Charleston Uber Accident Attorney
Mark Bringardner represents people who have been injured as passengers while riding in an Uber, or injured in an accident involving an Uber driver.
Uber does provide insurance coverage which kicks in during active rides, but it may be difficult to recover maximum compensation in a personal injury or without an aggressive Uber accident lawyer. To learn more about your legal rights following an Uber car accident, contact Mark Bringardner today for a free consultation.
We represent victims of all types of Uber accident lawsuits:
- Lawsuits where our client was injured as a passenger in an Uber where the Uber driver was at fault
- Lawsuits where our client was injured as a passenger in an Uber where another driver was at fault
- Lawsuits where our client was injured in their own vehicle, or another vehicle, that was struck by a negligent Uber driver
- Lawsuits where our client was a bicyclist or pedestrian and suffered a serious injury when struck by an Uber driver
What is Uber?
Uber is an app-based ride-share company that is considered to be a form of disruptive innovation. As both a tech company and a transportation company, when Uber was founded it offered lower prices, faster transportation and a higher quality of service than the taxi industry. Beyond taxis, rideshare companies changed transportation. People who would have rented a car, taken a train, or rode a bus chose to take an Uber instead. For many people with full-time jobs, Uber quickly became a side-hustle of choice. It allowed drivers to work part-time whenever they wanted, before work, after work, on weekends, with no boss, no uniform, and no schedule.
What is UberX?
UberX is Uber’s standard ride in a car that seats up to four passengers. Although it’s possible an UberX will be an SUV or van, most likely an UberX will be a Toyota Prius, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Ford Escort, etc. Since UberX became available in 2012, rates of drunk driving accidents have plummeted. A report released by Mothers Against Drunk Driving showed demand for Uber rides peaked at around the same times of day that DUI accidents peaked. In California, drunk driving crashes decreased everywhere Uber was available. Uber also offers a “UberPool” carpool option, and several more luxury vehicle choices.
Are Ubers Safe?
In the last 10 years, Uber has changed the transportation industry, offering a practical and convenient solution to getting home after drinking, preventing drunk driving. The low cost and ease of taking an Uber home (and back to get their vehicle the next day) is an easy decision for people who are drinking. However, Ubers are not perfect. While DUI accidents have decreased, pedestrian and bicycle accidents have increased in many cities where Uber use is high.
Uber released a report in 2019 covering deaths involving Uber rides. In 2017 and 2018, 107 people were killed in crashes involving Uber cars, and 19 people were killed in physical assaults during or soon after an Uber ride. While those numbers are concerning, they are coming from 2.3 billion rides. 99.9% of Uber rides were completed without issue or complaint. The report also did not disclose how many people were injured in Uber crashes, likely a far higher number than the fatality count.
The second troubling part of the report was the complaints of serious sexual assault – 5,981 allegations of serious sexual assault including nonconsensual touching, nonconsensual kissing, attempted nonconsensual penetration (attempted rape) and nonconsenual penetration (rape). In 2017, 229 people reported rape incidents in Uber vehicles. In 2018, 235 people reported rape incidents in Uber vehicles. Although Uber does not allow convicted felons to drive, some have still slipped past background checks.
Uber has introduced safety features as their company has grown, and in response to various incidents over the years. Some of the features they offer now include a panic button in the app to connect passengers or drivers to emergency help, a sensor in the driver’s phone to detect a possible crash, and technology to regularly background check drivers.
Getting into an Uber ride with a drunk Uber driver is an extremely rare occurrence, as Uber has a zero tolerance policy for drunk drivers (if this happens you are urged to end the trip immediately, exit the car and dial 911). Fatigue is a definite concern in rideshare accidents, as many Uber drivers work other full-time jobs, and are tired when they are driving after work or early in the morning before work. Uber has said they have considered various forms of audio or video recordings to monitor drivers’ alertness, as they weigh the importance of passenger safety vs. drivers’ desires for privacy. In any scenario, you should speak with an Uber accident lawyer if you are injured in an accident while in a rideshare vehicle.
What to Do Following an Uber Accident in Charleston: Contact an Uber Accident Lawyer
If you are injured in an accident involving an Uber, or experienced an assault, you should record all details of the event as you would any other accident:
- Take photos of the accident scene and record details
- Get contact information for witnesses
- Make sure a police report is being prepared
- Report the incident to Uber either by calling them or filling out the form on their app
- Get medical attention as soon as possible to document your injuries
- Contact a Charleston Uber accident lawyer
Mark Bringardner is an experienced and award-winning South Carolina trial lawyer. He handles all types of serious injury claims arising from Uber rideshare accidents. Call us today to discuss your case. If we represent you in your Uber accident claim, or Uber sexual assault claim, there are never any fees unless we recover money for you.