What To Do After a Rideshare Accident
With the rise of large rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft in the last decade, a study links Rideshare apps to increased traffic congestion and a 2-3% increase in traffic fatalities on the nation’s streets. While Uber and Lyft require their drivers to carry a particular type of insurance to compensate accident victims according to the specific stage of the rideshare at the time of the accident, Uber and Lyft distance themselves from liability by maintaining their businesses as simple app services to connect passengers with contracted drivers.
If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident, it helps to understand how their coverage works and what you can do after the accident to protect your physical and financial health.
Understanding Uber and Lyft Rideshare Insurance
Uber and Lyft drivers must have insurance that provides specific coverage when they are using their personal vehicles for rideshare purposes. If a rideshare driver has an accident while using their car for personal reasons, their own insurance covers any resulting property damage and injuries. Once the driver is actively using the rideshare app and driving to meet a customer or actively transporting a paying passenger, their rideshare insurance provides up to 1 million dollars in coverage per person for bodily injury and property damage. This policy also covers any pedestrians and bicyclists injured by an Uber driver while they’re actively using their vehicle for business.
What to Do Immediately After a Rideshare Accident
The immediate aftermath of an accident can be traumatic and chaotic. You may have painful injuries that leave you immobile, in which case you can only wait for help to arrive and contact a Florida rideshare accident attorney once you are physically able. However, if you’re able to move without causing further injury, taking certain steps can help you to protect yourself in the hours, days, and weeks after the accident:
- If you’re physically able, move to the shoulder of the road and out of the flow of traffic
- Use your phone to call 911 to report the accident
- Render reasonable aid and comfort to any other injury victims
- Use your phone’s camera to snap photos of the accident scene and any involved vehicles. Be sure to include pictures of any mitigating factors in the accident, such as traffic signs, signals, intersections, and obstacles
- Collect the contact information of the driver and any other involved drivers
- Gather contact information of any eyewitnesses to the accident
- Use the rideshare app to report the accident to the rideshare company
- Accept transportation to the hospital with emergency services
By taking these important steps, you not only safeguard your physical health but also put yourself in a favorable position to gain back compensation for your damages.
What to Do in the Days and Weeks After a Rideshare Accident
If you’ve sustained injuries in a rideshare accident you’re likely to need medical treatment and may miss days of work. In the case of serious injuries, your physical and financial damages can be significant. You can maximize your chances of gaining compensation for these damages by doing the following in the days and weeks following your accident:
- Get a complete medical evaluation and tell the doctor about all of your symptoms and every injury
- Ask for a detailed medical report from the doctor with notes on your injuries, recommendations for treatment, and prognosis
- Follow all your doctor’s recommendations, and attend every appointment, procedure, and follow-up. Fill every prescription
- Obtain a copy of the police report of your accident
- Avoid posting on social media
- Call a Coral Springs rideshare attorney before speaking to any insurance representatives
When you’ve experienced painful and/or life-changing injuries due to a rideshare accident, you deserve to regain your financial losses and compensation for pain and suffering so you can focus on healing from your injuries.