JZ helps (a Florida injury law firm)

Uber Accident Lawyer (for Drivers, Passengers and Others)

Justin Ziegler, Lawyer
Uber Accident Lawyer JZ helps (a Florida injury law firm))

This is a complete guide to using an Uber accident lawyer.

In this all-new guide you’ll learn about:

So if you want to make sure that you hire an awesome lawyer for your Uber accident, you should get a lot of value from today’s guide.

Table of contents

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Uber Accident Lawyers

Let’s kick things off with some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Uber accident attorneys:

Who is the best Uber accident lawyer?

This is a tough question to answer because at least one state (Florida) does not allow an attorney to say that he or she is the best. Therefore, in Florida, no one attorney can claim to be the best Uber accident attorney. If they do, watch out!

Why can’t an attorney call themselves the “best”?

For starters, the Florida Bar (which regulates Florida lawyers) does not allow an attorney to say that he or she is the best. Therefore, be careful if you see an attorney calling himself the best Uber accident lawyer.

Here is the problem:

If your attorney does not know the Florida Bar Rules regarding advertising, he or she may not know the rules about attorney fees and costs. And the last thing that you want is to be overcharged.

That said, you should hire a lawyer who has experience with Uber accident cases. 

I reached a $260K accident settlement for an Uber driver. A van struck him. The van’s insurance company paid the $260K settlement. Below is a graph that shows that the largest part of the settlement was pain and suffering.

At any given time, I represent an Uber passenger or driver who is hurt in a car accident (in Florida). Regardless of where in Florida the Uber accident is, I’m able to help. 

Therefore, if you’re hurt in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando or anywhere else in Florida, please fill out this short Uber accident form to see if I can represent you. Yes, that form is specific to Uber cases. That makes it easy for you to complete. It also means that I’ll quickly know after receiving the form if I can represent you.

I give a Free Consultation. As promised, this image shows the breakdown of the pain, suffering and medical bills from my $260,000 settlement.

How much do Uber accident lawyers charge?

It depends on the state where the Uber accident happened. For example, in Florida (where I’m licensed), we have caps on our attorney’s fees.

If I settle an Uber accident without a lawsuit, I can’t charge more than 33 1/3% of the total settlement. And you guessed it. That’s exactly how much I charge. Attorneys are also allowed to be paid back for costs.

What is an benefit of having an Uber accident lawyer? The attorney pays for costs that are needed for maximize the case value. Then, if the attorney settles the case, he or she is entitled to get paid back for costs.

But be careful. If and when your case settles, the attorney is required to prepare a closing statement. In Florida, attorneys are required to list each cost in the closing statement.

Here is a tip:

Before you hire an Uber accident lawyer, ask him or her if they list every individual cost in the closing statement. Don’t hire a lawyer who will not agree to list every cost in the closing statement. Otherwise, the attorney’s calculation of costs may be wrong.

The last thing that you want to get overcharged. It means less money in your pocket. I’d proud to say that I list every cost on the closing statement. There are no secrets. I believe in complete transparency.

This image shows my attorney’s fee from a $260,000 Uber accident payout. It also shows how much my client got in his pocket. However, it doesn’t include the interest on his loan.

Should I hire a lawyer who isn’t licensed in the state of the Uber accident?

No. Do not hire a lawyer who is not licensed in the state where your Uber accident happened. Generally speaking, attorneys can only represent people who are injured in a state where they are licensed.

For example, I’m only licensed in Florida. Thus, I can only represent people who are hurt in Florida.

One thing is for sure:

A lawyer cannot represent someone who is injured in another state (and lives in that state) if the lawyer is not licensed in that state.

For example, I am unable to represent a Georgia resident who is injured in an uber accident in Georgia. This is because I am not licensed in Georgia.

Thus, don’t hire a lawyer who claims to handle Uber accidents in every state. I have never heard of a lawyer being licensed in every state.

It’s illegal for an attorney to represent accident victims if he or she is not licensed in the state where the Uber accident happened. It is the unlicensed practice of law. (The exception for some states, like Florida, is if you live in the same state as your attorney.)

But your problems will be worse than just hiring a lawyer who is engaging in illegal activity. Specifically, the lawyer won’t know the law of the state where the crash happened.

