Rideshare services have been gaining in popularity since Uber was founded in 2009. The two largest rideshare services, Uber and Lyft, provide services throughout the country. Millions of people use rideshare services every day as an alternative to public transportation or taxi services.
Unfortunately, the popularity of rideshare services has also resulted in thousands of accidents every year.
When a rideshare vehicle gets into an accident, the drivers of the vehicles aren’t the only victims — the passenger of the rideshare vehicle is also included in the chaos. If you were a passenger in a rideshare vehicle involved in an accident, there are eight steps you should take as soon as possible.
1. Get Medical Attention
Before you do anything else, contact emergency services, and don’t move until a medical professional has evaluated your condition.
Even if you think you’re uninjured, it’s best to let a medical professional determine that. And if you’re severely injured, delaying necessary medical attention could put your life at risk. You’ll have plenty of time to check off the other seven steps after receiving assurance that you’re safe.
2. Speak to the Police
When you contact emergency services for medical assistance, the police will also be dispatched to the scene of the accident. When they arrive, give them your contact information and any other details they request. Make sure to ask how, when, and where you can obtain a copy of the police report for the accident before you part ways.
3. Contact an Uber Accident Lawyer
Even if you weren’t injured in the accident, you’d still want to consult with an Uber accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Collecting compensation for injuries and other losses can be complicated without the assistance of a knowledgeable attorney. By contacting a rideshare accident lawyer immediately after the accident, you ensure that you don’t make any mistakes when you start the claims process.
From the moment you contact your Uber or Lyft accident lawyer, you should follow their advice on all matters regarding the accident. Make sure your Lyft or Uber accident lawyer is present during all conversations with the insurance company, the rideshare company, and other drivers, or get advice from your attorney before entering into these conversations.
4. Document the Scene of the Accident
Your Uber accident lawyer will want to investigate the accident, but they likely won’t be able to send an investigator immediately. You can get a head start on the investigation by documenting the scene yourself.
Take photos or video footage of the vehicles involved, the surrounding roadways, and anything else that you think might have been a factor in the accident. You can also collect the contact information of anyone who happened to witness the accident.
Talk to your attorney for more guidance on the type of evidence you should be looking for and how to collect it.
5. Inform the Rideshare Service About the Accident
Your rideshare driver will likely report the accident to their employer before you do, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t also report it yourself.
You must report the accident to confirm that the company knows it happened and ensure you have a potential claim. This is also a necessary step before you can file an insurance claim with the rideshare company’s insurance provider.
Be careful what information you share while reporting the accident. The easiest way to avoid sharing information that could harm your claim is to have your Lyft or Uber accident lawyer present while you recall the events.
6. Get the Contact Information of All Drivers Involved in the Accident
If you were involved in a car accident while driving, you would make a point of asking the other driver or drivers for their contact information. The only difference when you’re a passenger in a rideshare accident is that you also want to get your driver’s information.
While gathering contact information, make sure you also ask for each driver’s insurance information. Be careful not to admit fault or discuss any specific details of the accident while requesting this information.
7. File a Claim With Every Insurance Company Involved
It will take time for lawyers and insurance investigators to determine who’s at fault for the accident. Until that happens, you won’t know for certain which insurance company is responsible for paying out your medical expenses and other costs.
The simplest way to cover your bases is to file a separate claim with every driver’s insurer (or, more likely, the provider for the company that employs the rideshare driver).
Additionally, you should file an insurance claim with your own insurer. Even though your insurance company is unlikely to pay compensation, they might be able to help you until liability has been determined. In the worst-case scenario, you can simply drop your claim.
8. Schedule a Meeting With Your Personal Injury Lawyer
Before you make any further decisions regarding your car accident case, you need to understand what your options are.
The best way to explore your options is to schedule a sit-down consultation with your personal injury attorney in person. This meeting is best conducted in person, as the two of you will have a lot to talk about.
By the end of the meeting, you’ll want to have arrived at an agreement about how to proceed with your case. Your attorney can present you with a rough timeline of how your case will proceed and tell you what you need to do to receive compensation as quickly as possible.
Get the Compensation You Deserve After a Rideshare Accident
If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident, it may feel like nobody is looking out for your best interests; the rideshare company is desperately trying to protect itself, while the insurance companies are each looking to pass the blame to the other driver. In this situation, the only person you can count on is your rideshare attorney.
Contact Slater & Zurz today at 888.534.4850 to speak to a personal injury attorney. We have the determination to fight for you and the knowledge, skills, and resources to get you the compensation you deserve.
