Uber and Lyft companies have changed the way Americans travel, including in Portland. Both residents and visitors often rely on the convenience of a private ride that arrives with the simple swipe of an app. Fortunately, most Uber and Lyft rides end without incident, with a passenger safely dropped at their destination. However, a significant research study revealed an overall increase in accident numbers by about three percent since the rise of the rideshare industry.
If you or a close family member suffered injuries in a Portland rideshare accident, either as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft car, or in a collision caused by a rideshare driver, contact the Uber & Lyft accident attorneys at Sears Injury Law. Our Portland car accident attorneys have years of experience handling this complex type of car accident claim, and we are prepared to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Why Choose Sears Injury Law as Your Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers In Portland?
Few car accident claims are easy in fault-based accident states like Oregon, but a rideshare accident claim comes with additional complexities due to the industry’s use of independent contractors to insulate against liability. With representation from a Portland Uber & Lyft accident attorney at Sears Injury Law, you’ll find the following:
- A legal team of Portland Uber & Lyft accident lawyers with over 100 years of combined experience
- A results-oriented approach that combines legal prowess with compassionate victim advocacy methods
- An entire legal team and skilled staff working to advance your case
- A dedicated rideshare accident lawyer who will strategize the best way forward to maximize your recovery based on the unique circumstances of your accident and injuries
We offer a free case consultation and provide skilled legal representation throughout every step of the process at no cost until after we’ve recovered compensation in your case. Get in touch with our Portland Uber & Lyft accident lawyers today.
Common Causes of Uber & Lyft Accidents In Portland
Uber and Lyft drivers often work long shifts or drive rideshare vehicles to earn a second income after a regular job. This, along with the incentive to complete the maximum number of rides per shift, increases the likelihood of an Uber or Lyft driver having an accident. Common causes of rideshare accidents in Portland and elsewhere include the following:
- Distracted driving (rideshare drivers use their apps while driving)
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Fatigued driving
- Inexperienced driving
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Improper merging
- Unsafe lane changes
- Tailgating
- Improper passing
- Impaired driving
- Inadequate vehicle maintenance
Less commonly, an attorney’s investigation reveals that another party caused or contributed to the accident, such as a negligent city road maintenance agency or the manufacturer of a defective car part. An assertive Portland Uber & Lyft accident attorney vigorously pursues all available compensation from all liable parties who contributed to the accident.
What Types of Uber & Lyft Accidents Happen In Portland?
Rideshare drivers sometimes engage in risky driving behaviors to fit as many trips into their shift as possible to maximize their income. Unfortunately, this results in accidents such as the following:
- Rear-end collisions
- T-bone accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Sideswipes
- Roadway departures
- Collisions with obstacles
- Tire blowout accidents
- Rollovers
- Multi-car pileups
When you’ve been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, it’s important to act fast to protect your physical and financial future.
What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident In Portland
After an accident involving a rideshare vehicle, you may be seriously injured or incapacitated and unable to take purposeful action. However, if you or an uninjured companion can use a cell phone, it’s important to take the following steps:
- First, call 911 to report the accident
- Use the rideshare app to report the accident to the rideshare company
- Use the phone’s camera to take quick photos of the damaged vehicles, the accident scene, and any visible injuries
- Add the driver’s contact information
- Add the contact information of any eyewitnesses
Getting the names of eyewitnesses before they leave the accident scene is crucial in places lacking traffic cameras.
Always go to a hospital straight from the accident, either in an ambulance or by arranging transportation. This ensures that you receive emergency medical care and documents evidence that your injuries occurred in the Uber or Lyft accident.
Who Is Liable for Damages After an Uber Or Lyft Accident?
Determining liability after a car accident requires an investigation in an at-fault insurance state like Oregon. Major rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft protect themselves from direct liability by using independent contractors as drivers rather than hiring employees. To make matters more complex, the special rideshare insurance Uber and Lyft drivers carry has a multi-tiered structure, with the amount of available compensation dependent on the stage of the rideshare.
For example, when an Uber or Lyft driver uses their vehicle privately and has a collision, their private insurance is in effect.
If the accident happens when they have their app turned on but no passenger booked, the lower level of coverage provides $25,000 per person for injury compensation and $100,000 total coverage per accident.
If the accident happens while driving to the pickup location or while transporting a passenger, the top-level coverage is in place with up to $1 million in coverage available.
What Damages Can I Recover In an Uber/Lyft Accident Claim?
If you’ve suffered injuries with significant economic damages as well as pain and suffering, you can file a claim with the help of a Portland personal injury attorney to recover common damages such as the following:
- Reimbursement for emergency medical expenses
- Future medical care costs
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Lost earnings
- Future income loss or diminished future earning capacity
- Compensation for pain and suffering
Catastrophic injury victims may claim additional damages such as compensation for loss of limb, the loss of an organ, hearing loss, loss of vision, scarring, or loss of enjoyment of life. If a loved one died in an Uber or Lyft accident, a Portland wrongful death lawyer can help a close family member recover compensation for their grievous loss.
Contact Our Experienced Portland Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers Today
No one should have to take on the unique challenges of a rideshare accident claim alone, especially while also recovering from a traumatic experience and dealing with a painful recovery process. Instead, contact the Portland Uber & Lyft lawyers at Sears Injury Law by calling (503) 446-5127 so we can put our years of experience and know-how behind your case.