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If you were injured in an Uber accident, whether as a passenger, a driver hit by an Uber, or a pedestrian, you have the right to significant compensation. Uber accident claims are uniquely complex: multiple insurance policies apply, coverage depends on the driver’s app status at the moment of the crash, and Uber’s insurers are trained to minimize what they pay you.

At Valiente Mott Injury Attorneys, our Las Vegas Uber accident lawyers have recovered millions for victims throughout Nevada. Our car crash attorneys know how to fight these claims, and we don’t charge a fee unless we win.

Meet the Attorneys at Valiente Mott Injury Attorneys

Michael S. Valiente
Michael S. Valiente
Founder & Attorney
Michael S. Valiente, Partner at Valiente Mott, left his position at Nevada’s preeminent insurance defense trial law firm to help people, not insurance companies. He has extensive experience representing victims of car accidents, defective products, and catastrophic injury.
atty-bio-Tim-Mott
Timothy A. Mott
Founder & Attorney
Tim Mott, Partner at Valiente Mott, left his position at Nevada’s preeminent insurance defense trial law firm where he represented corporations, including Fortune 500 companies and the largest insurance companies in the world, to create Valiente Mott. Tim, along with Mike, created Valiente Mott to help people, not insurance companies. He has extensive experience representing victims of car accidents, defective products, and catastrophic injury.
Nate Quist
Managing Partner
Nate Quist began his career working alongside Partners Mike and Tim at Nevada’s preeminent insurance defense trial law firm. At the insurance defense firm, Nate represented large corporations and dealt with extremely complicated legal issues. Nate left the world of insurance defense to join the Clark County Public Defender’s Office in Las Vegas.
James A. Trummell
Trial Attorney
Jim joined the litigation team at Valiente Mott in May 2021 as the trial attorney. In his role with the firm, Jim drafts pleadings, oversees pre-trial discovery, takes and defends depositions, makes court appearances for hearings, prepares witnesses, and takes cases to trial. In bringing his talent and skill to Valiente Mott, Jim left his position as a trial attorney for one of Nevada’s most successful and well-known civil litigation firms. He advocated for Plaintiffs alongside some of the best and most respected trial attorneys in the State. Selected by his peers, Jim was honored as a Vegas, Inc. Top Lawyer 2020 and a 2021 Mountain States Rising Star Personal Injury Attorney by SuperLawyers.com.

Why Choose Valiente Mott After an Uber Accident in Las Vegas?

When you’re dealing with the aftermath of an Uber accident in Las Vegas, choosing Valiente Mott for your attorne can greatly impact the outcome. We are a law firm committed to fighting for our clients’ rights and will do everything we can to help you.

Here’s why partnering with us after an Uber accident can benefit you significantly:

  • We offer a free consultation, allowing you to discuss your situation without any immediate financial commitment.
  • We offer our services on a contingency fee basis, meaning if you don’t get paid, we don’t get paid.
  • Regardless of your health insurance status, we will assist you in securing necessary medical treatment.

At Valiente Mott, our track record speaks for itself – our injury attorneys have successfully recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients.

If you’ve been in an Uber accident and require expert legal assistance to navigate your claim, don’t hesitate to reach out.

$25M
Settlement
Product Defect - Wrongful Death

Vehicle defective design resulted in gas tank failure and explosion. The defense initially refused to make an offer as they believed their client was not at fault for the incident.

$6.025M
Settlement
Pedestrian Accident

No initial offer. A vehicle struck a pedestrian. The defense refused to accept liability for years.

$5M
Settlement
Truck Accident

Semi-Truck failed to exercise due care by rolling through a stop sign and struck our client while riding his bike in the crosswalk.

$3.025M
Settlement
Truck Accident

$100k Initial Offer — Fault free passenger in a small sedan and her driver turned left into oncoming traffic in front of a large passenger truck resulting in a t-bone collision.

What Causes Most Uber Accidents?

Las Vegas is one of the busiest rideshare markets in the country. Between the Strip, the airport, convention centers, and a 24-hour entertainment economy, Uber drivers here face constant pressure to complete as many trips as possible and that pressure creates real dangers.

