Aggressive Driving Maryland Uber Accident

An aggressive driving Maryland Uber accident can happen at any time. When you call for an Uber on your app, you know precisely when your car will arrive. You know what the aggregate rating is for your driver before you even meet him. This transparency is supposed to make you feel comfortable and trust your driver. Unfortunately, if you are a passenger in an Uber, you have little to no control over it. Your safety is in the hands of a stranger. Often, the ride goes off without a hitch. Many drivers adhere to speed limits, knowing they may get a bad rating if they fail to follow the law. However, some drivers will still behave aggressively behind the wheel. Drivers will still tailgate cars in front of them, speed through yellow lights, and fail to yield to pedestrians.

An accident is more likely to occur when an Uber driver does any of these things.

Ridesharing services like Uber have become essential to modern transportation, offering convenience and accessibility to millions. However, it does not come without risk. While there is always a risk when you enter a vehicle and get onto the road, there is something gut-wrenching about getting into a vehicle with a stranger and being uncomfortable with how they drive. You realize that asking them to slow down may not help and only exacerbate the issue. Unfortunately, aggressive driving tends to lead to more accidents. When an Uber driver engages in aggressive driving, passengers, pedestrians, and other road users may suffer serious injuries or even fatalities. If you are struck by a negligent Uber driver, call Gelb & Gelb today. We have handled Uber accident cases since Uber’s inception in 2009. Moreover, we have handled over 10,000 car accident cases since our founding over 70 years ago.

What Is Aggressive Driving?

First, we must define aggressive driving in the Maryland Ubers context. First, what a passenger interprets as aggressive driving may not be aggressive. Second, just because the driver is reckless does not mean you have a civil claim against him. At most, there is a case to be made for a criminal fine for speeding or tailgating in Maryland. However, we are concerned here with personal injury claims. Aggressive driving refers to a series of unsafe driving behaviors performed deliberately and with a disregard for the safety of others on the road. This includes speeding, tailgating, running red lights, unsafe lane changes, and engaging in road rage.

When a driver is aggressive, the odds of an accident increase. In some states, we could argue that the driver’s aggressive actions rise to the level of recklessness. This could lead to a punitive damages award. However, such is not the case in Maryland. Nonetheless, tailgating is one of the most common forms of aggressive driving. Unfortunately, it can lead to rear-end accidents. When an aggressive Uber driver is tailgating, there is less time to react should there be a sudden hazard on the road causing everyone to brake. A rear-end accident can cause whiplash in the vehicle ahead of the negligent driver. And if you are a passenger of an aggressive driver, you also can suffer whiplash injuries to your neck and back.

Common Causes of Aggressive Driving Uber Accidents

• Time Pressures: Uber drivers may feel rushed to complete trips quickly to maximize earnings, leading to speeding or tailgating. Or they may have obligations at home that they need to get to. In any event, time pressures creep up on everyone.
• Traffic Frustration: Heavy traffic or delays can lead drivers to engage in dangerous maneuvers like weaving through traffic. This is especially true based on the Uber app’s algorithm. The app usually gives the passenger an estimate before being picked up. If there is a sudden slowdown in traffic, the app may not account for that in its estimate. Thus, Uber drivers may not be compensated as much as they would like for waiting in traffic. This can lead to aggressive driving Maryland Uber accidents.
• Fatigue and Stress: Long hours behind the wheel can exacerbate irritability and poor decision-making, causing a driver to behave recklessly.
• Road Rage: At the worst extreme of aggressive driving, an irritated driver may argue with other drivers or passengers. This can escalate, resulting in risky behavior.

Who Is Liable in an Aggressive Driving Uber Accident?

In an aggressive driving Maryland Uber accident, we evaluate liability similarly to any other car accident case. The key difference with aggressive driving accidents is that they are far more likely to occur when one driver is aggressive or reckless. Liability in an Uber accident comes down to four elements of negligence.

Duty

Most every driver on the road owes a duty to any foreseeable plaintiff. The existence of a duty on the part of the defendant to conform to a specific standard of conduct for the protection of the plaintiff against an unreasonable risk of injury.

Breach

The second element refers to whether the defendant breaches that duty of care. An example would be that a driver is legally obliged not to run through a red light. If the driver drives through the red light because he is rushing to get the passenger to the drop-off point, that is a breach of duty.

Causation

The breach of duty by the defendant must be the actual and legal cause of your injury. To keep things simple, the breach of duty outlined above must be causally related to your injuries. So, the aggressive Uber driver running the red light must be the reason you suffered injuries and had to go to the emergency room that night. We rely on your doctor to write into your medical records that, within a reasonable degree of medical certainty, the doctor believes your injuries are related to the Uber accident.

Damages

Damages in a negligence action refer to what your case is worth. While this is a complex evaluation, our Maryland Uber accident attorneys are happy to work with you through the injuries you experienced. These damages range from medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life, physical pain and suffering, and more.

Why You Need an Aggressive Driving Uber Accident Lawyer

• Investigate Thoroughly: Gather evidence to prove the driver’s aggressive behavior and establish liability. While the police may go to the scene and write a police report, our attorneys will track down as much information as possible if they do not come to the scene for whatever reason.
• Negotiate with Insurers: Uber’s insurance policies can be complex. Moreover, the information you read online is likely incorrect or outdated. A few years ago, Uber changed the way they insure drivers. Thus, it is best to consult an attorney for the best information on negotiating with insurers.
• Advocate for Maximum Compensation: Lawyers understand the true value of your claim and will not settle for less than what you deserve.
• Provide Peace of Mind: When you leave your case to our legal team, you can focus on recovering from your injuries.

Call Gelb & Gelb Today

Our Maryland Uber accident lawyers have practiced personal injury law in Maryland since 1954. Since then, we have recovered over $150 million for our clients. We are well-versed in thoroughly investigating Uber accident cases and stand ready to. help you every step of the way.

Call our office today for a free consultation at (202) 331-7227.