Remember:

Each state has its own set of laws that applies to Uber accident claims.
If your attorney doesn’t know the law, they will get crushed by Uber’s insurance company.

Should I hire a law firm who doesn’t have the attorney’s name on their website?

No. This is because you have no way of knowing if the firm actually has a licensed attorney. Without knowing the attorney’s name, you won’t be able to look him or her up to see if they are licensed with the state bar.

Do you really want to pay someone to represent you who is not even an attorney?

I doubt it.

Only attorneys can represent you in a rideshare accident case. Don’t hire someone who is not licensed.

Even if the website shows a law firm name, this is not enough. You need to be able to see the lawyer’s name.

For example, let’s say the a law firm says that they are the Fonseoso Law Firm. (I made that name up). You should still be able to look at their website and see the attorney’s name.

There is no excuse for a law firm not to list the name of at least one attorney on its website. In fact, states (like Florida) require it.

The rideshare accident attorney’s name is usually found under the law firm’s “About Us” section. You can find out more about me in the “About Us” section of my website. I also list my name in every article that I write on my blog.

In addition, I put my name on the bottom of every page on my website. Look at the image below. I have nothing to hide.

Are there attorneys who only handle Uber accidents?

No. I am not aware of a single attorney or law firm in the United States who only handles Uber claims for injured victims.

This is for two reasons. First, a law firm likely cannot have a successful business from only Uber accident cases. At this time, there simply is not a big enough market for one law firm or attorney to survive just handling Uber cases.

There is a second reason that is perhaps more important. That is, while attorneys like to help Uber accident victims, they also like to make money. And what attorney is going to just take Uber accident cases and pass on millions of dollars in car accident settlements for other cases?

No one.

For example, what attorney is going to pass up on a $70,000 Lyft accident settlement because it involved Lyft (and not Uber)?

None.

That being said, look for an attorney who has settled a case for over $250,000 on behalf of an Uber driver (or passenger). I have. I settled a case for an Uber driver for $260,000. The other van’s insurance company paid us.

Also, I linked to another $70,000 rideshare settlement of mine. I would love to get you a nice settlement in a Uber accident case. I handle cases if the accident happened in Florida.

Should you only hire a lawyer who has already settled an Uber accident case for over $250K?

Yes. This is because the attorney will have experience with a big settlement for an Uber accident. I settled an Uber driver’s case for $260,000. The other vehicle’s insurance company paid the settlement.

However, I learned several important things from that claim. For starters, an Uber driver is not entitled to personal injury protection (PIP) benefits from Uber if a passenger was in the car. (PIP pays up to $10,000 of medical bills and lost wages). I’m referring to Uber accidents in Florida, which is a No-Fault state.

Remember:

Different states have different laws that apply to Uber accidents. If the Uber driver has accepted a ride, Florida law does not require the car to have PIP. Uber could voluntarily offer this coverage. Unfortunately, it does not.

Just look at Uber’s current certificate of insurance (in Florida).

Basically, you want to hire an Uber accident lawyer who can hit the road running. You don’t want them to learn accident laws that apply to Uber after they take your case. You deserve to have an attorney who already knows as much as possible about Uber claims.

For years, I’ve been writing about Uber accident claims and settlements. Because of this, I get contacted a couple of times a month by other attorneys. They want me to answer their questions about Uber accident claims.

Rideshare laws and Uber’s insurance policies are constantly changing. For example, we’ve already seen Uber lower its uninsured motorist coverage.

Should you look at client reviews for Uber accidents when hiring an attorney?

Yes, however they will likely be tough to find. Just finding Uber accident settlements is hard. The reason is no secret.

In an news article, an Uber spokesperson said that its settlements are confidential. If you can’t find an attorney who has a positive client review for an Uber accident, look at the next best thing. Look for positive client reviews about the attorney’s work in a Lyft accident claim.

One of my client’s left this 5 star review about my work on his Lyft claim:

“Justin is fast and effective by being ALL THE TIME one step ahead of potential issues with your case. I was impressed with his accurate and rapid responsiveness even for a single phone call or email.. He’s an EXTRAORDINARY professional and human being…two qualities hard to find in a lawyer. I’m positive about referring Justin to everyone.”

