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UBER ACCIDENTS


Personal injury attorney reviewing Uber Accidents & Rideshare Negligence Cases Nationwide
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Auto Negligence Attorney

investigating preventable uber accidents

Uber is a global rideshare phenomenon that has changed the way people think about taxis. In Ohio and throughout the country, Uber is very convenient, but Uber accidents are common and victims are unsure of who is liable for injuries and damages.

The legal complexity surrounding Uber accidents stems from the fact that individual drivers are contracted by the larger corporation without being direct employees.

Uber does not impose strict regulations on drivers, which results in many inept negligent drivers on the road, as well fatigued drivers, intoxicated drivers, and reckless drivers. Lyft and Uber accidents and resulting lawsuits in Ohio have involved both injured passengers, other motorists and pedestrians.

Joe Lyon is a highly-rated Cincinnati, Ohio Personal Injury Lawyer accepting cases involving Auto Negligence as well as Lyft and Uber accidents nationwide.

Types of Lyft & Uber Accidents

There can be several factors to consider following Uber accidents, including who is liable for resulting injuries and pain and suffering. Accident claims filed by your Uber Accident Lawyer could span from injured pedestrians to other injured motorists and Uber passengers.

After an accident, it is wise to collect whatever evidence you can, including photos of the accident scene and testimony and statements from drivers and witnesses.

When investigating any vehicle accident claim, experienced auto negligence attorneys may review the Uber driver’s driving and criminal record, insurance records, employer applications, recent driving history, medical records and testimony from everybody affected by the accident.

Many lawsuits have been filed against Lyft or Uber for serious auto accidents and many remain pending in Ohio courts. Complaints filed by your Uber Accident lawyer will likely allege the fault of Uber drivers. As the parent employer, Uber may be liable for accidents and injuries, and settlements to recover funds are likely.

The Lyon Firm has the resources to assist personal injury victims in filing claims following Uber Accidents and lead them through a difficult legal process in Ohio.

Uber Accidents: Who is Liable?

Lyft and Uber have complicated liability matters because of how rideshare companies are legally structured. After any road accident, however, it is possible to file claims and an Uber driver and the company itself may be liable and may settle claims following serious injuries.

Because you may be told that a driver is uninsured, Ohio courts may hold the employer liable in Lyft and Uber accidents as they are ultimately responsible for hiring drivers and conducting background checks. Driver Safety ought to be a priority, though that is not always the case when thousands of drivers are operating in Cincinnati alone.

Lyft and Uber’s business models attempt to avoid liability in accidents, though personal injury lawyers in Ohio are not letting the rideshare companies walk away from accident victims without compensating them first.

Simply calling their drivers “independent contractors” has not convinced judges and juries that they are not liable. Uber and Lyft owe safety to passengers and other motorists, if nothing else.

More safety regulations have been considered in recent years, specifically for protecting consumers and Uber and Lyft passengers. Proper background checks and proof of liability insurance are a good start.

Uber drivers and passengers could be covered by both a personal insurance plan and Uber’s insurance plan. If a driver is carrying an Uber passenger at the time of an accident, Uber’s liability coverage applies. Uber drivers must carry the minimum state-mandated insurance policy.

Uber Driver Fatigue

In a recently released statement, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine warned that driver fatigue and drowsiness are inherent safety risks in the ridesharing industry, plaguing Lyft and Uber drivers who work long hours and are not properly monitored by their companies. Road safety experts, personal injury attorneys and consumer safety advocates have expressed their concerns and suggest ridesharing companies address driver fatigue as a public safety risk.

Despite the popularity of Uber and Lyft, accidents have occurred involving Lyft and Uber driver fatigue, and law enforcement has failed to correct the issue. Ohio safety advocates and victims have filed lawsuits against Uber following auto accidents that cause injury and may be the results of Uber driver fatigue.

A surprising overlooked road safety issue that can lead to driver fatigue is that many Lyft and Uber employees drive as a second job, which may leave too little time for proper rest. Another safety concern is that Lyft and Uber driver fatigue is not monitored by the ridesharing companies as drivers are not regularly screened for medical problems like sleep deprivation conditions.

