surveillance camera footage and traffic videos, which are commonly overwritten or deleted over time. The first few weeks after an accident are best for gathering eyewitness testimony as well. 

The sooner you start your claim, the better chances you have of getting your rightful compensation. Be sure to reach out to our law firm to determine your legal rights and next steps forward.

How Much Can I Receive in an Uber Passenger Accident Settlement?

The amount you may be able to receive in a settlement after being injured as a passenger in an Uber accident can range from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars, depending on the severity of the injuries and the negligence that caused them. For example, minor injuries may only require the settlement to cover medical bills and non-economic losses, such as the emotional distress caused by the event.

More severe injuries can receive a settlement that reaches into the hundreds of thousands to cover medical bills, years of physical therapy, and other associated losses. In other cases involving lifelong injuries and fatalities, settlement amounts have been significantly higher, often over several million dollars. High amounts need to be backed up by thorough evidence and a strong case supported by an Uber accident attorney. 

To protect the company against lawsuits, Uber offers insurance coverage for their drivers while they are actively working. This can include times while actively online and waiting for a trip, while en route to pick up a customer, and while on a trip to drop a customer off. However, drivers who are offline must provide their own auto insurance coverage, and injury victims are not able to file a claim against the company in these situations.

Our Uber Accident Attorneys Assist with Calculating Your Potential Settlement

Our Olympia Uber accident lawyers can help you calculate the full value of your potential settlement, encompassing past, present, and future losses. All accident claims are unique, and the amount you may be able to receive can depend on factors like the severity of your injuries, the amount of negligence the driver showed, and the type of insurance coverage they have. If their insurance is limited, as may be the case when filing with an Uber driver who was offline at the time of the accident, you may wish to pursue a personal injury lawsuit to ensure all your losses are fully covered. 

If you are still recovering from your injuries, we will work with medical professionals and rely on their expert testimony to help us estimate the potential costs you may experience. This is vital as you will not be able to ask for more money down the road if your medical bills become unexpectedly high or continue for longer than expected. Be sure to keep all of your documentation, as well as notes on how your injuries have impacted your life. This can help show your pain and suffering, which will be calculated into your settlement as well.

Economic Damages in an Uber Accident Lawsuit

Economic damages compensate directly for an injured individual’s expenses. These are losses directly tied to a monetary amount and will need to be backed up by evidence, including receipts, invoices, repair estimates, and other documentation. Economic damages can cover losses like:

• Medical bills and doctor’s visits
• Rehabilitation care and physical therapy
• Medical assistive devices
• Hospital and ambulatory services
• Long-term care facilities or in-home care
• Repairs or replacements for personal property, such as phones, laptops, or vehicles
• Transportation expenses
• Lost wages if unable to work during your recovery from injuries

For a wrongful death lawsuit, economic damages could include expenses like funeral and burial costs, end-of-life hospitalization, and loss of future wages. This amount is often granted to the family or dependents who relied on the deceased for economic support.

Non-Economic Damages in an Uber Accident Lawsuit

Non-economic damages compensate for the indirect losses an injury victim experiences. These are things that are not directly tied to a financial sum, but still are felt deeply. It can include PTSD, emotional trauma, suffering, chronic pain, loss of companionship, and the loss of the ability to do things one once enjoyed.

There is no set way to calculate non-economic damages, since they are not tied to a concrete value. Our lawyers may estimate these losses based on a method such as the multiplier method, which multiplies the economic damages by a factor, or the per diem method, which assigns a daily value to the suffering and losses endured during the time of recovery.

Rest assured, our Uber accident lawyers in Olympia will work to maximize the amount you are able to receive under the law.

Uber Accident Settlement vs. Lawsuit

If insurance denies your claim outright or refuses to negotiate a settlement for a fair sum, your Uber accident lawyer may recommend that you consider filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party.

There are pros and cons to filing for a lawsuit; while you may earn more in damages than you would by accepting a pre-trial settlement, there’s also a chance you could lose the lawsuit and receive nothing. Our lawyers will help you understand what may happen if you file a lawsuit, with the goal of you making the best choice for your specific situation.

Punitive Damages in Washington State

Punitive damages are awarded as a way to punish the negligent individual and make an example of them. In other words, they are a form of punishment rather than compensation.

It is not common for the Washington State courts to award punitive damages, but it may be possible in some cases, such as with severe cases of negligence or wrongful death. Speak to our Olympia Uber accident lawyers today to determine what your potential case value may be and if you are able to seek punitive damages.

Contact Our Olympia Uber Accident Attorney Today

For over 45 years, Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey has worked hard to take the insult out of injury for our clients in the South Puget Sound. If you have been injured in an Uber rideshare accident, our lawyers can help support you throughout your pursuit of compensation. As our client, we will advocate for your best outcome and negotiate for the maximum compensation you are owed.

Contact our law firm to set up a free, no-obligation consultation today. We can help you determine your next steps and get your questions answered so you feel confident in your choice to move forward.