When you are involved in a car crash with an Uber vehicle, the claims process can be complex, and investigations following a Mankato Uber accident can be stressful.
Having legal representation during an accident investigation is critical. Contact Maschka Personal Injury for help. Our attorneys have been protecting the rights of people injured in Uber/Lyft/rideshare collisions for years.
When someone is injured in a car accident, Minnesota Statutes §169.09 requires drivers to contact law enforcement. Uber passengers may contact the police after reporting the accident through the app and should always do so. Relying solely on the company to investigate a crash is unwise.
The police investigation depends on the circumstances of the accident and the severity of any injuries. The police will typically do the following:
When injuries are serious, police may conduct a crash reconstruction or take precise measurements of tire marks and the location of physical evidence like crash debris.
The police may use this information to assess whether anyone should face criminal charges related to the crash. Copies of the police report are usually available to the insurers of the involved drivers to help them determine fault. Our Mankato attorneys will closely review the police report of their investigation of the Uber accident.
When an Uber driver is involved in a crash, the company may conduct an independent investigation. Uber will state that the investigation aims to protect passengers and promote safety, but limiting the company’s liability can also be an objective.
If you were involved in an Uber accident and the company contacts you, it may be beneficial to avoid speaking with an investigator before consulting a Mankato attorney. Depending on the circumstances, we may advise you not to talk to Uber’s investigators.
Sometimes, people do not understand why it is important to have a Mankato attorney represent them during an Uber accident investigation. Two important reasons; and they have to do with Uber’s insurance policies and Minnesota’s comparative negligence law.
Uber carries a generous insurance policy. The passengers and occupants of other involved vehicles could file a claim against Uber if the Uber driver is at fault. Rather than truly trying to understand what happened to cause the crash, Uber may try to shift the fault away from its driver to limit payouts.
If the company denies that its driver is at fault, it may try to get the injured customer to instead bring a claim against the other involved driver. Unfortunately, that driver’s insurance may have much lower coverage limits.
Minnesota Statutes § 604.01 reduces damages when an injured person is partially responsible for a crash. For example, if you are 30 percent responsible for an accident, you can collect only 70 percent of your damages. If you are more at fault than the other parties involved, you cannot claim any damages.
When another involved driver is injured in an Uber crash, the company will look for evidence that the driver was at least partially to blame. Our lawyers will advocate on your behalf to disprove any claims of comparative fault.
The law requires Uber to carry substantial insurance, but the company typically tries to avoid liability for accidents. If you want fair compensation, it is important to understand how investigations following a Mankato Uber accident can affect your rights. Work with Maschka Personal Injury today—we will work diligently to promote your interests after an Uber accident.
