Moncks Corner Uber Accident Lawyer
Passengers count on Uber drivers to safely deliver them to their destinations. But Uber drivers, like most other commercial drivers, are primarily concerned with money. These two objectives (arriving safely and making money) are frequently at odds with one another. Victims cannot always count on Uber drivers to protect them, but they can always count on the Moncks Corner Uber accident lawyer at The Stanley Law Group.
Large companies like Uber do not scare us. Instead, we use the same approach we use in all other cases. We thoroughly review your case to determine your legal options. Then, we collect evidence that supports your claims and refutes any possible defenses. Then, when the case goes to court, we do not stop fighting until we obtain the best possible results under the circumstances. Usually, this result is a favorable out-of-court settlement that compensates victims for their losses and enables them to move forward with their lives.
Moncks Corner Uber Accident Lawyers and Uber Accident Causes
Uber’s policies at least indirectly encourage drivers to operate their vehicles in dangerous manners while passengers are aboard. This involvement usually means third party liability, making these cases even more complex. More on that below.
Uber requires its drivers to use GPS navigation apps. These apps also relay other information to drivers, like how many passengers are in their cues.
Most people assume that, since they multitask their ways through their days at work, home, or school, they can effectively multitask behind the wheel as well. But driving a motor vehicle is nothing like doing housework, listening to a teacher, or working on a laptop. Driving requires absolute concentration.
Hand-held devices are especially distracting. These gadgets, which are legal to use in South Carolina, combine all three forms of distracted driving, which are:
- Manual (hand off the wheel),
- Visual (eyes off the road), and
- Cognitive (mind off driving).
Manufacturers tout hands-free devices as a safe alternative. But these gadgets may be even more dangerous. Hands-free devices are visually and cognitively distracting. Furthermore, since hands-free devices give many drivers a false sense of security, they take unnecessary risks.
Fatigue could be an issue among Uber drivers as well. Many Uber drivers have full-time commitments elsewhere. So, when they get behind the wheel, they’re dangerously fatigued. Driving after eighteen consecutive awake hours is like driving with a .05 BAC level. That alcohol level is legally drunk for commercial operators in South Carolina.
Furthermore, Uber pays drivers by the trip, not by the hour. This payment method encourages drivers to speed. Excessive velocity multiplies the risk of a wreck, as well as the force in a collision.
Liability Issues
Driving aggressively or while impaired usually breaches the duty of care. That’s especially true among commercial drivers, since the law holds them to a higher standard. If a breach of care causes injury, a Moncks Corner Uber accident lawyer can obtain compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Usually, private auto insurance policies exclude commercial claims. Therefore, many Uber drivers are effectively uninsured. As a result, third party liability is very important in these situations. A judgment or settlement is only a piece of paper if the responsible party cannot pay the judgment or settlement.
The respondeat superior rule usually applies in Uber accident claims. Employers are financially responsible for the aforementioned damages if their employees are negligent during the course and scope of their employment.
South Carolina law defines these key terms in broad, victim-friendly ways. For example, most Uber drivers are employees for negligence purposes, even though they’re independent contractors for most other purposes.
Reach Out to a Hard-Working Berkeley County Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced Uber accident lawyer in Moncks Corner, contact The Stanley Law Group. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.
