Uber Accident Settlement: What You Need To Know
The most important factors that influence the amount of your Uber accident settlement are: (1) your injuries; (2) your impairments and how they affect your ability to lead your normal life; (3) the track record and reputation of your lawyer; and (4) the liability limits of the at-fault Uber driver.
You need an attorney with the experience, skill, resources and proven results in obtaining record-breaking settlements to fight for you and to protect you.
If you want to find out how much your case is worth, check out our calculator or call us toll free anytime 24/7 at (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.
How much to expect from an Uber accident settlement in Michigan?
There are several key factors that affect how much to expect from an Uber accident settlement: (1) your injuries and prognosis; (2) whether you are partially or fully disabled from working; and (3) whether your injuries have resulted in an impairment that affects your ability to lead your normal life.
Other factors that could affect the amount award may include:
- Your current and future medical needs based on your medical diagnosis, type of injury, duration of symptoms, duration of injury-related impairment and duration of treatment
- Whether your injuries will necessitate “excess” coverage for present and future medical bills and lost wages
- The experience, track record and reputation of your lawyer (attorneys who are known for going to trial can settle cases for money and often much faster)
- The at-fault driver’s auto insurance company, adjuster, and defense attorney
- The coverage limits in the at-fault Uber driver’s liability insurance policy
- The coverage limits in your “uninsured motorist” and “underinsured motorist” insurance policy
Choose your lawyer wisely
The lawyer you choose to help you makes a big difference in how successful you will be and in how much compensation you will recover in your Uber accident settlement.
Most insurance companies use some form of claims adjusting software when determining the settlement value of a case. These claims programs then factor in the experience, settlements, trial verdicts, and reputation of the attorney you choose. The right attorney can increase the value of a case by up to 4 x more – just by virtue of his or her reputation.
The attorney whom you choose to hire matters.
The bottom line is that attorneys who are known for going to trial can settle cases for significantly more money and often much faster.
Compensation
Your compensation will take several forms. If you have suffered a “serious impairment of body function,” then you can sue the at-fault Uber driver for pain and suffering damages as well as “excess” lost wages and medical bills, and other economic damages.
Pain and suffering compensation will cover: (1) physical pain and suffering; (2) mental anguish; (3) fright and shock; (4) denial of social pleasure and enjoyments; (5) embarrassment, humiliation or mortification; and (6) shame, mental pain and anxiety.
Excess lost wages cover your wage loss that exceeds the monthly maximum and/or beyond the three-year limit on No-Fault wage loss benefits.
Excess medical bills cover the cost of medical care that exceeds the No-Fault PIP medical benefits coverage level that was selected in the auto insurance policy through which you are claiming No-Fault benefits.
What is considered a good amount?
The amount of an Uber accident settlement will depend on the factors discussed above, such as a person’s injuries, inability to work and the effect of impairments on their ability to lead their normal lives.
But it will also depend significantly on how much liability insurance coverage the at-fault Uber driver has.
Under Michigan law, the amount of liability coverage available to someone injured by an at-fault Uber driver will depend on whether the Uber driver was merely available to pick up passengers or was actively transporting passengers at the time of a crash:
- When an Uber driver is on-call and is available to transport a passenger (but is not actually transporting a passenger), then the minimum liability coverage that the Uber driver must have in effect is “$50,000.00 per person for death or bodily injury” and “$100,000.00 per incident for death or bodily injury.” (MCL 257.518b(1)(a)(i); 257.2123(2)(a))
- When an Uber driver is actually transporting an Uber passenger, then the minimum liability coverage that the Uber driver must have in effect is a “combined single limit of $1,000,000.00 for all bodily injury or property damage.” (MCL 257.518b(1)(b)(i); 257.2123(3)(a))
To learn more about how much your case may be worth, please check our “Settlement Calculator.”
What is the average Uber accident settlement in Michigan?
Unfortunately, there is no public or private entity – at either the state or the national level – that collects, updates, reports and/or publishes data about the average Uber accident settlement in Michigan.
How long does it take for a case to settle?
Each case is unique, so it is a difficult question to answer, but in general there are several factors that can help answer how long it will take. These include: (1) your injuries, prognosis and current future medical needs; (2) whether you are partially or fully disabled from working; (3) whether your injuries resulted in an impairment that affects your ability to lead your normal life; (4) whether your injuries will necessitate “excess” coverage for medical bills and lost wages; (5) the experience, track record and reputation of your attorney (attorneys known for going to trial can settle cases for money and often much faster); and (6) the at-fault Uber driver’s auto insurance company, adjuster, defense attorney and liability limits.
When does an Uber accident settlement occur?
There are three stages of a case that an Uber accident settlement may occur:
- A pre-lawsuit settlement
- A settlement after a lawsuit has been filed
- A settlement during trial
Need help? Call the attorneys at Michigan Auto Law
If you have been injured in a car crash and would like to speak with an experienced attorney about an Uber accident settlement, call toll free anytime 24/7 at (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation with one of our attorneys. You can also get help from an experienced accident attorney by visiting our contact page or you can use the chat feature on our website.
