The Uber accident attorneys at Compass Law Group, LLP in Los Angeles are all too familiar with the tragic consequences of brain injuries. If you have suffered a brain injury due to an accident caused by the negligence of an Uber driver, you may be entitled to substantial damages, and our law team has the consummate knowledge and skillset to help you obtain them. The sooner you contact our office, the sooner we can evaluate your case and begin to develop a strategy to bring you justice.
Why Los Angeles Uber Passengers May Be at Increased Risk of Brain Injury in an Accident
There is no doubt that Uber and other rideshare services are a convenience to many Los Angeles residents. Uber offers immediate access to drivers, cash-free rides, and generally more well-appointed cars, and more polite drivers than taxi companies. Still, there are reasons Uber passengers may be at greater risk than riders in other vehicles, among them that:
- Uber drivers may be more distracted than the average driver because they navigate by GPS and are constantly in touch with customers and managers by texting
- Uber drivers may have as little as 1 year of driving experience and are not carefully vetted (e.g. unlike taxi drivers, Uber drivers are not finger-printed)
- Uber drivers are not specially trained by the company
- Uber drivers tend to work very long hours and may have more than one job, making them more likely to be exhausted or sleepy on the job
And, of course, Uber drivers are not immune to speeding, driving recklessly, or driving while impaired. More Uber drivers on the road also increases traffic congestion and makes accidents more likely. Although most accidents are usually fender benders, some will result in life-threatening, fatal, or permanently disabling brain injuries.
How Traumatic Brain Injuries Can Result from Uber Accidents
Unfortunately, even relatively minor car accidents can cause brain injuries. The jolt of a stop from high speed, for example, can result in a serious concussion in which the brain bangs against the wall of the skull. Other types of brain injuries include hematomas (clotting of blood vessels), hemorrhage (uncontrolled bleeding), edema (swelling), or hypoxia (in which the brain receives insufficient oxygen).
These injuries, in addition to resulting from the impact of a sudden stop, can also happen when the head crashes into a part of the vehicle (metal, glass, etc.), a loose object thrown by the impact of the collision hits the head, or one passenger bangs into another. Also, an accident can throw the passenger from the car, resulting in severe head injury.
Symptoms of a Brain Injury due to an Uber Accident
Although those who suffer brain injuries may fully recover over time, many of the following symptoms may be long-term or permanent:
- Headaches, nausea, vomiting
- Lightheadedness, seizures
- Cognitive impairment — confusion, memory issues, thought disorders)
- Psychiatric impairment — mood swings, depression
- Loss of sight or hearing
- Chronic pain
- Altered sense of taste or smell
- Facial paralysis
- Sleep and/or speech difficulties
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
As you can see, the symptoms of a brain injury can be devastating. Beyond this, navigating the complications of an Uber accident requires particular knowledge of rideshare and insurance law as well as agile negotiation and litigation techniques. This is why it is crucial to have an experienced Uber accident attorney from Compass Law Group at your side.
What Our Uber Accident Lawyers Can Do to Help You and Your Family
An Uber accident in which you have suffered a brain injury or in which you have lost a loved one to a TBI is an ordeal no one should have to endure. We recognize that such an incident takes a toll on everyone in the family and that financial, as well as physical and emotional, consequences can be overwhelming. For this reason, we charge you no attorneys’ fees until we win you damages.
Once our Uber accident attorneys become involved, we will take over all legal and insurance matters so that you and your loved ones can take the time you need to recover, confident that you are in capable hands. Because changes made to California law at the beginning of 2020 have reclassified Uber drivers as employees of the company rather than independent contractors, we have a stronger chance of successfully holding the Uber corporation accountable for the negligence of its drivers.
This is a good thing because Uber holds million-dollar insurance policies for its drivers as long as they are actively working for Uber (“on the app”) at the time of the accident. As a matter of fact, in some cases, we may be able to recover more than the $1 million Uber claims as its maximum insurance limit.
Of course, sometimes another party’s negligence is to blame for the accident, such as the other driver, the government agency responsible for road repairs, or the car manufacturer of a defective product. Whatever the situation is, you can count on Compass Law Group to fight aggressively for your right to compensation.
You should also be aware that if you are an Uber driver and have suffered a brain injury while working due to no fault of your own, we will gladly represent your interests as we do those of all of our deserving clients.
Contact Our Uber Accident Brain Injury Attorneys Now
All brain injuries are life-altering in some way. At Compass Law Group, we are well-prepared to fight vigorously to obtain the resources you need to reimburse you for:
- Medical and rehabilitation costs
- Lost income, present and future
- Extended nursing care
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Permanent disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If an Uber accident brain injury has caused a wrongful death in your family, we will work tirelessly to bring you the funds you are entitled to for final medical costs, funeral costs, and loss of financial and emotional support.
No matter what your particular circumstances are, we know that we cannot undo the misery you and your family continue to suffer, but we promise to give you the outstanding legal representation and compassion you deserve. Our goal is to provide you with a secure and hopeful future.