My client was a Lyft passenger. He left this review (above) on Google Maps. That is just one of our many 5 star reviews.

Where can you see settlement offers Uber has made to injured victims’ lawyers?

You can view filings on Florida’s civil remedy notice (CRN) of insurer violation website. If you are hurt in an Uber ride that began in Florida, you (or your lawyer) goes to this website to file a CRN against Uber’s insurance company.

The main reason to file a CRN is if you are trying to get more than Uber’s uninsured motorist (UM) coverage limit. In Florida, this is the only way that Uber’s insurance company may have to pay you more than its UM limit.

After you (or your attorney) file the CRN, you must send it to Uber’s insurance company. Otherwise, it won’t be valid.

If you look at CRNs that have been filed against Uber’s insurance company, you’ll notice something. Virtually all CRNs filed against Uber’s insurance company are by lawyers. Why?

Because they know that you must file a CRN to bust open Uber’s insurance company’s UM limit. This is just one of the many techniques that Uber accident lawyers know that you likely don’t.

Here is a settlement offer that I found in an Uber passenger’s attorney’s CRN. In April 2020, the passenger’s rideshare accident lawyer (not me) said:

Dos Santos was passenger in an Uber ride. After the crash, she underwent back surgery. Progressive insured Uber. Her Miami attorney demanded the $1 million uninsured motorist coverage limits. Progressive was given the chance to to pay the $1 million UM limits. Yet, they only offered $2,500. Here is a screenshot of part of the CRN:

What happens if you get in an accident with Uber?

If you get into an accident with Uber, hopefully you are not injured. The good news is that Uber usually has insurance that will cover you. This is often true regardless of whether you are a driver or passenger.

We all hope that no one gets injured. However, if you get seriously hurt, there is a best scenario that may entitle you to Uber’s highest insurance coverage limit. The best scenario (for the injured person) involves four facts, all of which are needed.

First, the accident happened while the Uber driver is en route to pick up passengers or during a trip. This triggers Uber’s $1 million bodily injury liability coverage limit and its $250,000 uninsured motorist coverage limit.

Second, the Uber driver is at fault for causing the crash. Third, another vehicle is also at fault for causing the accident. Fourth, the person claiming the serious injury is a passenger.

If all of the above are true, Uber’s insurance company may be on the hook for up to $1.25 million dollars. This is true for states (like Florida) that allow a passenger to tap into both Uber’s bodily injury liability insurance policy and its uninsured motorist insurance policy. However, you can only do that if both the Uber driver and another car are at fault.

You get the point. In an Uber accident, you may dealing with a good amount of insurance coverage. This is all the more reason to hire an Uber accident lawyer. Here is a chart that shows insurance for rideshare drivers with Uber.

Should you look for an attorney who has also settled a case with Lyft for over $35K?

Yes. You want to hire a lawyer who has also settled at least one case against Lyft. This is true even though your looking for an attorney for your Uber accident.

But why?

Basically, you want to look for an attorney who has the most rideshare claim experience as possible. Every Uber accident attorney knows that Uber and Lyft claims are different.

For starters, Uber and Lyft have different insurance companies. Uber uses four insurance companies in the United States. Conversely, Lyft uses a third party claims administrator (Travelers) to handle its claims.

Second, PIP insurance may apply differently in Lyft and Uber cases. Rideshare laws apply equally to Uber and Lyft. However, their insurance policies and coverage is different.

Nevertheless, you want an Uber accident lawyer with rideshare claims experience. An attorney who knows the differences will also know how to maximize your case value better.

Bonus tip:

If your planning to hire an Uber accident attorney, ask him or her to explain the difference between Uber and Lyft claims. The attorney should be able to quickly explain the differences. If he or she can’t, then they are not the right rideshare attorney for you.

I settled a claim for a Lyft passenger for $70,000. Lyft’s insurance company paid $45,000 of that settlement. GEICO paid the remaining $25,000. My client had a tear in his wrist. Below, you can see a photo of a brace on his hand:

What kind of insurance do you need for Uber?

To drive with Uber, you are required to have a certain level of auto insurance. The driver must provide this proof to Uber. The requirements are:

– You must have comprehensive or third party property damage coverage. (Third party property damage liability coverage covers other vehicles. It does not cover the Uber.)

