Widespread Uber passenger safety issues, specifically driver assaults, have been in the news recently. Thousands of sexual assault victins have already come forward. No one is sure how many more victims may be suffering day by day. In response, many Uber drivers put cameras in their vehicles. But not every ride is visually recorded. Furthermore, there’s little evidence to suggest that cameras effectively deter misconduct, especially since assault is such a spur-of-the-moment thing. Many observers fear that driver sexual assaults are only the tip of the iceberg, in terms of Uber passenger safety issues. Most Uber drivers understand that they have a legal duty to control their behavior. Most Uber drivers do not understand that they also have a legal…

No, Uber drivers aren’t liable for accidents. But a car crash or passenger injury case is hardly ever an “accident.” Drivers accidentally lock their keys in their cars. They don’t accidentally engage in one of the harmful activities described below and cause vehicle collisions. The result (a collision) may be unintentional, but the conduct (harmful driving activity) is intentional.  To drive this point home, many government and media organizations, including the New York Times, now use the phrase “car crash” in lieu of “car accident.” Intentional criminal conduct is punishable in criminal court, and intentional conduct is actionable in civil court. In a negligence action, a personal lawyer can obtain compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic…

If you are a passenger in an Uber accident, the case will most likely settle out of court. However, as outlined below, settlement is a process, not a result. Uber passengers are inevitably hurt in accidents. In 2023, Uber drivers completed over eleven billion trips. Even the most dedicated and professional drivers cannot be on the road that much and not cause some accidents. Additionally, Uber’s compensation model encourages aggressive and unsafe driving. The company pays drivers by the ride, not by the hour. So, if they speed and take other chances behind the wheel, they squeeze in more trips and make more money. Eventually, those risky chances catch up to Uber drivers. A Local Legal Counsel  is an invaluable…

The “average” Uber crash settlement is like the average price of a new car. There’s such a difference between the cheapest new car (a $19,000 Nissan Versa) and the most expensive one (a $30 million Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail) that the “average price of a new car” is almost meaningless. Likewise, Uber crash settlements vary so greatly that the “average” settlement figure is almost meaningless. Here’s one thing we know. The average economic loss in an Uber crash case, mostly lost wages and medical bills, exceeds $90,000. Prior economic losses help shape an Uber crash claim’s settlement value. More on that below.  Here’s another thing we know. The average attorney-negotiated Uber settlement is over three times higher than the…

Uber seat belt defense often arises in injury claims. Every state, except New Hampshire, has a mandatory seat belt law. However, exact rules vary by state. For example, New Jersey’s  seat belt law doesn’t require back-seat adult passengers to buckle up (except young children in safety seats). Most states, including New Jersey, recognize the seat belt defense, usually as part of the comparative fault defense. But New Jersey’s law is quite complex. The defense can even apply to adult back-seat Uber passengers not legally required to wear seat belts. We explain this below. Comparative Fault in Uber Crashes Comparative fault is often the main defense in Uber crash cases. A  Morris County personal injury lawyer must be ready to challenge…