Troy Uber Accident Lawyer

Experienced Attorneys Help Those Injured in Uber Collisions in Troy and Throughout Metro Detroit

Troy is a hub of activity in southeastern Michigan. It is home to several major metro Detroit companies and has over 87,000 residents. Many locals and visitors choose Uber as a convenient way to travel in and around Troy. Uber also offers delivery for meals, groceries, and other convenience services.

Since its launch in San Francisco in 2010, Uber has grown exponentially. The company now claims two-thirds of the rideshare market in the United States. Uber drivers are common in major U.S. cities, including Troy and the metro Detroit area.

Increased Uber use corresponds with an increased rate of accidents and injuries. If you’re injured in an Uber crash, the experienced Troy Uber rideshare accident lawyers at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. can help.

The Cost of Convenience

Uber began serving Michigan by offering rides in Detroit and Ann Arbor. The service expanded in 2014 to other major Michigan cities, including Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Today, users throughout Michigan can hail a ride through the Uber app. However, ridesharing’s popularity and convenience have some negative consequences.

Increased Traffic Density

Traffic density increases in areas with high rideshare use. On average, cities with Uber and other ridesharing companies see three percent more traffic on their streets. Two factors contribute to this increase.

• First, Uber drivers use the roads more than people who drive their own vehicles. A person driving their own car will get in, drive to their destination, and get out. Uber drivers, however, must receive a ride request, drive to the rider’s location, pick up the rider, complete the trip, and drive to the location of their next rider. On average, using an Uber for a trip adds an extra 2.6 miles of driving. These extra miles increase a driver’s time on the road and the risk of being involved in an accident.
• Second, most Uber riders do not choose Uber over driving their own car. Most Uber riders typically opt to walk, bike, or take public transportation. They use the service when running late, in inclement weather, or in other special circumstances. When these travelers choose Uber, they rely on a vehicle that wouldn’t be on the streets otherwise. Customers may order items for Uber delivery that they would not leave their homes to purchase.

More Uber and Lyft vehicles on the road cause increased traffic density, which increases the risk of crashes.

Increased Crash Rates

A 2021 study of Uber use in New York found that ridesharing use corresponds with higher car accident rates. Researchers found that for every 100 rideshare trips taken, the risk of an injury-causing car accident increased by 4.6 percent. Motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents increased as the number of rideshare drivers on the road increased.

It’s easy to assume that Uber access reduces the risk of drunk driving, allowing those who drink to choose a sober ride home through Uber rather than getting behind the wheel. Previous studies, however, fail to confirm this assumption. While some show a slight decrease in drunk driving in Uber-heavy areas, others find no connection between ridesharing access and decreased drunk driving deaths. Even when researchers account for potential declines in drunk driving, areas with high rideshare use see more frequent injuries in car and pedestrian accidents.

Uber drivers’ experiences support the study’s findings. A 2024 survey found that one-third of rideshare drivers reported being involved in a crash while driving for Uber or Lyft. The drivers cited fatigue, distraction by cell phones and passengers, and unfamiliarity with an area as contributing factors to these crashes.

More traffic crashes lead to more accident-related injuries and deaths.

Additional Traffic Deaths

Uber’s numbers indicate that the rate of traffic deaths in Uber vehicles is rising. In its 2021-2022 safety report (its most recent available data), the company reported 153 deaths in Uber crashes. In 2019-2020, however, it reported only 101 Uber-related deaths.

Uber’s self-reported numbers may account for only a fraction of its overall impact on traffic fatalities. Some reports indicate that over a thousand indirect rideshare-related deaths, such as pedestrian and bicyclist collisions, occur on U.S. roads each year. These studies examine the fatalities that may result from the increase in overall traffic caused by rideshares and their other secondary effects on road safety.

Uber Requirements for Michigan Drivers

To drive for Uber in Michigan, an individual must meet these requirements.

• Be at least 25 years old to drive passengers (23 years old for delivery services).
• Have at least one year of driving experience (three years if you are under 25).
• Drive a four-door vehicle that meets Uber’s general vehicle requirements and applicable state, city, and county requirements.
• Have their Uber vehicle insured under their name in Michigan.