– You must be listed as an insured driver on the policy, even if you are driving someone else’s car.
– The insurance policy must list the vehicle make type, model, year and registration.
– The insurance policy must display an effective and expiration date.

As you can see, those requirements are quite minimal. The good news is that many scenarios Uber’s insurance policy kicks in and provides additional coverage.

This is particularly good news for someone who is injured by an Uber driver who was careless. So long as the Uber driver is logged onto the app, the injured person should have at least some coverage.

Click on the above image for a Free Consultation.

Earlier, I told you that I had a $260,000 settlement for an Uber driver.

In that case, the insurance company’s first offer to me was for $150,000.

You can see a comparison between the first offer and settlement:

Hire a Uber rideshare accident lawyer who knows what a fair final offer is.

You can watch the video about that payout:

Currently, that video has 128 comments (on Youtube). That includes my detailed response to every comment. After you read this article, I encourage you to also look at those comments.

Here are 7 tips when looking for an Uber accident attorney. Following these types before hiring a lawyer may save you a ton of grief.

Will a rideshare accident attorney help you notify Uber of the claim?

Of course. Your accident lawyer will notify Uber of the claim. If an Uber driver caused your accident, your rideshare accident lawyer can notify Uber of the claim on its website.

A good injury attorney will be familiar with Uber’s accident details form on its website. The top of the form looks like this:

Your lawyer can help you right the description of the loss (accident). You don’t want to write something that Uber will later take out of context. The last thing that you want is for Uber offer you less money because of something that you wrote.

You should understand the purpose behind every question that Uber’s claim form asks you. For example, do you know why Uber’s claim form asks you:

Was anyone transported by ambulance?

Take a look:

Experienced rideshare accident lawyers know the reason why Uber asks that question. It’s because Uber’s insurance company will take your case more seriously. They’ll send it to a higher level claims adjuster.

Uber’s insurance company knows that cases are worth more if you take an ambulance to the hospital. That’s the general rule. Of course, there are exceptions to that rule. And that’s why you need a rideshare accident lawyer.

Which accident law firm has the best Uber accident settlements online?

On its website, Kenmore Law Group (in California) lists six Uber accident settlements. Those payouts range from $500,000 to $1 million. This is a screenshot of their Uber accident page:

Those are some big settlements! Unfortunately, the facts of those cases are not listed. So I have no idea who was at fault, or how badly the victims were injured.

I will say this:

To get those kind of payouts in Florida, you need really serious injuries.

Even if you have the best Uber accident lawyer, you will likely need a broken bone and three (3) surgeries to get an insurance company to pay you $500,000 in an Uber accident. Or you will need to have a brain bleed.

You may also be able to get a payout of $500,000 (or more) if your family member was killed in an Uber accident.

Basically, do not set your expectations too high after looking at those payouts. If you have minor injuries, even the top Uber accident lawyer won’t be able to get you a mid six figure settlement. At least this is the case in Florida Uber accidents.

I do not know anyone at the Kenmore Law Group.

Should you hire a rideshare accident lawyer if Uber tells you that it is paying the policy limits to settle all claims?

Yes, because you want to make sure that you get the maximum possible payout. If an Uber driver causes an accident, and the victims are badly injured, Uber’s insurance company may pay out the policy limits to all the injured people who are making claims. All insurance companies do this, not just Uber’s.

If the Uber driver was engaged in a ride when the accident happened, there will be $1 million in liability coverage. If at least one person has very serious injuries, and there is someone else who is hurt, Uber’s insurance company may tender (pay) the $1 million liability limits to all the people with claims.

The odds are that the person who is most badly injured will have an attorney. Thus, you should also have a lawyer. If you don’t have a rideshare accident attorney representing you, the other person’s attorney may be very convincing.

The last thing that you want is to accept a fraction of the fair settlement value of your case.

If Uber’s insurance company agrees to pay the policy limits to settle the claims of everyone who was injured, they may give you a chance to agree with the other injured people on how to split up the money. Uber’s insurance company will likely hire a lawyer to help them with this.

If you can’t come to an agreement, Uber’s insurance company will probably use a lawyer to represent the driver at a global settlement conference.

A global settlement conference is basically a mediation. This is where a neutral party (usually a lawyer) tries to get the injured people to reach an agreement.

