The city of Cleveland, Ohio, has roughly 20 million visitors every year. While many have their own transportation, millions of people use taxis or rideshare services to get around the city. When that many people use rideshare services in an urban area, inevitably, there will be accidents.
If you are in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, you will probably have a lot of questions. You will want to know who is liable for the injuries you suffered in the accident and how you can quickly get compensation. These are complicated matters of Ohio law that most people aren’t familiar with.
But the Cleveland personal injury lawyers at Slater & Zurz know all of the answers. We will make the process of recovering money for your accident as easy as possible.
What to Do After Suffering an Injury in an Uber or Lyft Accident
The first moments after an accident are the most confusing and when most people make their biggest mistakes. If you have suffered an injury, you are probably unsure of your surroundings and in pain. You are likely to do or say things that you shouldn’t, just to get your bearings.
As hard as it is to focus after an accident, you need to focus on just a few things: getting medical treatment and contacting a lawyer.
Medical treatment needs to be your first priority. Until a medical professional has assessed your injuries, you have no clue how serious they are. Rapid intervention from a medical professional could save your life or lessen the severity of your injuries.
For the moment, don’t worry about expenses; accept any medical treatment you are offered.
Once you have received medical treatment, you need to call the Cleveland-based car accident lawyers at Slater & Zurz at (440) 557-2861. Our team of experienced Uber and Lyft accident attorneys is always ready to help victims of rideshare accidents.
The attorney for Uber and Lyft accidents you retain will promptly meet you to discuss your case, even visiting you in the hospital if necessary. This allows us to immediately answer any questions you have and start investigating your case.
You may have noticed that there are things we don’t recommend you do before speaking to your lawyer for Uber and Lyft accidents. We recommend that you avoid:
- Speaking to the other driver, except to share insurance and contact information
- Making a claim with any insurance company
- Filing a police report
- Discussing the accident with witnesses
- Informing friends and family about your accident, except to tell them you are safe
Any statement you make, no matter how innocent it may seem, could be used by an insurance company to deny your claim. You have the right to have a lawyer present during all conversations with police or insurance companies.
Your Uber and Lyft accident lawyer from Slater & Zurz will arrange meetings with the Cleveland police and insurance company agents and be your representative wherever necessary. This will ensure that you don’t make any mistakes that will limit your ability to get compensation for your injuries.
While you may need to make some statements early in the process, we will quickly be able to take over, letting you focus on relaxing and recovering from your injuries. Your lawyer for Uber and Lyft accidents will take the lead on all communications and negotiations with the insurance company.
Using evidence collected by our experienced investigators, we will attempt to negotiate a fair settlement offer that pays for all of your medical expenses — current and future — resulting from the accident. We will also negotiate for non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
In the worst-case scenario, we will have to go to court. Our personal injury attorneys have an excellent record of success in Cleveland courts. No court case is certain, but we will fight vigorously to get you the money you deserve.
Your Uber and Lyft Accident Attorney Can Help You Find the Right Doctor
Cleveland is home to dozens of hospitals and hundreds of doctors. The Uber and Lyft attorneys at Slater & Zurz know which doctors in the city can provide the best treatment for your injuries. We will help you make appointments with these doctors and get any other treatment and services you need to recover.
Most of our accident clients have never needed major medical treatment before, and they often don’t know where to look to find help. For this reason, we are always available to help our clients find the medical assistance they desperately need.
Often this information can help more than any money we can get you from a settlement offer or trial. And helping you recover from your injuries as quickly as possible is one of our top priorities at Slater & Zurz.
How a Cleveland, Ohio, Uber and Lyft Accident Attorney Solves Your Financial Difficulties
One of the biggest problems you will face after suffering an injury in a rideshare accident is that you will start receiving bills for medical services almost immediately. Doctors and hospitals often send the first bill well before you receive any compensation from an insurance company.
Even when an insurance company is being cooperative, it can easily be weeks before you receive any payments. Medical bills can start appearing in your mailbox overnight. And most insurance companies don’t make collecting money easy. It could even be months before you get any money.
The Uber and Lyft accident lawyers at Slater & Zurz understand the stress when bills pile up, and we will work hard to get your compensation as quickly as possible.
The first thing we do is ensure that the insurance company doesn’t deny your claim. We will present irrefutable evidence that their client was liable and that you suffered injuries that require extensive medical treatment. Ensuring the insurance company can’t legally deny your claim improves the speed of the process.
Additionally, your Cleveland attorney for Uber and Lyft accidents will press the insurance company to pay promptly.
It is illegal for an insurance company to unreasonably delay payment, and we will keep constant pressure on the insurance company to act quickly. Usually, we can use this pressure to negotiate a settlement offer that gets you fair compensation much more quickly.
Finally, we can send a letter of protection to anyone sending you medical bills. This letter informs your debt holders that you are taking legal action to get compensation for your injuries and guarantees that you will pay once you receive that compensation.
Usually, this will end the bill collection until your case has concluded. If you are concerned about your finances after an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, call us at (440) 557-2861 to speak to an experienced Cleveland attorney.
Cleveland Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers Are Available 24 Hours a Day
Uber or Lyft accidents don’t always conveniently happen between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. You can be injured in a rideshare accident in Cleveland at any time of day or night.
Regardless of when you are hurt, the Uber and Lyft accident attorneys at Slater & Zurz are available to help at any hour. Call us at (440) 557-2861 to get a free consultation immediately.
If your Uber or Lyft driver gets into an accident, the rideshare company will likely contact you promptly and try to get you to sign something in return for a modest settlement. You need to decline any offers and immediately call a Cleveland lawyer focusing on Uber and Lyft accidents at Slater & Zurz.
We’ll take over negotiations with the rideshare company to ensure you get the compensation you deserve and make sure your rights are protected.
You can and should sue the Uber or Lyft driver if you’ve been injured in an accident with a rideshare vehicle. The driver is responsible for their actions, and in some cases, you will only be able to get monetary compensation from the driver.
Even if Uber or Lyft is ultimately responsible for compensating you for your injury, by filing a lawsuit against the driver, you ensure that you are protected whatever the circumstances of your case.
While an Uber or Lyft driver is not classified as an employee of the rideshare company, the driver is a contractor. And while the driver is under contract, the company incurs liability for actions taken by the driver.
There are circumstances where Uber or Lyft won’t be liable for your injuries, but in many cases, they will be. Your Uber and Lyft accident attorney from Slater & Zurz will determine whether they are liable in your case.