Were you injured in an accident as an Uber passenger or while driving for Uber? Are you a motorist or pedestrian that was struck by an Uber vehicle? If so, you may be in the middle of negotiating an accident claim with Uber, or you are beginning the process and have questions about your rights and legal options. In particular, you are curious to know how long it will take to settle your case and what the impact of an accident will be on your finances.
As personal injury lawyers, we are upfront about the fact that it can take anywhere from several months to a few years to settle an injury case, depending on factors such as the type of injuries you’ve suffered and your level of emotional trauma. So, what can you do in the meantime as the medical bills pile up and you are forced to take time off from work? If you’re an Uber driver, what can you do about the damage to your car if you can’t afford Uber’s $2,500 deductible?
To help you make ends meet, you may have thought about asking your lawyer for a cash advance on your settlement. Here at Normandie, we are happy to provide our clients with early settlement loans, which can help them avoid financial hardship and high interest rates while they’re waiting to resolve their case. For more information on our cash advance program for Uber accident victims, please take some time to speak with one of our attorneys.
Can I get a Loan from my Lawyer that is Representing me on my Uber Accident Case?
We understand when clients ask us if it’s legal for attorneys to loan money to their clients. After all, there are many rules that govern the types of interactions you can have with an attorney, so you want to be sure that you’re not crossing any boundaries. However, it is legal in California for law firms to issue loans to a client “based on the client’s written promise to repay the loan” (State Bar of California’s Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.8.5(a)). In addition to a written contract, attorneys must ensure that they meet the following guidelines:
- Loans can only be made for “reasonable” living expenses, such as rent, utilities, and auto repairs on the car that was damaged in the accident.
- The loan terms must be explained in a manner that’s clear and understandable to the client. This includes providing bilingual attorneys if the client is not fluent in English. We have lawyers at our office that can assist you in a variety of languages, including Spanish, Armenian, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.
- A client cannot be pressured to hire an attorney or switch lawyers in order to obtain an early settlement loan.
An Uber accident lawyer can answer all your questions during a free consultation and help you make an informed choice on whether a cash advance is right for you.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$1 Million
$1 Million
$2 Million
$1.5 Million
$870,000
$950,000
OUR LAW FIRM PROVIDES IMMEDIATE CASH ADVANCES WITHIN 24 HOURS
That’s right – our office provides cash advances to Uber injury claimants within 24 hours, so that you can have immediate access to the funds you need while waiting for your settlement. If you have a lawyer already, you may have been told that attorneys cannot issue loans to their clients. This is not true, though it’s up to each lawyer to decide whether they will offer cash advances against the value of a settlement. For some attorneys, they see this as a conflict of interest, meaning they may have a greater interest in settling your case and recouping their money as soon as possible. If a lawyer is not careful, they can end up pressuring the victim into a settlement that’s not in their best interest.
However, our attorneys have decades of experience in personal injury lawsuits. As a result, we know that rushing to resolve an Uber case is of no benefit to you, or to us. We are confident in our ability to win your case, and in the meantime, we are more than happy to provide you with a pre-settlement loan.
What about Lawsuit Funding Companies?
We’re asked about these companies quite often as personal injury lawyers. From the outset, it seems like a good idea to receive a loan against the value of your settlement, then wait till the end of your case to pay it back. The downside, however, is the interest rates, which many consumer advocates describe as “predatory.” This is due to the fact that interest rates on these loans accrue at an alarming rate. For example, if it takes you two years to receive your settlement, which is possible for serious injury claims, you can end up with interest payments that are higher than your original loan amount.
At the end of the day, you should understand the pros and cons of any decision you make in regard to your case. When you meet with us for a free case review, we will take the time to discuss all your available options, including a cash advance from our law firm on your Uber case.
Can I Switch Lawyers if my Law Firm won’t give me a Cash Advance on my Uber Case?
Yes, it’s possible to switch your lawyer at any point in your case if they’re unwilling to give you a pre-settlement cash advance. However, changing legal counsel with a pending claim is a big decision, and you should be 100% sure that you’re making the right choice. Before you take any steps towards firing your attorney, we suggest a free second opinion with one of our legal experts. Once we review your case and make our recommendations, you can decide for yourself if continuing your lawsuit with us is in your best interest. If so, we can take care of the entire transfer process from start to finish, so there’s nothing you have to do except to give us a call and schedule a free second opinion.
What is the Average Value of an Uber Accident Claim?
As a general rule, Uber accident settlements are worth more than the average car accident claim, due to the high insurance coverage that drivers are required to carry. In addition, Uber offers up to $1 million in accident coverage for drivers, passengers, and third party motorists. While this policy is limited to certain circumstances, we’ve been able to recover $250,000 to $500,000 for many of our clients. Based on the severity of your injuries and their long-term complications, an Uber accident settlement may be worth $1.25 million or more.
Please be aware that these are estimates that may not reflect the value of your own injury claim against Uber. We are happy to advise you on this topic during a free consultation at our office.
How long do I have to File a Lawsuit?
The time limit to file an injury lawsuit against Uber is two years in the state of California. For most claimants, the statute of limitations begins on the date of the accident, though there may be circumstances that will allow you more time to sue the company for compensation. For example, if you were incapacitated (physically or mentally) to the point where you were unable to act on your legal rights, you may be granted additional time to file a lawsuit. However, most injury victims will not meet the guidelines to qualify for an extension, so please don’t wait to take action on an Uber accident claim.
Contact a Los Angeles Uber Accident Attorney
The Uber accident lawyers of Normandie are here to advise you and fight for the settlement you deserve. An unexpected injury can have devastating consequences for you and your loved ones, and we know how stressful it can be when the bills are piling up and you’re unsure as to when your case will be settled. That’s why our law firm offers immediate cash advances for clients who are in need of financial assistance.
Another service we provide is the Zero fee guarantee, since you should not be burdened by legal fees when you are an accident victim. We will take care of all the costs associated with your case and wait for Uber to cover our expenses as a part of your settlement award. If we don’t win your case, we eat the costs since we only get paid if you get paid.
Please contact us right away if you’re interested in a free case review with one of our attorneys.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Getting Lost Pay from Uber Insurance after an Accident
Second Opinion on Settlement Offer for a Uber / Lyft Accident Case
Do I Need to Stop Working for Uber if I have an Active Injury Lawsuit