If this is your first mediation (or if you have only attending a few), it can be intimidating. If you hire an attorney, it may greatly reduce your fear and anxiety about the mediation.

In addition, your rideshare accident lawyer can make sure to give Uber’s insurance company all the right documents. This will increase the chance that you get the biggest payout possible. Your lawyer can also help present your case in the light most favorable to you.

Why I recommend a lawyer from a small law firm if you’re hurt in an Uber car accident

In a couple of my past car accident cases, I’ve been unable to get attorneys from big law firms to return my phone calls and emails. I’m talking about a law firm with many lawyers.

In at least one of my past car accident cases, I was not able to get an attorney from a big injury law firm on the phone to attempt to settle a case before a global mediation.

The same is true in a case where I’ve represented a driver or passenger in a vehicle, and an attorney from a big law firm represented another occupant. Sometimes I it’s best to create a strategy with the other injured person’s lawyer because our client’s have the same interest. Basically, we want to put as much blame on the at fault driver as possible. It helps both of our cases.

Why hasn’t at least one lawyer from a big law firm responded to my phone calls when we each represented an injured party?

Perhaps they are too busy with other cases. Or maybe they don’t think it is worth their time to try to settle a case before mediation.

I disagree with this approach. I think that cooperation can lead to a better result for both clients. It can result in a settlement before mediation. This will save you money by not having to pay the mediator’s fees. Even if you are splitting a mediator’s fee between 3 or more parties, your amount owed can be $850 or more for just half a day of mediation!

Settling the case before the mediation can prevent delay and reduces the client’s stress. After all, every client wants to know when you will settle the case.

That said, I do know some excellent attorneys at some big law firms.

Do you need to tell your insurance company if you drive for Uber?

Yes. Otherwise, here is what will happen.

When you make a claim with your auto insurance company, you will want to get Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. This assumes that the accident happened in a No-Fault state like Florida (and others). But that’s not it.

You’ll also want to get your car fixed. Your auto insurance company will take your statement. One of the questions that they’ll ask you is whether you were driving for Uber at the time of the crash.

If you answer Yes, your auto insurance company will deny PIP coverage, collision coverage and uninsured motorist insurance coverage.

Keep in mind:

If you lie to your insurance company, it’s considered insurance fraud. The last thing you want is to end up in the slammer with Bubba (or his female version).

Just look at court records for Uber lawsuits. You’ll see that companies like GEICO have denied PIP benefits to Uber drivers.

Also, when you get into an Uber accident, if someone reports the accident, Uber will know about it. Thereafter, Uber’s insurance company will then report the claim to the ISO office.

The ISO is the entity that keeps track of all auto insurance claims. Therefore, your auto insurance company will know about your Uber accident if you someone reported it to Uber.

If an Uber driver hits you while you were on a motorcycle, how do you find the right lawyer?

Start by looking for a lawyer who has settled at least motorcycle accident case for over $400,000.

Why?

Because that lawyer has experience dealing with big injury cases. Additionally, that attorney has likely learned about motorcycle helmet laws, rider laws and much more.

Moreover, in a case that settles for over $400,000, the insurance company assigns a high level adjuster to the case. High level adjusters are more experienced. They are better negotiators. They are more persuasive. You need an attorney who can match their skills.

Additionally, in a $400,000 (or higher) settlement, a large insurance policy is at play. If an Uber driver hits a motorcycle rider while the Uber driver is en route to pickup passengers or during trips, you’ll be dealing with a $1 million liability policy. That is not chump change. Thus, you need an Uber accident lawyer who has experience dealing with big insurance policies. You don’t want your lawyer shaking in his or her boots.

You should also hire a motorcycle accident lawyer who has settled at least two other motorcycle cases for $50,000 or more. For example, if an attorney settled one motorcycle accident case for $100,000 and another for $50,000, that fits the bill. You guessed it. Those my motorcycle accident settlements. However, I’ve settled others.

Next, look at that attorney’s articles about those settlements. You’ll get a good understanding of how the attorney handles a motorcycle case. You can also see if the attorney has a video about a settlement that is over $400,000. Here is a video on my $445,000 motorcycle accident settlement:

You can also look at an attorney’s personal injury settlements page. But just don’t gloss over the settlements. Read each one so that you can see the actual facts. The more detailed the settlement description, the better.

