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”…

Uber driver turnover affect riders in many significant and dangerous ways. The high Uber driver turnover rate (fewer than 5 percent of drivers stay with the company for more than a year) is not just Uber’s problem. The ridesharing giant has no problem finding replacement drivers, especially when it offers token signing bonuses that have lots of hidden strings attached to them. But victims who are injured or killed because of an Uber driver’s inexperience cannot get replacement bodies. Brain Injuries and PTSD When a rider suffers a blow to the head during an Uber-related incident, the brain often slams against the inside of the skull. Since dead brain cells don’t regenerate, these injuries are permanent. Uber assault victims often…

In 2024, the ridesharing giant’s revenue grew over 20 percent to a record $12 billion. Usually within three or four hours after a crash, companies with such vast resources hire top-shelf lawyers who, in many cases, charge over $2,000 per hour. To protect Uber’s rights, and also to run up their bills, these lawyers often fight these claims tooth and nail. Furthermore, these cases are inherently complex. Uber driver crashes and sexual assaults, two of the most common Uber injury incidents, usually cause serious or fatal injuries. Additionally, driver fatigue, which is difficult to prove in court, substantially causes many ride sharing crashes.  So, a Somerset County personal injury lawyer must pay close attention to the special issues in Uber…