Maryland Uber Accident Lawyer

Riding in the car as a passenger of a stranger can be a frightening experience. Even if the driver has thousands of rides of experience, you do not know that person or how he or she drives. Yo may feel out of control. If you are in an accident on a rideshare app, whether as a driver or passenger, contact a Maryland Uber accident lawyer to discuss your options.

When discussing Uber accidents in Maryland, there are two perspectives to consider. The first is the perspective of the Uber driver. The second is the perspective of the passenger in the Uber at the time of the accident. Our Maryland Uber accident lawyers have been practicing personal injury law in Maryland for nearly 70 years. We have also been handling Uber accident cases for roughly the last 14 years, since Uber’s inception back in 2009.

Uber Driver

As an Uber driver, there are two ways to have a viable claim. The first, less orthodox claim, is against your passenger. If you are in an accident where you would otherwise be at-fault but for the unruly actions of a backseat passenger, you may have a viable defense against the third party driver. However, as a personal injury law firm, we would handle a civil action against your passenger for battery. While a civil assault is possible, you are more likely to be successful on a battery claim.

Why is this? To establish a prima facie case for civil assault, we must prove an act by the defendant, your passenger, creates a reasonable apprehension in you of immediate harmful or offensive contact to your person. This is unlikely due to the simple fact that you are focusing on the road. Thus, it is less likely that you have reasonable apprehension, or knowledge, that you are going to offensively contacted by your passenger. On the other hand, a battery does not require reasonable apprehension of immediate harmful or offensive contact. Rather, there simply must be a harmful or offensive contact to your person. We must also prove intent on the part of the passenger as well as causation.

Option Two

The second option for an Uber driver, after hiring a Maryland Uber accident lawyer, is to make a claim against a negligent driver. This operates much like a standard negligence case, with one major distinction. In many cases in Maryland, the adverse driver does not have sufficient coverage for a plaintiff’s injuries. Sometimes they have no insurance coverage at all. But in cases where there is not sufficient coverage, Uber drivers may use coverage provided by Uber. This may involve an uninsured motorist coverage or a underinsured motorist coverage. Each is applicable under different circumstances; so, you cannot use both at the same time. If you drive for Uber and have any questions, reach out to a Maryland Uber accident lawyer for more details.

Uber Passenger

As an Uber passenger, if you are in an accident while on a ride, you are at an advantage. The reason being, there is very little chance you are at-fault for the accident. Accordingly, you may be able to make a claim against your Uber driver or a third party driver, depending on who causes your accident. If you are in a car accident and your driver is at-fault, believe it or not, this may be a positive thing for your ultimate recovery. Many drivers in Maryland either have no auto insurance coverage, or they have an insufficient amount to cover your injuries. However, Uber insurance policies contain more coverage than the average policy. So, if you are in an Uber accident and believe you have a viable claim for negligence against your driver, your Maryland Uber accident lawyer should be able to win you full and fair compensation.

One of the biggest issues plaguing personal injury cases is the lack of insurance coverage. If a defendant driver hits you and they have no insurance coverage and zero personal assets, you are left with nothing but your own insurance coverage. Depending on your policy, this may be sufficient to cover your injuries. However, when suing an Uber driver, you will have a much higher likelihood of recovering the compensation you deserve.

Contact a Maryland Uber Accident Lawyer

If you are in a rideshare accident in Maryland, do not hesitate to speak with a Maryland Uber accident lawyer to discuss next steps. Our consultations are always free. We look forward to speaking with you.