Newlin Law Offices: Your Portland Uber and Lyft Accident Legal Team
You might not know where to turn after a rideshare accident. It’s much harder to determine who was at fault, and you might not make the right call when filing an insurance claim.
At Newlin Law Offices, we understand the unique stress and confusion you’re facing. Our team is led by Todd Newlin, a Portland Uber and Lyft accident lawyer who is committed to helping accident victims get the justice and compensation they deserve. We will be your shield against insurance companies and their lawyers so that you can focus on recovery.
Call us at 503-755-8539, tell us about your accident, and let us help you on the path toward healing and financial recovery.
Uber and Lyft Accident Liability in Portland: When Accidents Happen, Who Pays?
Oregon law is clear: The at-fault driver is responsible for losses related to a car accident. But when the at-fault driver works for a ridesharing company, things are rarely that straightforward.
Uber and Lyft drivers in Portland are independent contractors, not employees. This distinction affects which party you can hold accountable after a crash occurs. Because ridesharing companies don’t directly employ their drivers, it is harder to establish a company’s liability when its driver injures someone else.
But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Our legal team at Newlin Law Offices knows how to investigate these cases and determine who is liable for your damages.
When Your Ride Turns Traumatic: Types of Injuries We Help With
While the convenience of rideshare services is undeniable, every ride carries inherent risks. When negligence behind the wheel results in a car accident, the impact on victims can be devastating. Rideshare accidents can lead to a wide range of injuries.
Catastrophic Injuries
Some injuries cause severe and long-term, often permanent, damage. These catastrophic injuries include amputations, paralysis, severe burns, multiple fractures, and organ damage. The impact on a victim's life is often profound, as they require extensive medical care, rehabilitation, and potentially lifelong support.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Even seemingly minor bumps to the head can result in TBIs. These brain injuries can change victims’ lives, affecting cognitive function, mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. In the most serious cases, TBIs may result in permanent impairment or death.
Neck and Back Injuries
A back injury from even a minor fender bender can disrupt a victim's daily life. Sudden, forceful motions during a crash may cause whiplash and neck pain, potentially leading to long-term discomfort and limited mobility.
More seriously, the spinal cord in the back and neck can be damaged in the force of a crash. Spinal cord injuries may cause chronic pain, numbness, or paralysis.
Broken Bones
Broken bones require significant medical treatment and recovery time. In severe cases, bones are crushed by the impact and require surgery or even amputation. These injuries often leave victims unable to work, resulting in financial strain on top of physical suffering.
Internal Injuries
Blunt-force trauma from a collision can damage the internal organs, sometimes causing life-threatening internal bleeding.
Common Causes of Portland Rideshare Accidents
You can better understand your rights after an Uber or Lyft accident if you know what caused it:
- Driver distractions: Drivers might check for new ride requests, adjust GPS settings, or even send text messages while behind the wheel.
- Driver fatigue: With flexible work schedules and the pressure to earn, many rideshare drivers are on the road for long hours.
- Aggressive driving: Pressure to meet pickup targets, navigate through heavy traffic, and complete more rides can push drivers toward risky behaviors on the road.
- Other drivers: Not every accident involving a rideshare vehicle is the Uber or Lyft driver's fault; many are caused by negligent drivers in other vehicles.
- Poor road conditions or vehicle defects: Unmaintained roads, inadequate signage, or even mechanical problems with the vehicle can contribute to collisions.
Some accidents have multiple causes, and more than one person may be at fault. When that happens, our Portland rideshare attorney is ready to dig into the details and determine which parties to hold accountable for your losses.
Decoding Insurance Coverage: Uber and Lyft Accident Policies
Uber and Lyft accidents involve multiple types of insurance coverage. Here is a brief overview:
Deciding whether to file a claim with the driver’s or the ridesharing company's insurer is often the first step after a rideshare accident.
A mistake at this point can delay your claim. This is where our team can make all the difference. We investigate the details of your rideshare accident and fight on your behalf for the coverage you rightfully deserve.
How Our Legal Team Can Help with Your Case
At Newlin Law Offices, we're not just skilled at personal injury law; we're well-versed in complicated insurance regulations, and we stay informed about new legislation and court rulings that affect rideshare accident claims. Here’s how we’ll handle your case.
Investigate Your Accident
After listening to your story, we may collect police reports and video footage (if available), interview witnesses, and reconstruct the accident. This evidence will help us demonstrate what happened and who was at fault.
Determine Liability
We’re firm about proving liability even when a driver attempts to shift the blame or when a ridesharing company denies responsibility. We understand the legal tactics commonly used by both insurance companies and rideshare corporations and will fight to overcome those challenges.
File Insurance Claims
We'll meticulously prepare and submit insurance claims, making sure we target the right insurance carrier or carriers for the best chance at a successful settlement.
Negotiate with Insurers
We're seasoned negotiators skilled in dealing with insurance companies and advocating for fair settlements. If the other side offers a low settlement or denies your claim, we are ready to escalate your case.
Prepare for Trial, If Necessary
Should your case require it, our Portland Uber and Lyft accident attorney is ready to take your claim to court and advocate for you in front of a judge or jury.
Seeking Fair Compensation
Our commitment extends beyond just proving liability. We work tirelessly to secure the full financial compensation our clients deserve after Portland rideshare accidents.
Past and Future Medical Expenses
Recovering full compensation for medical expenses is crucial. This compensation may include the cost of ambulance transport, hospital stays, surgery, medications, physical therapy, and all other treatments related to the rideshare accident. We also account for the costs of long-term medical care that you may require in the future.
Lost Wages and Lost Earning Capacity
A crash may leave you unable to work, resulting in lost wages. If you're facing a long-term or permanent disability that impacts your future ability to earn a living, we will fight for a settlement large enough to protect your and your family’s future.
Pain and Suffering
You deserve to be compensated not only for physical injuries but also for emotional and mental suffering. Your nonmonetary losses may include physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, loss of enjoyment of life, PTSD, and other psychological harm that affects your well-being.
Other Losses
Additional losses we may address in your claim include damage to your vehicle or personal property. If appropriate, we may ask for compensation for childcare, transportation, and other costs you’ve incurred due to your injury.
