Springfield Uber Accident Attorney

Why Choose Our Uber Accident Lawyers in Springfield, MO?

At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we are the only law firm in Missouri focusing exclusively on auto accident cases. We’ve handled rideshare claims since these companies started operating in our state, developing extensive knowledge of liability policies in Uber and Lyft accidents.

With extensive experience recovering compensation for clients, we know how to navigate the complex insurance maze these cases create.

Rideshare companies have teams of lawyers working to minimize what they pay. You need experienced attorneys who understand their tactics and aren’t intimidated by their resources. We stand up to big corporations and are prepared to fight for the best possible outcome.

You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our contingency fee structure means we only get paid when you do. This allows you to focus on healing while we handle the legal fight.

What Should You Do After an Uber or Lyft Crash in Springfield?

The steps you take immediately after an Uber accident can make or break your case. Acting quickly protects both your health and your legal rights.

Step 1: Call 911 And Get Medical Care

Your safety comes first. Call 911 to report the crash and request emergency medical services. The Springfield Police Department will create an official accident report, which becomes crucial evidence later.

Even if you feel fine, accept medical evaluation at the scene. Many serious injuries don’t show symptoms immediately.

Getting prompt medical attention also creates a clear link between the crash and your injuries in your medical records.

Step 2: Document The Scene And Your App

Take photos of all vehicles involved, visible injuries, and the accident scene if you can do so safely. Capture any skid marks, debris, or traffic signals. These photos preserve evidence that might disappear before investigators arrive.

Screenshot your ride details in the Uber or Lyft app immediately. Save the driver’s name, photo, vehicle information, and your trip route. This information proves you were a paying passenger and helps establish the driver’s status at the time of the crash.

Step 3: Report The Crash In The App

Both Uber and Lyft require you to report accidents through their apps to access insurance coverage. Keep your report brief and factual. Don’t speculate about what caused the crash or accept blame for anything.

The app report starts the insurance claim process, but it also alerts the company’s legal team. They may contact you quickly trying to get statements that protect their interests, not yours.

Step 4: Avoid Recorded Statements To Insurers

Insurance adjusters often contact accident victims within hours of a crash. They sound helpful and concerned, but they’re trained to get information that reduces your claim’s value. Politely decline to give recorded statements until you speak with our experienced Springfield Uber accident attorneys.

What you say in these early conversations can be used against you later. Insurance companies look for any reason to deny claims or reduce payouts. Let us handle all communication with insurers from the start.

Step 5: Call Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers

Contact us as soon as possible after your accident. Early involvement allows us to preserve crucial evidence before it disappears. We immediately begin investigating your crash and protecting your rights while you focus on recovery.

We handle all communication with insurance companies, medical providers, and other parties involved. This prevents you from accidentally saying something that could hurt your case later.

How Do We Prove Fault in Rideshare Accidents?

Proving who caused your accident requires gathering specific types of evidence unique to rideshare cases. We conduct thorough investigations that go beyond what police typically do at accident scenes.

We start by determining the driver’s exact status when the crash occurred. This affects which insurance policies apply and how much coverage is available. We use legal processes to obtain electronic records directly from Uber or Lyft showing the driver’s app activity.

Our investigation includes:

• Driver app logs: Official records showing if the driver was waiting for rides, en route to pickup, or carrying passengers
• GPS data: Electronic evidence of vehicle location and speed at the time of impact
• Traffic cameras: Video footage from Springfield’s traffic management system and nearby businesses
• Witness interviews: Statements from people who saw the accident happen
• Accident reconstruction: Expert analysis of vehicle damage and crash dynamics when needed

Who Pays After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Missouri?

Rideshare insurance coverage depends entirely on what the driver was doing when your accident happened. Understanding these coverage periods is crucial because they determine how much compensation is available.

App Off: Driver’s Personal Policy Applies

When an Uber or Lyft driver’s app is turned off, they’re driving for personal reasons. Only their personal auto insurance policy covers accidents during this time. Most personal policies have lower coverage limits that may not adequately compensate serious injuries.

Personal auto policies also typically exclude coverage for commercial activities. If the driver was between rides but planning to drive for Uber or Lyft, their personal insurer might deny the claim entirely.

App On Waiting: Contingent $50k/$100k BI, $25k PD

Drivers waiting for ride requests have limited coverage from Uber and Lyft. This contingent coverage provides $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 total per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.