I’m from out of state and was injured in a car accident. How do I find the right lawyer?

Look for an attorney with a proven track record of settlements for out of state visitors who are hurt in in the state where the Uber accident happened.

Let me explain. Assume that you are from another state and were hurt in a Uber accident in Florida. In this instance, look for an attorney with many settlements for out of state victims who are hurt in Florida car accidents.

But why?

When an out of state visitor is hurt in an accident in another state, the laws of two states apply. Maybe more. Cases get more complex when they involve the laws of multiple states.

For example, other states have different laws regarding health insurance reimbursement from the Uber accident settlement. That’s right. If you settle your case, you may have to reimburse your health insurance company.

The same is true if the Uber accident victim has Medicaid. For example, let’s look at Floridians who receive Medicaid. They do not have to repay Medicaid for cash assistance (SSI) from an Uber accident settlement.

However, if you live in Connecticut, you may need to repay Connecticut Medicaid for cash assistance from the Uber settlement. Therefore, a Connecticut resident who is hurt in a Florida Uber accident may need to repay Connecticut Medicaid from an Uber accident payout.

That’s just one example. There are countless others.

Similarly, other states have different laws that may determine whether the Uber passenger is entitled to Medpay or PIP coverage. You need an attorney who understands how the tourist’s out of state laws apply to the case in the state where the accident happened.

Can One Attorney Represent You and Your Significant Other for Your Injuries from an Uber Accident?

To answer this question, we first must look at what type of “significant other” we are talking about. If the significant other is a husband or wife, then the Uber accident attorney will most likely be able to represent both of you.

However, if your significant other is a boyfriend or girlfriend, the answer becomes more difficult. Let me explain.

In a state like Florida, an attorney cannot represent two individuals (who are not family members) who are competing for a limited amount of liability of liability insurance. Florida Bar rules prevent this. See Ethics opinion 02-03. It should be a big warning flag for you if you are speaking with an attorney who is willing to break this rule.

A boyfriend, girlfriend or fiance is not considered a family member.

An Uber accident attorney who is willing to represent two or more people (when 3 or more people are making claims) should be a caution sign for two reasons.

First, perhaps the attorney does not know the Florida bar ethics rules. What’s the big deal about hiring a lawyer who does not know the Florida bar’s ethics rules?

For one, the attorney may overcharge you. (It’s always good to know what an attorney cannot charge you for.)

The second problem is that the lawyer may know the ethics rule but his or her greed is causing them to disregard the rule. Either one of the above reasons is cause for major concern.

Do you want a greedy lawyer?

I doubt it.

When will two (or more) claims be worth more than Uber’s liability insurance limits?

Ultimately, it depends on the particular facts of the case. You’ll have to know how to properly value a car accident case to know the answer.

That said, there is a most common scenario where one Uber accident lawyer cannot represent you and a significant other.

Here it is:

While an Uber driver has the app on but has not yet accepted a ride request, he or she crashes in Miami or Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Perhaps he hits three (or more) pedestrians, or bike riders. Or the more likely scenario is that the Uber driver crashes into another car (or two) and a total of 3 (or more) people or hurt.

One of the pedestrians quickly contacts an attorney after the accident. However, if the 3 (or more) people who get hit are badly injured, and they are not family members, one attorney cannot represent two (or more) of them.

Why not?

Because they will likely be competing for the same limited pot of Uber’s liability insurance. In this case, Uber’s bodily injury liability coverage limit is $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident. Florida Statute 627.748(7)(b)(1)(a).

Again, the Bar rules (that govern all Florida attorneys) do not allow one lawyer to represent two or more individuals in this scenario.

Example Where 1 Accident Attorney Can’t Represent 2 People if Uber Driver Has App On (But Not En Route to Pickup Passengers or During Trips)

In the above scenario, let’s assume that the three pedestrians that the Uber drive hits have the following injuries:

In this case, we know that the combined cases are easily worth more than Uber’s $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident bodily injury liability (BIL) insurance limit. Florida Statute 627.748(7)(b)(1)(a). Once again, Uber has this “lower limit” because the driver has not accepted a ride request.

