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Rear-end Maryland Uber accidents are responsible for an unfortunate number of injuries. As you will see, there are several common causes of rear-end accidents. This is multiplied by the danger of having an Uber driver on the road for hours at a time. While Uber requires drivers to take a break after 12 hours within a 72-hour period, that still allows for a significant number of hours of driving. When this happens, drivers become fatigued, leading to more accidents and injuries on the road. Our Maryland Uber accident lawyers see this firsthand. While one may expect Uber drivers to be the most skilled on the road due to their experience, driving strangers for hours at a time can actually lead to impatience, speeding, and exhaustion.
In handling rear-end Maryland Uber accidents, we have represented Uber drivers, Uber passengers, and claims against an Uber driver. Experience on every conceivable side of these claims has given us insights into the common causes of these accidents, the most commonly sustained injuries, and how best to determine liability. After discussing each of these issues with you here, we discuss safety tips for preventing a rear-end Uber accident before it happens. Remember, Uber accidents are slightly different from your typical accident case. For example, if you are a passenger in an accident, you probably do not know your driver. Worse, the Uber app probably only gives you your driver’s first name. How do you proceed with such little information? And if you are a driver, can you blame your passenger for your rear-end collision? Do you have to share your insurance and driver’s license with all parties?
Call our Maryland Uber accident lawyers today for a free consultation.
There are several causes of rear-end Uber accidents in Maryland. Here, we discuss the most common causes we encounter.
Unfortunately, distracted driving is pervasive and affects all drivers on the road. Whether it is an engaging phone conversation, one with your Uber passenger, changing the radio station, or even texting and driving, each of these distractions takes your eyes or mind off the road. If you are distracted behind the wheel, you may not stop in time and end up causing a collision. The injuries resulting from your distraction can be life-threatening. Even if you are driving alone, you never know who is in the other vehicle or their health condition.
Avoiding distracted driving is a particular problem for Uber drivers. You may be on your app trying to get a new passenger, locate where that passenger is, or engage in conversation with a passenger already in your car to get a high rating. While none of these are wrong by themselves, your safety is at risk if they cause distracted driving.
If you are a passenger in an Uber, and your driver suddenly brakes and you are rear-ended, the driver behind you is probably at fault. Determining liability when there is sudden braking is difficult. There may be an argument that the rear-ended Uber driver also shares some blame. In Maryland, a contributory negligence defense bars recovery for a plaintiff if the injured plaintiff is even 1% negligent. However, despite that rule, it is still true that the driver behind your vehicle is responsible for the accident and your injuries.
This is not to say that Uber drivers are the only ones to do this because we have represented Uber drivers against hundreds of tailgaters who ended up rear-ending our clients. However, it is also common for an Uber driver to have an impatient passenger pressuring the driver to drive faster. Conversely, an Uber driver may wish to wrap up their last ride of the evening and head home. In either event, tailgating or following too closely can happen, which leads to rear-end Maryland Uber accidents.
Fatigue and long driving hours for Uber drivers go back to the loose rule that Uber allows for its drivers. For example, an Uber driver may decide to work a 12-hour shift. Twelve hours in Maryland traffic can be exhausting, no matter your skill behind the wheel. Of course, fatigue can affect other drivers, too. You have a slower reaction time when you are tired behind the wheel.
A slower reaction time due to fatigue frequently leads to rear-end Maryland Uber accidents. Notably, fatigue often affects our Uber passenger clients. Frequently, when we represent a client who was a passenger in a Maryland Uber accident, they report that they did not see how the accident happened. When this happens, our Maryland car accident lawyers will investigate the collision, examine the property damage, and determine who is liable for your injuries.
Theoretically, you can sustain an endless number of injuries from a rear-end Maryland Uber accident. But in our experience, plaintiffs tend to experience the same few injuries most frequently. By far, the most common injury is a whiplash injury. This may hurt your neck and your back. Sudden jerking motions during a collision can strain the neck muscles and ligaments. This can cause pain and stiffness for months. Worse yet, your soreness may not set in for a day or two after the accident. This can become a problem. For example, some injury victims who ride passenger in an Uber may initially tell their driver they feel fine and cannot detect any pain. However, the pain then sets in a couple of days later and persists for months.
And while you may believe your statement is inadmissible at trial, it falls under a hearsay exception and may be admissible. While it may not completely derail your case, it may diminish the value of your claim. Besides neck and back injuries, you may suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or concussion. These injuries can be more complex to treat, and you may be facing life-threatening injuries. This may happen from slamming your head against the seat in front of you as a passenger or your head against the dashboard or airbag as a driver.
Passenger:
You cannot always do much to prevent a rear-end Maryland Uber accident. However, there are things you could do as a passenger that make driving more difficult for your Uber driver. Thus, we recommend remaining calm and not distracting the driver. Even when the conversation is flowing, and the driver is friendly, it is generally best for the driver to focus on the road to prevent an accident. Also, Confirm pick-up and drop-off points in advance to minimize last-minute confusion.
Driver:
As an Uber driver, it is best to limit distractions by setting up navigation before the trip begins. Working on your app while driving the Uber can lead to rear-end Maryland Uber accidents. Also, while it is not necessarily your fault if you are in a rear-end accident in this scenario, avoid sudden stops when possible. Even if fault is clearly on the other driver, you wish to prevent an accident and protect your safety and your passengers.
If you are in a rear-end Maryland Uber accident, call our office today for a free case consultation. You can reach our lawyers at (202) 331-7227.
Copyright © 2025 Gelb & Gelb, P.C. All rights reserved.