Since 2017, Michigan has regulated Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare businesses under the Limousine, Taxicab, and Transportation Network Company Act (PA 345). Among its many requirements, this law requires Uber to perform initial and annual background checks on prospective drivers and regular vehicle inspections.

Uber drivers must carry insurance that meets Michigan’s minimum requirements for vehicle coverage. However, drivers can choose to purchase additional coverage. Uber also provides insurance coverage when the vehicle is used for ridesharing.

Navigating Insurance After a Troy Uber Accident

Navigating insurance coverage can be challenging after a Michigan Uber crash. The state’s no-fault insurance system requires drivers to submit claims to their own auto insurance carrier under their “personal injury protection” (PIP) coverage if they are injured in an accident. If you don’t have PIP coverage or your injuries exceed your coverage amount, you may have to pursue additional coverage claims.

Uber’s insurance coverage changes depending on what an Uber driver is doing when the crash occurs. Higher limits apply if the Uber driver has a passenger in the vehicle. Lower limits apply if the driver is logged into the app and waiting for a ride request. Uber’s coverage does not apply if the Uber driver is using the vehicle solely for private travel.

These coverage distinctions are especially important (and complicated) if you’re involved in an accident with an Uber vehicle where you are not a passenger in the Uber. For example, you might be the driver of another car, a bicyclist or pedestrian, or a passenger in a non-Uber vehicle. In addition to filing a claim under Uber’s insurance, you may have to pursue claims against the driver or other parties.

Individual coverage for Uber drivers can vary significantly. Although Uber drivers must meet Michigan’s minimum coverage requirements, they can purchase higher limits and additional types of coverage. You may have to file a claim with their insurer and navigate the claims process under their policies. If another driver is involved or another party may share liability for the crash, you may also have to communicate with their insurer(s).

It’s easy to assume that more insurance coverage means more protection after an accident. In practice, more insurance coverage can slow down the resolution of your claim (and your recovery). Insurance companies may haggle over which company has to pay your bills while trying to pass the responsibility to the other. While they do so, your case may languish, and your compensation may be delayed.

An experienced Troy Uber accident lawyer can help you cut through the insurance red tape. Your attorney will fight to recover the compensation you deserve while you focus on healing.

What To Do After a Troy Uber Accident

Your safety is the top priority after an Uber accident. Taking these steps can help you protect yourself after an Uber accident in Troy:

• Put safety first. Call 911 or have someone at the scene make the call. Move vehicles out of the way of traffic if possible, but do not move a seriously injured person. Hazard lights, flares, flashlights, and similar objects can help warn oncoming traffic of the crash.
• Learn what you can. Talk to witnesses at the scene, if possible. Get contact information from the driver of the other vehicle. Ask witnesses to write down or record statements of what they saw, heard or felt as the accident occurred. Write down or record your impressions as well. Photos and videos taken at the scene can help you build a strong compensation claim.
• Get medical attention. See a doctor as soon as possible after a crash. In an emergency, visit the nearest emergency room. If you didn’t get emergency care at the scene, see your doctor or visit an urgent care center or emergency room as soon as possible. Seeing a doctor provides two benefits: it ensures you are on the best possible path to recovery and documents your injuries.
• Keep a file. Keep all your paperwork from the crash together. Medical bills, doctor’s notes, car repair or towing bills, and similar paperwork should all go in this file. Also, keep a log of conversations about the crash, including the date, time, parties involved, and substance of the conversation. This information helps bolster your compensation case.

Even if you cannot take all these steps right after an accident, an experienced Troy Uber accident lawyer can help. They will gather evidence and communicate with insurance companies so you can focus on recovering from your injuries and moving forward with your life.

Speak To an Experienced Troy Uber Accident Attorney Today

You don’t have to fight alone. If you’ve been injured in a Troy Uber accident, the dedicated rideshare accident lawyers at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. can help. Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation to discuss your options.