According to Miami-Dade police, an arrest was made in the fatal crash last month that involved a driver for Uber.
On Dec. 27, the Uber driver was taking four friends to a destination in a GMC Yukon. As the driver attempted to turn left onto Miami’s SW 157th Avenue, a driver in a Toyota Corolla collided with the SUV. The larger vehicle rolled over and came to rest by a wall before both vehicles burst into flames, trapping one 20-year-old passenger.
Both drivers and the other passengers escaped the flames and were not seriously injured. The police investigation revealed that the Toyota driver had been drinking alcohol prior to the fatal collision. Earlier this month, he was arrested for DUI manslaughter.
Later reports indicate that the survivors of the deceased man have filed a civil suit against both drivers, the owner of the Uber SUV and Uber. The company reports that it has a million dollar liability policy on each Uber driver.
Because Uber transportation services are a relatively new concept, it is likely more civil suits against the company and its individual drivers will stem from accidents involving injuries and deaths of passengers. In cases similar to the Miami fatality, while criminal charges against a driver can bolster a case for wrongful death, it is not necessary for a driver to face criminal charges in order to bring a civil suit against him or her.
If you have been injured in an auto accident where another driver was at fault, you may wish to pursue civil justice regardless of the outcome of any pending criminal cases stemming from the accident.
Source: CBSMiami, “Police Arrest Driver In Fatal Fiery Accident With Uber SUV,” Jan. 13, 2016