In this scenario, one Uber accident attorney cannot represent two of more of the injured people since they are not family members. In other words, the lawyer can’t represent both Mike and Sally. Even if they are boyfriend and girlfriend (or even engaged).

This is because the more money Mike gets, the less money that Sally gets. And vice versa. This is a conflict of interest.

Now:

If Mike and Sally are married, the lawyer can represent them both so long as he or she gets a written informed consent from each of them.

Which cases are the toughest for Uber accident lawyers?

Some Uber accident cases are worth much less than others. One of the most common injuries that is worth the least amount of money is whiplash if the injured person gets little to no medical treatment. Those your accident attorney will have the hardest time getting decent compensation in that case.

Let me give you an example. Assume that you are a passenger in an Uber in Tampa (or anywhere in Florida). The Uber driver is careless and causes an accident. Maybe he or she ran a red light and t-boned another car. For purposes of this example, it does not matter what specific careless act the Uber driver did.

As a result of the accident, you either go to the hospital or urgent care on the day of the accident. Or perhaps you wait a few days and then go. At the hospital, a doctor diagnoses you with whiplash.

However, you do not get any medical care for about a month. Maybe your reason for not getting medical treatment is because you can’t take time off work. Or perhaps you just are not hurt badly. It’s now one month after the accident. Since you are in pain, you go back to the emergency room. There, a CT scan shows that you have a disc bulge.

You decide to contact an Uber accident attorney to see what you should do. You’re excited because you know that the Uber driver has a $1 million liability policy that covers you for your personal injury. Check out Progressive’s certificate of insurance for Uber in Florida:

Rideshare accident lawyers can only get you money if you get medical treatment

If you don’t get more medical treatment, even the best Uber accident lawyer will not be able to get you a big payout for your pain and suffering.

Why not?

Because you have a soft tissue injury and limited medical treatment. Simply going to the emergency room for a couple of hours two times is not worth a heck of a lot of money. Again, my statement is true if you have a soft tissue (just pain) injury.

Your case is much better if you also get additional medical care (like physical therapy, an MRI and seeing an orthopedic doctor). But only get medical treatment if you need it.

On the other hand, if you have a broken bone, your case is better. This is true even if you get little medical treatment.

Does an Uber driver need a lawyer when making a uninsured motorist claim?

The best move is for the Uber driver to hire a lawyer. I’ll explain.

Assume that you are driving an Uber with the app on. However, you have not yet accepted a ride. Another car hits you and takes off. In other words, you are the victim of a hit and run.

In a state like Florida, Uber won’t give you uninsured motorist (UM) benefits because you had not accepted a ride when you were hit. Let’s assume that you have insurance with your personal auto insurer.

Maybe you have insurance with State Farm, GEICO, Progressive, Safeco or another company. And when you got your car insurance policy, you were wise and got UM coverage. Don’t get to excited to soon.

Your own insurer may try to claim that your policy does not provide UM coverage in this instance. They may argue that the following clause in your personal policy excludes UM coverage:

We do not provide Uninsured Motorists Coverage for bodily injury sustained by any insured:

  1. While occupying your covered auto when it is being used as a public or livery conveyance. This exclusion (A.2.) does not apply to a share-the-experience car pool.

In this instance, you should look for lawyers for Uber drivers who can review the UM coverage. When doing so, a rideshare accident lawyer can see if your car insurance company is correct in denying you UM coverage.

Can I Represent You If You Have an Attorney That You Want to Fire?

It depends on how long you’ve had your lawyer and how bad your injuries are. If you have a small injury and you’ve had a lawyer for a while, I (unfortunately) likely will not be able to represent you.

Here’s why:

If you fire your current attorney, and you hire me and I settle your case, you now have to pay two attorneys. You’ll have to pay your former attorney the reasonable value of his services. Additionally, you’ll have pay me my contingency fee. As you may realize, this is usually not in your best interest if the total settlement is small. And all things equal, small injuries result in small settlements.

On the other hand, if you are badly hurt, and have had an attorney for a short time, I may be able to be your Uber accident lawyer. Ultimately, it will depend upon the reasonableness of your expectations. It will also depend on why you want to fire your lawyer.