Most of the Uber accidents our Las Vegas lawyers handle at Valiente Mott Injury Attorneys trace back to one of the following causes:

Distracted Driving

Uber drivers rely on their phones to navigate, accept trips, and communicate with passengers. Glancing at the app while driving is the rideshare equivalent of texting behind the wheel.

Drowsy Driving

Many Uber drivers in Las Vegas work late-night or early-morning hours to capture surge pricing. then put in a regular workday on top of that. Fatigue impairs reaction time and judgment in ways that rival alcohol.

GPS Distraction and Unfamiliar Routes

Tourists make up a significant portion of rideshare passengers, which means drivers are constantly navigating unfamiliar destinations: casino back entrances, off-Strip hotels, residential neighborhoods they don’t know. Following GPS directions while managing traffic requires divided attention that many drivers simply don’t have.

Dangerous Pickup and Drop-Off Locations

The Strip, Harry Reid International Airport, and the downtown Fremont Street area are all high-volume, high-congestion zones where Uber drivers routinely stop in travel lanes, cut across traffic, or execute sudden turns to reach a passenger. These maneuvers are among the most common sources of Uber-involved crashes in Las Vegas.

Speeding to Maximize Earnings

Uber’s pay structure incentivizes drivers to complete more trips per hour. For drivers trying to hit earnings targets or chase surge pricing, speed is money and that incentive regularly translates into speeding, aggressive lane changes, and failure to yield.

Driving Under the Influence

While Uber’s background check process is designed to screen for DUI history, it doesn’t prevent a driver from drinking or using drugs after they’ve been approved. Las Vegas’s nightlife culture creates real risk.

Understanding Uber’s Insurance Coverage: A Period-by-Period Breakdown

One of the most confusing parts of any Uber accident claim is figuring out which insurance policy applies, and that confusion is not an accident. Insurance companies benefit when you don’t know your rights.

At Valiente Mott Injury Attorneys, we help Las Vegas Uber accident victims cut through that confusion and make sure every available dollar of coverage is put to work for them.

Uber maintains multiple layers of insurance that apply depending on what the driver was doing at the exact moment of the crash. Here’s how it breaks down:

 

PeriodApp StatusCoverage in Effect
Period 0App is OFFDriver’s personal auto insurance only. Uber provides zero coverage.
Period 1App ON, waiting for a ride request$50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident (bodily injury) + $25,000 property damage. Uber’s coverage is contingent — only kicks in if the driver’s personal insurer denies the claim.
Period 2Ride accepted, en route to pickup$1,000,000 third-party liability + uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Contingent comp/collision with $2,500 deductible.
Period 3Passenger in the vehicle$1,000,000 third-party liability + uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Contingent comp/collision with $2,500 deductible.

What Happens If Uber’s Coverage Doesn’t Cover Everything?

Even when Uber’s $1,000,000 policy is in effect, it may not be enough to cover severe injuries — particularly spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, or cases involving significant lost income. In those situations, we look at every available source of recovery, including:

  • Your own underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage
  • The at-fault third party’s personal auto insurance (if another driver caused the crash)
  • Product liability claims if a vehicle defect contributed to the accident
  • Claims against Uber for negligent driver screening or retention

What If the Driver’s Personal Insurance Denies Coverage?

During Period 1, when the driver has the app on but hasn’t accepted a ride, Uber’s coverage is contingent. That means Uber’s policy only steps in if the driver’s personal insurer denies the claim or doesn’t provide adequate coverage. Many personal auto insurance policies exclude commercial activity, including ridesharing, which means the driver’s insurer may deny the claim outright. When that happens, Uber’s contingent coverage activates.

Navigating that handoff between insurers is precisely where victims without legal representation lose money. Our attorneys know how to force the issue and make sure coverage applies when it’s supposed to.

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Las Vegas’ Trusted Injury Lawyers

From car crashes to wrongful death, we’re here to protect your rights. Valiente Mott Injury Attorneys will do what it takes to achieve the best results for your case.

