Passengers travel in Uber and Lyft rideshare vehicles every day without giving it much thought, but if the Uber or Lyft rideshare vehicle is involved in an accident, knowing the right steps to take can make a big difference in the outcome of your rideshare accident claim.
According to San Francisco Uber Accident Lawyer Dawn Hassell of the Personal Injury Law Firm The Hassell Law Group, if you or a loved one have been involved in an Uber or Lyft rideshare accident, retaining a skilled Uber or Lyft accident lawyer to pursue your claim is essential. A skilled Uber or Lyft rideshare accident lawyer understands the complex legal issues surrounding car accident law, knows what legal rights you have, and importantly understands the true value of your injury claim.
A skilled Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer will zealously represent your best interests until a just and proper financial settlement has been reached with the insurance company. Most Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyers are paid on a contingency fee basis, so their representation costs you nothing upfront. Rideshare accident lawyers are usually willing to be paid a percentage of any recovery or settlement after your claim has been resolved and compensation has been received.
In addition to hiring a skilled Uber & Lyft accident lawyer, taking these important steps after an Uber or Lyft rideshare accident is critical for protecting your legal rights and recovering compensation for your injuries.
6 recommended steps to take after you have been in an Uber accident or Lyft accident
- Call the Police and get a Traffic Collision Report. (Dial 911) and wait for a Police Officer to arrive at the scene so that you can file an accident report, even if you don’t think you’re injured. Often people don’t realize they are injured until several hours or days after an Uber accident or Lyft accident has occurred. Make sure to tell the Police and the 911 operator of any symptoms you are having. Be sure Police interview you and the party who hit you and any witnesses who saw the accident. Tell the police officer all the details of what happened. Note the responding officer’s name and badge number. A Police report will be important later when pursuing a claim against the insurance company of the responsible parties.
- Make sure to record all contact information and insurance information for the Uber or Lyft driver and other party involved in the collision, as well as any witnesses who saw the accident. Note the license plate number, names, and phone numbers on your phone in a note-taking app, or simply text or email those details to yourself. If you are injured ask a bystander to do it for you. Get the insurance company name and policy number for the party who hit you. Write down as many details of the accident as soon as possible after the accident so you don’t forget them over time. Include everything the other driver and any witnesses said or told you, anything you said, how the accident happened, and any symptoms you have.
- Take photographs. Take pictures and video of the accident scene, the position of the vehicles, any damage to the vehicles, the license plates of the vehicles, and the driver’s license and other party’s insurance card, as well as any visible injuries or bleeding you have. If possible, take pictures of the position of the vehicle that hit you before it is moved out of the roadway. Pictures of the vehicles, accident scene, and of your injuries are key evidence and can be very important in favorably resolving your claim.
- Don’t discuss the accident with the other party or make any statements about the accident. Many drivers will seem nice at the time and will even admit fault only to later deny they hit you or say that you were to blame for the accident. Make a note of anything that they say to you, or you overhear them telling others. Good note taking can be very useful in pursuing your claim.
- Seek immediate medical treatment at the scene of the accident. Ask the Police to call for paramedics to take you to the hospital. When you arrive at the hospital, tell the doctors and medical staff what happened and detail your symptoms, pain, and injuries. Be sure to go into full detail about all areas of your body that are injured, hurting, or require any medical attention. Compensation for your injuries is often based on your medical records. It is very important to continue your medical and rehabilitation treatment until your injuries are fully resolved.
- Do not talk to Uber or Lyft’s insurance company, the rideshare driver’s insurance company (or give a recorded statement to your own insurance company) or the other party involved in the accident without your lawyer present. Do not discuss your case with anyone without first consulting your lawyer. What may appear to be an innocent remark on your part as to how the accident occurred, or how you were injured, can be distorted, or changed by others – especially the other party’s insurance company. If anyone does contact you about your case, refer that party directly to your Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer.
Following the above steps will help Uber and Lyft rideshare accident victims recover just and proper compensation for their injuries.
