A common carrier is an individual or business that advertises to the public that it is available for hire to transport people or property in exchange for a fee. A typical example is Uber or Lyft services.
A common carrier must exercise the utmost care and be careful so as to protect their passengers on board. Additionally, the driver of Uber/Lyft ride is responsible to warn fellow passengers should there be any potentially dangerous condition they know of that may harm the passengers on board. For example, an Uber driver should warn their passenger if one of the seatbelts in the car is not properly working so that the passenger may use another seatbelt instead.
Common carrier responsibilities ensure the safety of passengers as well as others that are sharing the road. Some examples of responsibilities include:
A common carrier can hold responsibility for injuries a passenger sustains. The idea here is that when an individual becomes a passenger in an Uber or Lyft, the passenger is essentially putting themselves under the Uber or Lyft driver’s control. Thus, the driver of Uber or Lyft has a special duty of care towards the passengers that board Uber or Lyft. Typically, proving negligence of a common carrier means showing that the Uber or Lyft driver violated the law or by showing that the driver failed to act reasonably in using care and diligence expected of a cautious Uber or Lyft driver.
To establish common carrier liability, the injured party must prove these key elements:
For example, if an Uber driver ran a red light and caused an accident, this could be direct evidence of a breach of the duty of care.
There are times, however, when a common carrier may not be liable. For example:
However, even if the passenger is partially at fault, California has a comparative negligence rule. This means that the court may apportion some of the fault between the parties.
Passengers injured as a result of a common carrier's negligence may be able to recover for:
In some cases, punitive damages may be available if it can be shown that the transportation company intentionally disregarded safety.
These companies may be held liable in certain situations. For example:
As you can see, Uber and Lyft are not only required to vet their drivers, but also to ensure that their services are functioning properly. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in legal liability for the companies, in addition to the drivers themselves.
It is important to remember that California has strict statutes of limitations for personal injury lawsuits:
Failure to seek legal counsel in a timely manner may result in the loss of your right to compensation. That is why it is important to contact an experienced attorney immediately after the incident.
If you or someone you know has been injured in an Uber or Lyft ride, contact our Los Angeles UBER accident lawyer at (310) 943-1171. Our attorneys can provide you with any sort of legal assistance you require.
If you have been injured while riding with Uber, Lyft, or another transportation company, seek help immediately. The attorneys at KAASS LAW are experienced in transportation negligence cases and are ready to stand up for your rights. We can help you get fair compensation and guide you through every step of the legal process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyD1x6BCMWs
Ride-sharing companies like Uber have been increasingly popular over the years. This convenient transportation service has been used by millions of people around the globe. However, even though the smart app is safe and reliable, ride-sharing Uber accidents do happen and can become a serious problem really fast. If a person got into an Uber accident, he/she may be wondering what should be done next. In case they have been injured, they may have some medical expenses to cover, may be suffering from pain, or might be out of work because of the injuries they have caused. For starters, discussing and defining which law this falls under in the state of California when it comes down to car accidents, Tort Law.
California is a tort state where drivers who cause accidents pay money to the injured victims. "A tort is an act or omission that gives rise to injury or harm to another and amounts to a civil wrong for which courts impose liability. In the context of torts, 'injury' describes the invasion of any legal right, whereas "harm" describes a loss or detriment that an individual suffers." There are three types in this matter: Intentional Tort, Negligent Tort, and Strict Liability Tort. With that said, this rule applies to a pedestrian, a passenger, or another motorist who is hit by a ride-sharing driver.
