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…

SMIDSY is a motorcycle crash acronym that stands for sorry, mate, I didn’t see you. Another common acronym, TBFTL (turned but failed to look), doesn’t have the same je ne sais quoi. Additionally, the alternate acronym doesn’t capture the cavalier attitude that many tortfeasors (negligent drivers) have after left-turn motorcycle crashes. Although tortfeasors don’t acknowledge it, motorcyclists have the same rights and privileges as other motorists. The same laws and rules protect everyone equally. If negligence, or a lack of care, causes injury, a Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Woodbridge, NJ can obtain substantial compensation for victims. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Motorcycle Crash Injuries Four-wheel vehicle…

One reason for a delayed personal injury settlement is that haste makes waste. When people are in a hurry to do anything, they often take shortcuts that come back to bite them later. A bigger reason a lawyer takes so long to settle a case is the extensive pre-litigation and litigation process, which is outlined below. Delayed Personal Injury Settlement Insurance company foot-dragging may be the biggest reason lawyers take so long to settle cases. Usually, insurance companies hold settlement funds in interest-bearing accounts. The longer that money stays in that account, the more money the insurance company makes. That’s especially true if the insurance company is a top-five firm, like State Farm or Progressive, which settles tens of thousands…

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…

Almost every cell phone app in the known universe, including Lyft, Uber, and other ridesharing apps, include Terms of Service. Frequently, users scroll to the bottom and tap the “I accept” button without reading the ToS, which is usually a long document that contains a mind-boggling amount of Legalese. The ToS (a/k/a Terms and Conditions or Terms of Use) usually includes a mandatory arbitration clause. Some ridesharing platforms use indirect TOS acceptance mechanisms. Passengers accept the TOS, which usually include mandatory arbitration, when they order rides or get into vehicles. Indirect acceptance is even more controversial than direct acceptance. At least direct acceptance ToS acceptance gives users a chance to say yes or no. However, in many cases, this “choice”…