Uber Accident Attorneys in Kansas City

What are common causes of Uber accidents in Kansas City?

Uber drivers are still just drivers, and drivers are still just people. This isn’t to say accidents should be expected and accepted, but it does mean we do not necessarily need new data to know what causes accidents with Uber specifically. We know the common causes of car accidents. Those of us local to Kansas City are well aware of how frightening other drivers can be, for a multitude of reasons. Typically, car accidents are caused by:

• Driver fatigue. Those who can barely keep their eyes open should not be operating a motor vehicle. People such as Uber drivers, though, may be tempted to work longer than they should for more compensation. Truckers also face — and often give into — this temptation.
• Driver distraction. This is one of the leading causes of car accidents, and refers to any time a driver takes their eyes off the roads. Texting, making a call, looking at the GPS, or even just fiddling with the radio can all lead to disastrous collisions. Because Uber’s interface is entirely through both the driver and the passenger’s phones, drivers may be tempted to stare at their screens to monitor rates, requests, and other messages.
• Driving under the influence. Whether it is alcohol, marijuana, or prescription medication, one should never be behind the wheel of a car while impaired. Any level of impairment can lead to dangerous mistakes that can’t be taken back, as it muddles everything from reflexes to decision-making skills to basic motor function.
• We all know people usually do not drive the exact speed limit, but drivers should be matching the traffic around them instead of trying to weave and race past it. Remember, the higher the speed, the deadlier the collision.
• Traffic violations. Speeding definitely falls under this category, but so does running red lights and stop signs, failing to merge or yield, and driving recklessly. An aggressive Uber driver can be a dangerous one.

While other factors such as weather and road conditions may cause their fair share of accidents, the catalyst is usually a driver making unsafe and negligent decisions behind the wheel, and they deserve to be held accountable for their actions, especially if they are a supposed professional driving people around for a living.

What are common injuries caused by Uber accidents?

When drivers are negligent, they do not have to take someone’s life to severely change and derail it. Cars of any size are large, metal machines moving at incredibly high speeds, and while manufacturers craft them to be as safe as possible, there is only so much they can do. An Uber accident can lead to a multitude of painful, expensive, and extensive injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord damage
• Broken bones
• Traumatic amputation and limb loss
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Burn injuries
• Facial, dental, and ocular injuries
• Internal bleeding

This is not a comprehensive list by any means, and victims may suffer more than one of these traumas at once depending on the severity of the accident. Not only that, but even the most relatively-minor of those injuries involve months of recovery time and treatment, while the more severe may hold victims hostage for the rest of their lives. Therapies, accommodations, caretakers, medications, surgeries, and an inability to work is an expensive and disheartening cocktail.

Now, many people who use rideshare services sit in the back, because we were all trained by yellow cabs and limos that that is where the passengers sit. However, do not make the mistake of assuming you are safer because you are in the back. Recent research has actually shown the opposite is true — even in a head-on collision. Put simply, backseats don’t have airbags or much protection outside of seatbelts and any cushion from the seats in front of them. Therefore, people riding in an Uber may actually likelier to be severely injured in the event of an accident.

How often do people get injured in Kansas City Uber accidents?

This is the bad news, and this is precisely why you should seek legal help immediately: we do not know. Uber specifically has released safety reports, but they all omit key figures and information (such as only counting fatalities and not tracking injuries, no matter how severe). Even the fatalities they report seem to be missing a few, with excuses so weak they practically don’t exist at all.

They depend on success to exist, and they cannot have success with a damaged reputation, which means they are actively hiding and skimming over damning details and cherry-picking what the public can know. While this is legal, it is definitely on the shady side, and should show just what they are willing to do for profit. In other words, they will do everything they can to avoid paying or accepting accountability — and they are good at it.