Liability After a Las Vegas Uber Accident

Understanding liability in the event of an Uber accident can become complex, as several parties may be responsible:

Uber Driver’s Liability

When negligence on the part of your Uber driver results in an accident – possibly due to excessive speed, distraction, or other traffic law violations – they could face legal liability. Depending on the circumstances, like whether the app was active or if a ride was in progress, responsibility might fall to either the driver’s personal insurance or Uber’s commercial policy.

Third-Party Liability

There are instances where another motorist or external party is found at fault for causing the accident, in which case this third-party would bear liability. Their insurance policy would then likely be pursued to cover damages incurred by those affected by their actions.

Product Liability

When a vehicle defect or component failure is at fault, manufacturers of the car or its parts may be subject to product liability claims.

Passenger Liability

While rare, there are situations in which the behavior of a passenger can directly lead or contribute to an accident, for example, intentionally distracting the driver. In these cases, that injured passenger could potentially be considered legally liable.

Comparative Negligence

In Nevada, the concept of comparative negligence impacts cases where an injured party is partially at fault for the incident and the case goes to trial.

For instance, if you were a passenger and it was your behavior that contributed to the accident, Nevada law would allow you to recover compensation despite your partial fault as long as you were not more than 50% at fault.

In any action to recover damages for death or injury to persons or for injury to property in which comparative negligence is asserted as a defense, the comparative negligence of the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s decedent does not bar a recovery if that negligence was not greater than the negligence or gross negligence of the parties to the action against whom recovery is sought.

However, the compensation you would be entitled to receive will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

Example:

You as an Uber passenger abruptly and without warning interfere with the driver’s control of the vehicle – for example, screaming loudly in the driver’s face – which then causes an accident. Here, your actions have partially caused or contributed to the crash.

If it’s determined at trial that you, as the passenger, are 30% at fault for contributing to the accident, your total compensation amount would be reduced by 30%.

If you’re involved in an Uber accident, securing legal assistance from a lawyer in Las Vegas is essential to determine liability.

Rideshare

Common Injuries in Las Vegas Uber Accidents

Rideshare accidents cause the same range of injuries as any other motor vehicle crash — sometimes more severe, because passengers in the back seat aren’t always wearing seatbelts and have less protection than front-seat occupants.

At Valiente Mott, we’ve represented clients dealing with injuries ranging from soft tissue sprains to catastrophic spinal cord trauma, and we know how to build a damages case that reflects the true cost of what our clients have been through.

Whiplash and Soft Tissue Injuries

Whiplash is one of the most commonly dismissed injuries by insurance companies. The rapid back-and-forth motion of the neck in a rear-end or side-impact collision causes strain and micro-tears in muscles and ligaments that may not become fully symptomatic for 24 to 48 hours. Don’t let an insurer tell you it’s minor.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

A blow to the head during a crash, whether from the window, headrest, or airbag, can cause a traumatic brain injury ranging from a mild concussion to severe neurological damage. TBIs are notoriously difficult to diagnose immediately and can affect memory, cognition, mood, and motor function for months or years. Our brain injury attorneys work with neurological experts to document and fight for the full scope of these damages.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Injuries to the cervical or lumbar spine, herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, or partial and complete paralysis, are among the most life-altering outcomes of a serious Uber accident. Treatment costs can reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and lost earning capacity must be calculated over decades. Valiente Mott has recovered millions on behalf of clients with spinal injuries. See our results.

Broken Bones and Fractures

Fractured ribs, broken wrists (from bracing for impact), broken arms, legs, and clavicles are common in both low- and high-speed rideshare accidents. Even fractures that heal fully involve significant pain, surgery, physical therapy, and time away from work — all of which are compensable damages.

Internal Injuries

Internal bleeding and organ damage can be life-threatening and may not be immediately apparent after a crash. If you were in any significant collision, you should be seen by a medical professional immediately — both for your health and to establish a documented record of your injuries.

Psychological Injuries and PTSD

The trauma of a serious accident doesn’t end when the physical wounds heal. Many of our clients experience anxiety about riding in vehicles, flashbacks, nightmares, and persistent depression following an Uber accident. These psychological injuries are real, they are compensable, and our attorneys fight for them with the same intensity as physical harm.

What Compensation is Available if I’ve Been Injured?