I wish that every Uber accident victim contacted me before they hired an attorney. However, that is not the case. Every so often, I’ll get up to three calls in one day from people in Uber accidents who already have a lawyer.

Unfortunately, many people find my Uber accident articles and videos after they have had an attorney for a long time. They often say that they wish that they had seen my informative Uber accident videos and articles sooner.

Don’t make their same mistake! Hire me now as your Uber accident attorney. (I only handle accidents that happen in Florida.)

I’ve represented out of state visitors (to Florida) from these states

I have good news:

I have represented many people from out of state who were injured in Florida car accidents. This includes people from California, Texas, New York, Connecticut, Virginia, Georgia, West Virginia, Massachusetts and more.

I recommend that you only hire an attorney who has settled at least four cases (each for over $125,000) for out of state victims. I reached a $300,000 settlement for a Georgia resident who was hurt in a Florida car accident. It happened in Clearwater, which is near Tampa (and not to far from Orlando).

I also got a West Virgnia resident a $170,000 settlement for a car accident in Florida. That accident happened in Sarasota, which is between St. Petersburg and Fort Myers.

Likewise, only hire an attorney who has settled at least 10 injury cases for out of state visitors who were hurt in the state where the accident happened. I have settled over 20 cases for tourists (and business travelers) who were hurt in Florida car accidents.

I’m an international visitor to the United States. I was hurt in a car accident. How do I find the right lawyer?

Look for an attorney who has settled many cases for international visitors who were injured in the state where your accident occurred.

Let’s say that you are an international visitor who was visiting the state of Florida. While in Florida, you were involved in an Uber accident. In this instance, you should look for a Florida lawyer who has settled many cases for international visitors who were hurt in Florida car accidents. Once again, here is a mistake to avoid:

If you were hurt in Florida, do not hire an attorney who is not licensed in Florida!

I recommend hiring an attorney who has settled at least one case for over $300,000 for an international visitor.

For example, let’s assume that you’re an international visitor who was hurt in a Florida Uber accident. Maybe you were in Florida for business or vacation. Either way, look for a Florida accident lawyer who has had a settlement for over $300,000.

But look no further. I settled a case for $325,000 for a European tourist after a car hit him in Coconut Grove, which is in Miami-Dade County. After the accident, my client searched for a Miami car accident lawyer. I gave him a free consultation. Shortly after we spoke, he hired me.

Here is a video about the settlement:

Moreover, you want a lawyer who knows when you have to pay back your health or travel insurance from the Uber settlement. In addition, hire an attorney who understands when it’s necessary to get your medical records (and bills) translated.

Here is some good news:

I’ve represented people who were injured in Florida car accidents and live in Brazil, Colombia, Switzerland, Jamaica, China and more.

Do I Pay Referral Fees to Other Lawyers?

Yes, we pay a referral fee of 25% of the total attorney’s fees. The client must consent (in writing) to this division of fees. Both attorneys have to assume joint responsibility for the case. Additionally, both attorneys need to be available for consultation at reasonable intervals with the client.

Florida ethics rules do not require you to work on the case. You will be on our fee contract, statement of client rights, and the closing statement. My contract is almost identical to the contingency fee contract on the practice resource center of the Florida Bar. In other words, I don’t have illegal costs and terms in my fee contract.

You’ll be happy to know that I do things “by the book”.

If you are an out of state lawyer who wants to refer a case to us, we may be able to pay a referral fee.

Can a Florida attorney can pay referral fee to an out of state lawyer?

Yes, if the client lives in the same state where the out of state attorney is licensed. Additionally, the same procedures (that govern Florida lawyers) apply.

That’s all for my guide to hiring an Uber accident lawyer.

Now I’d like to hear from you:

What tip from this guide do you find most valuable?

Which tips are you going to focus on when hiring an Uber accident attorney?

Either way, let me know by leaving a comment.

Contact me now to see if I can represent you

If you were injured in an Uber accident in Florida, complete this quick Free consultation request form. That form is specific to Uber accident cases.

How does this save you time?

It allows me to know within minutes (of you completing the form) if I can represent you. Within minutes of you completing the form, I will let you know if I can represent you.

If you prefer speaking on the phone, you can call me at 888-594-3577. I want to get you the compensation to which you’re entitled from an Uber accident.

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