Who Is Legally Responsible for an Uber Accident?
As with most car accident cases, Uber accident claims will generally be based on negligence. For a driver to be negligent, they need to have had a duty to behave in a certain way, failed to uphold that duty, and caused the other person’s injuries by doing this. For example, drivers have a duty to follow the rules of the road, and state law does not allow drivers to have their cell phones in their hands. An Uber driver who picks up their phone to check the Uber app, looks away from the road, and hits another vehicle could be negligent. This means they, or their insurance company, would be responsible for any injuries the accident caused.
In some cases, when an employee is negligent while doing their job, their employer could actually be liable for any accidents they cause. However, since Uber drivers are currently considered independent contractors, this rule does not apply to them. If the driver causes an accident, they are usually personally liable. If another driver outside of the Uber vehicle caused the accident, that person would be responsible for any resulting injuries, and the rideshare situation would not affect a claim. Our attorneys in Bakersfield could help an injured Uber rider determine the cause of a crash.
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