Local celebrity shaken up in Uber accident

People in Los Angeles and elsewhere may be familiar with TV host and celebrity, Raymond Gutierrez. The Philippine native has lived in the city for some time, and since he does not drive himself, he relies on Uber and other rideshare companies to get to his destinations around town. He took to social media to publish detail of a car accident his Uber driver was involved in on Oct. 13.

Details of the accident

While living in Manila, Gutierrez apparently had a driver to get him from place to place. Here in Los Angeles, he mostly relies on Uber to provide a driver for him. Gutierrez claims he does not have a driver’s license, though it is on his list of things to do.

On Oct. 13, Gutierrez was riding as a passenger in an Uber car when the car was struck by another vehicle. Reportedly, the other car entered the wrong lane, where his driver had a green light and right-of-way. The crash caused significant damage to the front end of the car he was riding in. He stated the accident shook him up, but he did not mention any serious injuries; he also extolled the importance of wearing a seatbelt. Had he not had on his seatbelt, he claims his injuries would have been a lot worse.

Legal recourse

Although Gutierrez himself was not seriously injured in the accident, he most likely cannot pursue legal claims against the Uber driver or the other driver for damages. However, if his account of the accident is accurate and the other driver’s negligence cause the crash, the Uber driver and the company may choose to pursue civil claims against the at-fault driver to seek compensation for damages. An experienced personal injury attorney can review the facts of the case and bring suit against the at-fault driver if necessary.