This coverage only applies if the driver’s personal insurance doesn’t cover the accident. It’s designed as backup protection, not primary coverage. For serious injuries, these limits are often inadequate.

Accepted Ride Or On Trip: Up To $1,000,000 Liability and UM/UIM

Once a driver accepts a ride request or has passengers in the vehicle, full commercial coverage kicks in. Both Uber and Lyft carry $1 million in liability insurance during active trips.

This coverage also includes $1 million in uninsured and underinsured motorist protection. If another driver causes your accident but doesn’t have enough insurance, this coverage fills the gap.

Can You Sue Uber or the Driver?

Yes, you can pursue legal action against the at-fault driver and potentially against Uber or Lyft, but these cases are complex. Rideshare companies classify drivers as independent contractors to limit their legal responsibility.

The driver who caused your accident can be sued personally for their negligence, including distracted driving while managing their rideshare app. However, most drivers don’t have significant personal assets beyond their insurance coverage. This makes the rideshare company’s insurance policies your primary source of compensation.

Uber and Lyft have experienced legal teams that fight hard to minimize payouts. They use sophisticated tactics to shift blame and reduce their liability. Our skilled Springfield car accident attorneys understand these strategies and know how to counter them effectively.

Will Uber or Lyft Pay Your Medical Bills?

Rideshare companies don’t pay medical bills as you receive treatment. Their insurance only pays settlements after your case resolves completely. This creates financial pressure that companies use to force quick, low settlements.

You’re responsible for medical bills initially, but you shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket. We help clients find qualified medical providers who treat patients on a lien basis. This means doctors agree to wait for payment until your case settles.

We also negotiate medical bills down significantly at the end of your case. Reducing medical liens puts more money in your pocket from any settlement or verdict we recover.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

Rideshare accident victims can recover compensation for all losses caused by their injuries. We fight to maximize your recovery by pursuing every available source of compensation.

Economic damages cover your financial losses:

• Medical expenses for all past and future treatment
• Lost wages from time missed at work
• Reduced earning capacity if injuries affect your ability to work
• Vehicle repairs or replacement costs
• Other out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries

Non-economic damages compensate for personal losses, and in fatal rideshare accidents, families may pursue wrongful death claims:

• Physical pain and suffering from your injuries
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment in life activities
• Permanent disfigurement or disability
• Impact on family relationships

Missouri follows pure comparative fault rules. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault if you contributed to the accident. Even if you were mostly at fault, you can still recover some compensation.

How We Build Your Uber Accident Case

We start building your case immediately after you hire us. Time is critical because important evidence disappears quickly. App data gets deleted, surveillance footage gets recorded over, and witnesses forget details.

Our investigation begins with preserving electronic evidence from the rideshare company. We send legal notices requiring Uber or Lyft to preserve all records related to your trip. This includes driver logs, GPS data, and communication records.

We coordinate with your medical providers to document your injuries thoroughly. Proper medical documentation is essential for proving the extent of your damages and their connection to the accident.

Every case gets prepared as if it will go to trial. This thorough preparation strengthens our negotiating position and shows insurance companies we’re serious about getting you fair compensation.

How Long Do You Have To File in Missouri?

Missouri gives you five years from your accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. This seems like plenty of time, but waiting hurts your case in several ways.

Evidence disappears quickly after accidents. Surveillance footage gets deleted, witnesses move away, and physical evidence at the scene gets cleaned up. The sooner we start investigating, the stronger your case becomes.

Insurance companies also view delayed claims suspiciously. They argue that if you were really hurt, you would have acted sooner. Starting your case promptly helps counter these arguments.

Contact Our Skilled Rideshare Accident Law Firm in Springfield, Missouri, Today

Rideshare accidents involve complex insurance issues that regular car accident victims don’t face. You need attorneys who understand these unique challenges and have experience handling claims against major corporations.

Attorneys Paul Beck and John Beck have been helping injured car accident victims since 1990. We’re the only Missouri firm focusing exclusively on auto accidents, giving us deep expertise in cases like yours.

Contact us today. We’re available 24/7 to discuss your case and explain your options.

In addition to Springfield, we’ve helped Uber accident victims in St. Louis, O’Fallon, Independence, Jefferson City, Kirksville, Joplin, and more.