Boca Raton Uber Accident Lawyer
During coronavirus lockdowns, ridesharing use dropped sharply, and many people stopped driving for Uber. After these lockdowns ended, ridesharing demand shot back up, but many drivers didn’t resume Ubering. As a result, companies like Uber and Lyft watered down standards for drivers, which were already low, to increase the pool of drivers. Additionally, to take advantage of increased demand, many Uber operators drive recklessly, mostly speeding, to complete as many trips as possible.
Ridesharing companies and their drivers only care about making money. In contrast, the dedicated Boca Raton Uber accident lawyers at Smith, Ball & Báez only care about victims. This dedication is apparent from start to finish. Big cases against big companies like Uber don’t intimidate us. We simply use the same proven methods we’ve developed over the years to painstakingly build a solid case. Then, when your claim goes to court, we never stop fighting for you.
What Causes Ridesharing Wrecks?
We mentioned speeding above. Excessive speed is a factor in about a third of the fatal car crashes in Florida, because it increases the risk of a collision and the force in that collision.
Speed multiplies stopping distance. A vehicle doesn’t stop on a dime. In the few moments it takes for a driver to see a hazard, move his/her foot to the brake, and safely stop the vehicle, at 30mph, that vehicle travels another six car lengths. At 60mph, stopping distance multiplies to eighteen car lengths.
So, if a driver spots a hazard even a split-second too late, the result is usually tragic for everyone in the vehicle.
Speed also multiplies the force in a collision, according to Newton’s Second Law of Motion. Basically, speed transforms a non-serious injury fender bender into a catastrophic or fatal injury crash.
Many Uber drivers are also dangerously fatigued. Most of these drivers have full-time commitments elsewhere and they Uber on the side. Driving after eighteen consecutive awake hours is like driving with a .05 BAC level. That’s above the legal limit for Uber drivers and other commercial operators in Florida.
If aggressive driving, impaired driving, or another form of driver negligence caused a crash, a Boca Raton Uber accident lawyer can obtain compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Third Party Liability
Ridesharing drivers are legally responsible for the crashes they cause. Ridesharing companies are often financially responsible for the damages these crashes inflict.
The respondeat superior rule usually applies in these cases. This legal doctrine has two basic prongs:
- Employee: Uber drivers may be independent contractors for most financial purposes. But they’re employees for negligence purposes. Uber tells them who to pick up, what route to travel, and otherwise controls drivers’ behavior.
- Scope of Employment: Any act which benefits an employer in any way is within the scope of employment. This broad definition includes things like deadheading (driving without a passenger while waiting for a fare). Deadheading benefits Uber, because a driver is in the area.
Other employer liability theories, which often apply in driver assaults and other intentional tort claims, include negligent hiring and negligent supervision.
Count on a Thorough Palm Beach County Uber Accident Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced Uber accident lawyer in Boca Raton, contact Smith, Ball, Baez & Prather, Florida Injury Lawyers. You have a limited amount of time to act.