If you’ve been injured in an accident, you may be entitled to various types of compensation, categorized as economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages:

Economic Damages

Economic damages are calculable financial losses stemming from the injury or accident, such as medical expenses, lost earnings due to missed work, rehabilitation costs, and other out-of-pocket expenses related to your accident and recovery.

Non-economic Damages

Non-economic damages account for less tangible consequences of your injury, addressing the emotional and psychological impact. Frequently compensated injuries under this category include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment or quality of life, and mental anguish – all factors lacking a definitive monetary value.

Punitive Damages

In cases where an injury results from particularly egregious behavior, the courts may award punitive damages. These are not tied to the actual harm suffered but rather serve as a punishment to the wrongdoer and a deterrent against similar conduct in the future.

The specifics of your case ultimately guide what compensation is allowed and how much can be awarded. To ensure a fair outcome, you should speak with an Uber crash lawyer in Las Vegas as soon as possible.

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How Do I Prove Negligence After an Uber Accident?

To recover compensation after an Uber accident in Nevada, you generally need to prove four things:

  1. That the driver (or another party) owed you a duty of care
  2. That they breached that duty
  3. That the breach caused your accident
  4. That the accident caused your injuries.

In legal terms, this is the standard negligence framework — and it applies to every driver on Nevada roads, including Uber drivers.

The Duty of Care Uber Drivers Owe You

Every driver in Nevada has a legal obligation to operate their vehicle safely and follow traffic laws. Uber drivers have an additional layer of responsibility when a passenger is in their vehicle — a heightened duty of care that comes with transporting members of the public for compensation. When an Uber driver is distracted, fatigued, speeding, or otherwise operating recklessly, they have breached that duty.

How Do I Report an Uber Accident?

If you’re involved in an Uber accident, reporting it through the app is one of the first official steps to take. Go to the ‘Help’ section within your Uber app, select ‘Riders’, then choose ‘Trip Issues and Refunds’. From there you can report “I had a safety issue” followed by selecting “I was involved in an accident.” This leads to a form where required details about your incident must be provided.

Keep the information objective and never admit fault. After completing the relevant sections, including information pertinent to your ride and incident, submit the form so that Uber can be formally notified of this accident.

Before taking these initial steps in reporting through Uber’s app, it’s a good idea to seek advice from a Las Vegas accident lawyer. They can offer guidance on what to say or not say in the report and how to navigate any subsequent communications with Uber or insurance companies.

How Long Do I Have to File an Uber Accident Claim?

In Nevada, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident (NRS 11.190). Miss that deadline, and you lose your right to recover compensation.

Exceptions to the Two-Year Rule

Nevada law recognizes a limited number of exceptions to the standard two-year deadline:

  • Minor victims: If the injured person was under 18 at the time of the accident, the statute of limitations typically does not begin to run until they turn 18.
  • The discovery rule: In rare cases where an injury was not immediately apparent (most common with internal injuries or TBIs), the clock may start from the date you discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, the injury.
  • Claims against government entities: If a government-owned vehicle was involved, you may need to file a notice of claim within 90 to 180 days. This deadline is much earlier than two years.

These exceptions are narrow and fact-specific. The safest course of action is always to consult with an attorney as soon as possible after your accident.

Uber’s Internal Reporting Deadlines

Separate from the legal statute of limitations, Uber has its own internal process for reporting accidents, and their insurance carrier will use any delay in reporting as a reason to question the legitimacy of your claim.

While there is no hard deadline for reporting to Uber, acting quickly creates a cleaner paper trail and prevents the insurer from arguing that your injuries occurred elsewhere or were pre-existing.

Before you submit anything to Uber through the app, speak with one of our attorneys in Las Vegas. What you say in that initial report can affect your case.

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Contact our Uber Accident Attorneys in Las Vegas for a Free Consultation Today

If you have been involved in an Uber accident, it’s crucial to seek professional legal advice at your earliest convenience.

Contact Valiente Mott for a thorough evaluation of your case and dedicated guidance to determine the best path forward. Contact us to schedule your free consultation with our Las Vegas Uber accident lawyers.

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