Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have become extremely popular across the country, and even right here in Louisiana plenty of people use Uber and Lyft as transportation on a daily basis. But, just like any mode of transportation accidents are bound to happen, and when they do, you need to know what to do. If you were in a
car accident while riding in an Uber, Lyft, or other
rideshare, here is what you need to do following an accident.
Get Everyone’s Information and Gather Evidence
Obviously, your first priority needs to be ensuring that everyone is safe and that the authorities and emergency services are called to the scene. Once you are sure everyone is safe, including yourself, you need to gather the information of everyone involved in the car accident. You need to get the driver’s names, their insurance information, and the names and contact information for any other witnesses at the scene.
You also should try and take pictures of the accident with your phone if you are able to. Try to capture the state of all vehicles involved in the crash, especially your Uber or Lyft, the road conditions, and any other evidence that may be relevant to the car accident such as a low hanging limb blocking a street sign or a traffic light that is not working, etc. Evidence that is collected on the scene usually is very valuable later in the legal proceedings, but if you are unable to collect this evidence at the scene, do not fret. Your personal injury attorney will have a team on their staff that specializes in investigating car accidents and collecting evidence so that they can try and reconstruct what happened, and who is to blame for the accident.
Document Your Injuries and Seek Medical Attention
Injuries that occur as a result of a car accident do not always show themselves right away. It could be days or weeks later when you start to feel pain from your car accident. The best steps you can take after you were involved in a car accident is to thoroughly document your injuries and seek medical attention. Cuts, bruises, etc heal over time, and it is important to show their true extent. Take pictures of your injuries frequently to document the recovery time and their seriousness.
If you are in pain, or have cuts and bruises, seek medical attention after a car accident. It is important to have your doctor examine your injuries not only for your health, but also for your personal injury case. If you want to recover compensation for your injuries, you need medical records that detail the extent and costs of your injuries as a result of the car accident. It is important to note that your injuries may not fully present themselves for a couple weeks. If you’ve seen a doctor regarding your car accident, and then you start to feel new pains, you need to go back to your doctor and get examined again. Injuries like whiplash might not show up the first time you see your doctor, and this injury could have a big effect on you for years to come.
Do Not Speak With Insurance Adjusters or Uber/Lyft Representatives
If you were hurt while riding in a rideshare, you may get contacted by Uber or Lyft, or the insurance companies for the drivers involved in the car accident. Do not give any one of these parties a statement regarding the accident you were involved in or the state of your injuries until you speak with a personal injury attorney. They may even offer you money to sign away your right to a lawsuit. Like we said previously, car accident injuries can take days or even weeks to fully present themselves. Do not sign away your rights and take quick cash before you know the true extent of your injuries.
Can I Sue Uber or Lyft for My Accident?
Since Uber and Lyft drivers are technically classified as independent contractors,
suing Uber or Lyft directly is usually not an option. The good news is that both Uber and Lyft have 1 million dollar liability coverage on their rides so you won’t need to sue either company in most cases to get the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages.
Hire a Baton Rouge Car Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been hurt while riding in an Uber or Lyft, you need to hire a
Baton Rouge car accident attorney with trial
experience. Having a car accident lawyer on your side will not only help you deal with the insurance companies as you pursue fair compensation for your injuries and damages, but you also increase your chances of getting a favorable settlement or decision at trial. You can’t do this alone. After your car accident, seek legal help as soon as you can.
Murphy Law Firm has a
team of personal injury attorneys in Baton Rouge with over 150 years of combined litigation experience. We have handled car accidents involving Uber and Lyft, and all of our injury lawyers are prepared to take a case to trial if that's what it takes to get our client fair compensation. Other car accident lawyers near the Baton Rouge, Plaquemine, and St. Francisville areas will only focus on settling your case as quickly as they can, but at Murphy Law Firm, we focus on getting you the compensation that you will need to recover.
Contact our team today to set up a FREE consultation with a car accident attorney. Call (225) 928-8800 to speak with an attorney about your case today!
