If you were injured in a car accident involving a ridesharing vehicle, know that these rideshare companies are obligated to carry high auto insurance coverage. These insurance policies are in place to cover your injuries and other damages sustained from the crash.
In some cases, the rideshare service’s insurance company will cover passengers’ injuries even if the Lyft or Uber driver was not at fault for causing the accident. However, like with any other motor vehicle accident, you must be careful when dealing with insurance providers directly.
Insurance companies have an interest in settling accident claims in a manner that benefits them, and not you. In order to get the most out of your personal injury claim that you may need to cover medical bills and other damages, follow these six steps on what to do if your Lyft or Uber gets in an accident.
1. Call 911
Regardless of the severity of the accident, call 911 so that the accident can be reported to the police. Do not continue to ride without having the specific details of the accident officially documented. You also do not want to leave the scene of the accident before following the proceeding steps.
As the official record of the accident, the police report will provide the foundation upon which your rideshare accident claim will be built. Uber/Lyft’s insurance provider will want copies of the police report to help determine who was at fault for the accident and who should be held liable for your damages.
2. Take Photographs
Take photographs of the accident scene and all the vehicles involved. Today, this can easily be done with most smartphones. Uber/Lyft’s insurance adjusters need as much detail about the accident as possible so that they can determine the value of your Lyft or Uber accident claim.
Visual evidence like pictures and videos will paint a more vivid picture of what could have led to the collisions, as well as the damages that ensued. If you were hurt during the car crash, photograph your injuries. This will indicate that actual harm was sustained.
3. Notify Uber/Lyft
Notify Uber/Lyft that you have been involved in an accident while in one of their vehicles immediately. This can be done through the help section in the Uber/Lyft app. The sooner this is reported to the company, the sooner the crash can be investigated. Waiting to report an incident can result in losing evidence or create other conflicts that could negatively impact a personal injury claim.
4. Get Medical Attention
If you are injured in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle, get medical attention as soon as possible. Sometimes accident victims want to wait a few days or weeks after being injured to see if their injuries will heal on their own. Do not hold off on having your injuries examined by a doctor.
Uber/Lyft insurance adjusters will try to diminish the value of your accident claim when given the opportunity. Waiting too long to get medical attention makes this easier for them to accomplish, as the accusation will be made that you were not severely injured or injured at all from the crash. Therefore, get checked out by a doctor, even if your injuries seem minor.
Then, follow through with the doctor’s treatment plan. For example, if your doctor determines that you need physical therapy, make sure to go.
The insurance adjuster will check to see if you actually followed through with your medical treatment plan. If they find that you have not been following through with your doctor’s orders, they will use this as a basis to diminish or deny your injury claim.
5. Refrain From Giving Any Recorded Statements
If any representative from Uber/Lyft asks you to give a recorded statement, we strongly advise you not to do so. It’s best to first consult with a lawyer who is experienced in handling rideshare accident cases.
This is because their representatives will try to use your words to diminish the value of your personal injury claim. They are trained to get victims into stating certain keywords that absolve the company of fault. Therefore, remember that anything shared can be used against you.
6. Consult With an Experienced Uber or Lyft Accident Attorney
Consult with a knowledgeable attorney who has a significant amount of experience handling Uber or Lyft accident claims in San Francisco, and who has a proven track record of success.
Because these types of car accidents can involve multiple parties, such as the Uber or Lyft driver and other motorists (motorcyclists, bicyclists, etc.), you will have to interact with multiple insurers and their legal teams such as the at-fault driver’s insurance company, which could also be the personal insurers of Uber and Lyft drivers in certain circumstances. The process can be overwhelming and extremely complex.
Our Uber and Lyft car accident lawyers bring unique skill sets and experience to California personal injury cases. This includes experience in dealing with rideshare companies. We also offer rare insight into the value of Uber or Lyft accident claims in San Francisco.