Some ridesharing companies do require rest periods after spending enough time on the clock, but that doesn’t guarantee road safety by any means. Uber requires drivers to take a six-hour break for every 12 hours of driving time, and Lyft requires a six-hour break for every 14 hours. But that still results in very Fatigued Worker Accidents for many employees.

According to the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), between 2005 and 2009 more than 83,000 auto accidents were related to drowsy driving—representing about 20 percent of crashes with driver fatigue as a known factor.

As drivers build on hours without sleep, the risk of causing an injury is known to increase. Simply two fewer hours of sleep in a night can be akin to driving intoxicated as far as attention span goes.

Ridesharing companies have published safety recommendations for drivers regarding Lyft and Uber driver fatigue. The companies have been in contact with researchers at the National Sleep Foundation to identify drowsy driving behaviors, though Uber is of course a company designed to profit from more time each driver spends behind the wheel.

The companies say they want to reduce accidents, though at what cost? Victims of Uber accidents and Ohio personal injury lawyers hold Uber responsible for negligent operation of a vehicle and urge Lyft and Uber to institute safe rest periods and more limited hours of service.

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A Voice for Those who have suffered 

Why are these cases important?

In the immediate aftermath of serious car accidents, victims are often injured and wondering about the cause of the crash, how they will pay for damages and medical costs, and how to recover compensation for lost wages and pain and suffering. After all injuries are treated by medical professionals, it is critical to start building a personal injury case with an experienced Ohio car accident lawyer.

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Questions about Auto Accident Cases
What is the process and why should I pursue it?

The process involves preserving evidence of the collision, getting witness testimony, and hiring accident experts to determine who was responsible for the auto accident. 

Since most auto insurance policies are not capable of compensating someone injured in a catastrophic accident, it is advisable to contact and hire an experienced personal injury lawyer to properly investigate the case.

What are the common causes of motor vehicle accidents?

There are numerous causes of auto accidents on Ohio’s roadways, including driver negligence, driver fatigue, distracted drivers, driving and texting, poor road conditions, and unsafe highway design. Regardless of the primary cause of a car accident, it is important to investigate with experienced accident reconstruction experts and contact a Cincinnati Auto Accident Attorney to weigh your legal options.

One safety study concluded that negligent highway design and conditions are a factor in more than half the fatal crashes in the United States.  Some common design flaws may include:

  • Sharp Turns
  • Poor Road Maintenance
  • Blind Spots
  • Poorly lit roadways
  • Poor Signage
  • Unsafe on and off ramps
  • Excessive speed limit
  • Narrow shoulder or no shoulder
What are common types of MVAs?
Distracted Driving

Times have changed in recent years with so many drivers looking at their phones. Texting and driving is a huge issue, and even as it’s illegal, the problem persists. The number one cause of car accidents involve distracted motorists that divert their attention from the road. Drivers may talking on a phone, sending a text message, adjusting the radio or eating food. Any distraction for a few seconds can be the difference between a safe trip and an accident.

Driver Error

Whether a simple mind lapse that results in a driving mistake, or ignoring a traffic law, driver error is a leading cause of road accidents. Common driver errors are failing to signal a turn, drifting into a different lane, cutting off drivers, ignoring road signs, following too close, speeding, and failing to stop at signals.

Speeding and Reckless Driving

Excessive speeding increases the risk of a traffic accident dramatically. As driver increase the rate of travel they significantly decrease their ability to adjust to traffic and other objects in the road. The faster a driver travels, the less stopping distance they will have.

Reckless driving includes unsafe lane changes, improper turns, tailgating, and racing.

Drunk Driving Accidents

Drivers under the influence of alcohol cause many car accidents every day. Almost a third (30 percent) of fatal car accidents in the U.S. are alcohol-related. Also, drug-related accidents are common. Even as states crack down on drunk driving, the number of drivers who drink and drive still present a problem. Victims of drunk driving accidents are likely to settle valuable cases.

Ignoring Traffic Signals

Negligent drivers run red lights and stop signs, and thereby risk causing accidents. Running red lights often causes high-speed side-impact collisions, which are particularly dangerous. Drivers in a hurry are some of the most dangerous motorists on the road.

