How Uber Helps You Get Around San Jose

Published on Jun 9, 2022 at 5:46 pm in Uber Accidents.

If you’re new to San Jose or just visiting, you might be curious about what is the best way to get around the city. You’re no doubt familiar with rideshare apps, even if you are not a regular user. Uber, largely considered the most popular rideshare app, makes getting from the Winchester Mystery House to the Emma Prusch Farm Park a snap.

However, Uber accidents can happen and disrupt your life, and if this happens in San Jose, you should speak with an Uber accident attorney right away. 

Transportation in San Jose

San Jose, California, is 45 minutes from San Francisco and an hour from Monterey. Here is what transportation in San Jose looks like at a glance:

• Mineta San Jose International Airport is the closest airport.
• The local monorail/bus system, Bay Area Rapid Transit, connects San Jose to the rest of the bay.
• Downtown San Jose has had e-scooters and e-bikes since March 2018.
• A variety of trains are also available in San Jose (Caltrain, Amtrak).
• San Jose has a high “walkability” score of 88 out of 100. Its “bikeability” score is also 88 out of 100.

How to Use a Rideshare App

If you are looking for faster, more convenient transportation without walking or biking, that’s where Uber and Lyft come into the picture. Rideshare apps are a great option in San Jose if you need to get somewhere after hours when the transit system is not running, if you need to go somewhere far from e-bikes and monorails, or if you need to get somewhere right away. To take your first rideshare trip:

• Download Uber on your smartphone.
• Follow the setup prompts (providing your phone number, connecting your debit card, etc).
• After setup is complete (allow a few minutes), the home screen will have a field where you can type in the address where you want to go.
• Follow the prompts (select which type of ride you want, where you’d like to meet the driver, etc). 
• Once you’ve chosen all your options, the app will connect you to a nearby driver and let you know what kind of car to be looking for and the driver’s arrival time.
• You’ll have just a few minutes to start your ride after the driver gets to your location, so be outside in a visible area where your driver can safely stop to let you in.
• At the end of the ride, you don’t need to get out your debit card or offer a cash tip. Your ride fee will be automatically deducted from your card on file in the app and you can(and should) tip and review your driver on the app.

Uber Safety Tips

While Uber (and Lyft) provide a great deal of convenience and are wildly popular, it’s not a perfect system. To report an unsafe Uber driver, call 1-800-354-6012. There is also a “panic button” within the app if the driver is being reckless or harassing you. Using the app’s panic button will allow you to communicate your emergency without saying anything the driver can overhear.

If you get in an accident during your San Jose Uber trip and are injured (or others are injured):

• Call 911. Let the paramedics check you out even if you don’t think it’s needed.
• Get contact info from everyone involved (the drivers, other passengers, witnesses, the reporting police officer)
• Contact a lawyer that specializes in handling rideshare accidents to help you fight Uber’s hands-off insurance system (you’ll have to file a claim against the driver’s personal insurance first)

Ride App Law Group has San Jose Uber Accident Attorneys 

Ride App Law Group knows how to deal with Uber—that’s what we do day in and day out. We can represent your rights following an Uber-related injury, so please contact us now for a free consultation.