Thousands drive for rideshare companies across the country each day. If you were in an accident with one, you may still be able to file a personal injury claim.
To file a claim, you will first need to file a demand letter to the ride share service. In the demand letter, you will need to outline the accident, what caused it, and the results of the accident. You need to include all damages that resulted. Consult with a lawyer to make sure you do not forget any potential damages.
Sample Demand Letter
A demand letter is a crucial step in your personal injury claim. Consult the sample demand letter before to ensure you include everything needed.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, and Zip Code]
[The Date]
[Name of the Claims Adjuster]
[Their Job Title]
[Address of the Insurance Company]
[City, State, and Zip Code of the Insurance Company]
Re: Your Insured, [Name of the Defendant]
Claimant: [Your Full Legal Name]
Claim Number: (Only include this number if a claim number has already been assigned to you, and you have already been contacted about the matter.)
Date of Loss: [Date of Accident or Incident in which the Collision Took Place]
Dear Mr./Mrs. [Name of Claims Adjuster] ,
Following our earlier conversation on October 12th 2018, I am writing to you with a formal demand for compensation. This is as a result of negligent driving which caused injuries following a collision with Ms. Lucy Schmidt, a client of yours. She was driving in her capacity as a driver at the time of the accident.
To recap what I told you when I first informed you of my injuries and the fact that I would be claiming compensation at a later date following recovery from my injuries, the accident happened just after midnight on August 22nd 2018 in the vicinity of the old brickworks on Jarrod H. Arbuthnot Avenue. Ms. Schmidt’s vehicle veered across the center line and hit my vehicle head on. She did not have any passengers at the time, but a subsequent investigation from police (their report has been attached) revealed that she had been taking amphetamines, which are a controlled substance. It appears that the amphetamines interfered with Ms. Schmidt’s judgment causing her to crash into my car and cause my injuries.
As a result of Ms. Schmidt’s negligence I lost three of my front teeth and did damage to my nose and forehead. I was traveling at only 15 mph at the time as I knew that I was approaching an intersection. The police report can confirm that Ms. Schmidt had crossed over from the other side of the Avenue in which she had been driving in the opposite direction to me. In addition to the police report I enclose a report from the garage where my car was towed for repairs. They can confirm that part of Ms. Schmidt’s front bumper had gotten entangled with mine and paint from her vehicle was also present on the front of my car.
My injuries meant that I needed hospital treatment at Dudley City Hospital for the damage to my face, dental treatment by my dentist, Dr. Sam Wright, to remove the three front teeth and reconstruction to replace the missing teeth. I also could not return to work straight away while recovering and was then also forced to rent a vehicle to get to work while my car was being repaired.
I enclose dental and medical bills for a total of $3,890.
Lost earnings for 1 week amounted to $1,300.
Repair to my car came to $838.
Transport costs (Enterprise Rental Cars) for 2 weeks: $310.
Total amount claimed: $6,338.
Evidence of all amounts claimed are enclosed with this demand letter.
I hope to receive a formal response to this letter in no later than 30 days from the date of receipt.
[Your Signature]
[Your Name – printed]
Note: by requesting a higher amount in compensation you stand a better chance of securing a more realistic settlement.
Filing a Claim Against a Ride-Share Service
When you file an Uber accident claim, or any against any ride-share service, the accident compensation that you receive will vary depending on the circumstances of your individual situation. Every accident is unique and there are always multiple factors that must be considered before a judgement can be made about compensation.
Some of the factors that will go into determining accident compensation include things like:
Who Is at Fault?
Who is legally at fault for the accident will play a big role in determining Uber accident compensation, or accident compensation with any other ride-share service. If one person is found to be at fault the other person may get more compensation for the accident than they would if both parties are found to be at fault for the accident. If both parties are found to be partly responsible for the accident the person that has a larger share of the fault will still be responsible for compensating the other person in proportion to their percentage of fault for the accident.
Are There Injuries? Are They Serious?
If there are injuries in the accident the person who is injured may receive money for pain and suffering in addition to having all of their medical expenses covered.
How Much Money Is Available?
When determining compensation it’s important to know how much money is available because a damage award can’t be higher than the amount of money that is available to be paid.
The best thing to do when you’re considering filing an accident claim is talk to an attorney that has experience with Uber accident claims, or any other ride-share accident claims, to get advice on your individual situation.
Contact a Lawyer for Legal Help With Your Claim
Car accidents can be traumatic. It’s enough to cope with getting treatment so if you are considering claiming compensation it is best to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as your injures allow for legal advice and help with negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurer. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation on this page to consult with a lawyer today!
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Uber, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