Teen Driving Accidents

Young drivers and teenagers lack road experience and pose a serious risk. Teen drivers cause many car accidents, and drivers aged 16-20 kill nearly 8,000 people each year. Driver training and support is integral to creating a safer atmosphere on Ohio roads.

Ohio Driver Fatigue Accidents

It’s not only truck drivers that drive while extremely tired. There are a lot of drivers on the road that have sleep disorders, or have a changing work schedule that inhibits their driving ability. Many drivers on the road in Ohio are often too tired to properly operate their vehicle. They make poor driving decisions and create dangerous situations.

Road Rage Accidents

Road rage and aggressive driving can easily lead to an accident. If you observe a driver visibly upset, you are encouraged to keep a distance. If you tend to get angry with other motorists, remember that nothing good can come of driving more aggressively or speeding up to catch another driver in traffic.

Dangerous Ohio Roads

City authorities have a duty to clear roads of debris and snow and other materials. If an auto accident occurs due to city officials failing to create safe roads, a municipality can be held liable. Roads may also be unsafe due to poor road design and traffic signal placement. Contact The Lyon Firm if you suspect an Ohio road of being particularly dangerous. You may save the life of another Ohio motorist.

Unsafe Road Work

Work zones are very dangerous for both workers and drivers. Many work zones are poorly marked, poorly manned, and uneven pavement can easily cause an accident. Many road construction contractors fail to provide a safe driving environment, and any road work accident can be investigated following a collision.

Failure to Yield

Many roads are only as safe the drivers and traffic flow. When drivers fail to yield to cars or trucks, a collision can occur, leading to serious injury. All drivers must pay attention to all signage and yield to traffic, particularly on highway ramps.

Ohio Uber Accidents

Rideshare companies have produced a great deal of drivers who may be in a hurry to pick up fares, and can be overworked as well. Uber accidents and Lyft accidents are more and more common. Victims of rideshare and taxi accidents may have good accident claims against negligent drivers.

Ohio Pedestrian Accidents

With more distracted drivers come more pedestrian accidents. Pedestrians have a right to cross the street, and yet this has become a hazardous exercise. Crosswalk accidents and School Zone accidents can be severely dangerous and deadly.

Ohio Cycling Accidents

Ohio Cyclists have a right to share all roads except for freeways, but many drivers do not respect bicycles on the road. Cycling accidents should be investigated, as many motorists are guilty of aggressive driving around bicycles.

Why Hire the Lyon Firm ?

Our Firm will help you find the answers.  The Firm has the experience, resources and dedication to take on difficult and emotional cases and help our clients obtain the justice for the wrong they have suffered. 

 Experience:  Joe Lyon is an experienced Cincinnati Personal Injury & Accident Lawyer. The Lyon Firm has 17 years of experience and success representing individuals and plaintiffs in all fifty states, and in a variety of complex civil litigation matters. Accident lawsuits can be complex and require industry experts to determine the root cause of an accident or injury. Mr. Lyon has worked with experts nationwide to assist individuals understand why an injury occurred and what can be done to improve their lives in the future. Some cases may go to a jury trial, though many others can be settled out of court.

Your Right to Safety

Watch our Video About Subrogation in Auto Accidents

Our Victories

The Lyon Firm aggressively, professionally, and passionately advocates for injured individuals and families against negligent individuals or companies to obtain just compensation under the law. 

DISTRACTED DRIVER

WRONGFUL DEATH

$1,000,000

(Brown County, Kentucky):  Joseph Lyon was second chair a case involving a driver texting and driving when he crossed the median, killing a father of four. The case was resolved once discovery confirmed the cell phone records proved the texting-related incident. The settlement will pay for the surviving childrens’ education. The driver was likely facing additional criminal charges at the time of the settlement.

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

$495,000

(Cincinnati, Ohio):  Joe Lyon was lead counsel in a $495,000 settlement. The case involved a motorcycle operator who sustained fractures of the calcaneus, talus, medial cuneiform, tarsal bones, and tarsometatarsal when a car ignored its driving lane and crossed into his right-of-way. Settlement provided repayment of medical bills of $20,000 and funds for future education to re-enter the work force in a less physically-demanding job.