Over the years, drivers under Uber, Lyft, and many others have not been successful with these apps. California legislature approved Assembly Bill 5, back in the year 2019, requiring app-based companies like Uber, Lyft, and Doordash treat workers as employees. It's aim is to make it harder for companies to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees. This bill on a 2018 California Supreme Court decision, Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court of Los Angeles, establishes the "ABC test" for determining whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee. Workers must be an employees instead of contractors if a company retains control over how they perform their tasks or if their work is part of a company’s regular business. California will become the first state to require app-based companies/gig-economy to treat workers as employees. Overall, AB 5 marked a pivotal shift in California's approach to worker rights, particularly within the gig economy, and its influence continues to shape debates about labor classification in the state and beyond
At any moment, a person can be involved in an auto accident. An injured person might not have been a passenger in an Uber car at the time of the accident. Instead, the victim might have been rear-ended by the driver or been injured as a bicyclist, pedestrian, or motorcyclist. An injured victim can file a claim with the Uber driver's insurance policy. Furthermore, an injured party can also file an Uber accident claim with Uber's insurance policy.
In California, the drivers with ridesharing companies are required to carry $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in liability insurance along with $30,000 in property damage. The rideshare company also carries $200,000 in extra coverage. The insurance is applicable as long as the driver is logged into the app and looking for a customer request. When the driver accepts a ride and is en route to pick up the customer, the $1 million insurance kicks in.
After the accident's victim must immediately take the following steps to preserve the right to compensation:
Whenever a person is involved in a car accident, he must make sure to get as much information as possible about the accident. This means taking note of the road conditions, location and time of day, and much more. An injured person must get the following evidence after the accident:
The issue of liability can be complex, and determining liability is critical to getting compensation. The following parties may be liable for injuries in an Uber accident:
There are two categories of damages for personal injury claims: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages include:
Non-economic damages are awarded for injuries that are difficult to assign an objective monetary value. Common non-economic damages include:
The amount of damages that a victim can recover depends on the extent of the injuries and the circumstances surrounding the accident. In case the victim was partly at fault for the accident the amount he may be able to recover can be decreased.
In California, Uber accident victims may not recover non-economic damages in case they don't carry liability insurance, per Proposition 213. Thus the motorists who drive a vehicle without valid car insurance are acting at their own risk of personal safety. In case a person doesn't have insurance, he may not recover compensation for:
Though economic damages are still fully recoverable.
When an injured person reaches his maximum medical improvement after the Uber accident, he must submit a demand for compensation. A demand letter should concisely:
If you sustain any injuries due to an Uber accident, please contact KAASS LAW. We provide free consultations for personal injury matters, especially if you sustain injuries from an Uber car accident. Our team knows how to speak with adjusters and provide guidance on what to do and which direction to lead so we can fight for your financial compensation for the damages that you received. Do not admit to anything of being at fault. Don't sign any documents without first speaking with us first. We have experience in handling and collecting evidence to support your claim. Speaking with an insurance agent can potentially harm your case without you knowing. If you were involved in an Uber accident in California, we invite you to hire our dedicated Los Angeles Uber accident lawyer today at (310) 943-1171 for a free consultation.
Accordingly, some experts say that nothing in Assembly Bill 5 will require employees to work set shifts, meaning that Uber and Lyft legally have to allow drivers to make their own scheduling decisions. This California Bill is to better help employees for Uber and Lyft, and other third party companies that offer delivery services for food, groceries, and or client transportation. Also see Uber Insurance Explained
A victim can be entitled to the damages for:
A lawsuit can be the victim’s best bet if the insurance company refuses to approve the claim, fails to extend a fair settlement offer, or if the victim’s injuries are particularly severe.
Victims can file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent Uber driver. In this case, the injured victim must prove that the Uber driver breached the obligation to keep him safe. The amount of recovery will be limited by what the driver can pay.
Accidents aren’t always caused by Uber drivers. Other drivers, motorcyclists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and even companies responsible for defective products can cause an accident on the road. In California, a victim can recover compensation from anyone who contributed to his injury.
Recovering compensation from Uber through a personal injury lawsuit can be problematic because the Company has fought to ensure that the drivers are independent contractors rather than employees. As drivers aren’t Uber’s employees, it is more difficult to hold Uber personally liable for drivers’ negligence.
If you or a loved one has was injured in an Uber accident, we invite you to contact our Los Angeles Uber accident lawyer at (310) 943-1171 today for a free consultation.