What Should I Do After a Lyft or Uber Accident? Many people rely on rideshare services like Uber and Lyft to get around easily and conveniently. However, drivers for these services can be hired in a short period of time with no prior experience, and often have to drive to areas with which they are not familiar. Even experienced drivers are still human and prone to error, or they may be the victim of another driver’s negligence. In any case, car accidents are inevitable and utilizing rideshare services comes with certain risks. If you have been in a rideshare accident it may be confusing trying to determine how to move forward. It can be complicated trying to determine which party’s insurance to contact, who is responsible, and if you are even entitled to coverage. The best thing to do is to contact an Ohio personal injury attorney and let them handle it while you focus on your recovery.
Who Can Get Compensation After an Uber or Lyft Accident?
If you were injured in a vehicle collision with an Uber or Lyft driver, there are a number of ways in which you may be entitled to compensation. First, if you are a driver for Lyft or Uber who is involved in an accident while working, you can file an insurance claim for any injuries suffered. What insurance will pay depends on whether you or another party were liable for causing the crash, but in either case you have access to coverage.
Uber and Lyft drivers are also required to maintain extensive insurance coverage for any passengers who may be traveling in their car. If you are a passenger in a Lyft or Uber and are involved in a collision, you may have a claim against the rideshare driver’s insurance as well as the other driver. Likewise, if you are in a vehicle struck due to a rideshare driver’s negligence or fault, you can file a claim against them. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and E-scooter drivers hit by Uber or Lyft drivers can also bring claims against them. A personal injury attorney can thoroughly review the facts of your case to determine any and all liable parties and then develop a legal strategy to hold them accountable and pursue the maximum amount of legal compensation for your injuries.
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What to Do After You are Injured in an Uber or Lyft Accident
It can be completely overwhelming to navigate the aftermath of an accident. In fact, you may find yourself in a state of shock or unable to move. Here is a checklist to follow after a car accident in the event that you are physically able to do so:
- Call the police. The first step after an accident is to call the police. You actually have a number of days to file a police report, but there are many benefits to calling police to the scene, such as ensuring that all information that you gather from the other parties involved is accurate. You should also call the police if there is any possibility of injury (to any involved person), if vehicles cannot be removed from the flow of traffic safely, or if there is debris in the road that could pose a risk to other drivers.
- Take photos. If you are physically able, take photos and video of the scene on your phone. Make sure to take pictures of the damage to any vehicle involved as well as the scene of the accident. Taking a video of the scene is also a good idea, and make sure to record or photograph any relevant traffic signs or traffic signals that may be important in determining fault for the crash. Also make sure to photograph the license plates of all involved vehicles. If any involved drivers appear to be intoxicated or acting impaired, try to get it on video and remember to report it to officers when they arrive.
- Get the other driver’s information. Make sure to ask for the license, registration, and insurance information for all drivers involved, including your Uber or Lyft driver if you are a passenger. It is a good idea to photograph this documentation to ensure that there are no errors in writing it down, since you will likely still be shaken up.
- Talk to the police. When police arrive, be sure to stick to the facts in answering their questions and do not make assumptions about what happened. However, if you believe another driver may be intoxicated, it is important to report this to the police so that they can conduct the proper testing at the scene. Also be sure to tell police officers about any injuries you have or pain you are experiencing so that they can make a note of it in the report. The police report will play an important part in the overall success of your claim, so it is an important step.
- Get medical attention. After you have talked to the police, the next step is to seek medical attention. Even if you do not believe you are seriously injured, it is important to be evaluated by a doctor after a car accident. Many injuries are not immediately apparent but can be life threatening. Additionally, many injuries, such as soft tissue injuries are certain spinal cord injuries can take days to manifest pain-wise, and if you have not yet sought medical attention it can create a barrier to receiving coverage. Generally speaking, the sooner you seek medical attention the stronger your claim for coverage will be.
- Call a personal injury lawyer. You will likely start being bombarded by calls from insurance agents shortly after your accident, but it is important to talk to a lawyer before you talk to any insurance claims adjusters, and always before you consider accepting an insurance settlement offer.
Why Not to Talk to Insurance Agents After a Car Accident
Insurance agents may seem friendly, but they are predatory by nature. Insurance agents work for insurance companies, and insurance companies would probably go out of business if they gave everyone a fair settlement. Instead, they try to get everyone to accept the lowest possible settlement.
Insurance agents know a lot of tricks to get you to accept a lower settlement than you are owed. For instance, they often act like there is a sense of urgency, and tell you that you only have a limited period of time after an accident. While it is true that there is a time limit on claims, it is not a particularly short one, and it certainly leaves you enough time to consult with an attorney. Insurance claims adjusters want you to accept an offer as soon as possible after the car accident because they know you will not yet have had time to get an accurate or comprehensive idea of your medical injuries or the cost of recovering from them long-term.
Insurance agents are also good at tricking you into making small talk that may seem innocent, but can be used out of context to deprive you of coverage or mitigate your recovery. In short, it is best to sidestep all possible pitfalls and allow a lawyer to negotiate for you. Most insurance companies offer a higher settlement right off the bat if a lawyer’s name is attached to your claim because they want to avoid costly litigation if possible.
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Ways to Strengthen Your Rideshare Accident Claim
One of the best ways to strengthen your rideshare accident claim in Ohio is to keep a journal after the accident, carefully logging the effects that the accident and injuries have had on your daily life. This is important to track because it can have a significant impact on the amount of damages that you are ultimately awarded. In this journal, make sure to date it, and record symptoms, pain level, doctor’s appointments, costs incurred related to your injuries, and any impacts that the injury had on your life that day. For instance, you would record money you spent on prescription pain pills, the co-pay for physical therapy, the fact that you were unable to go to work, and any other information relevant to the injury.
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Common Injuries due to Rideshare Accidents
Rideshare accidents are increasingly common. There are many injuries that can occur as a result of Uber and Lyft accidents. Some of the most common injuries experienced in Ohio rideshare accidents are listed below:
- Fractured and broken bones
- Whiplash
- Herniated disks
- Soft tissue injuries
- Bulging disk
- Nerve damage
- Injuries to the spine
- Cervical spine trauma
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Broken and fractured bones
- Lacerations
- Skull fractures
Whether or not you have experienced an injury on this list, it is important to seek medical attention. Some injuries, such as soft tissue injuries or whiplash, may take several days to feel the physical effects, however, they can cause symptoms that last for months or even become chronic. If you have any indication of pain or discomfort be sure to report it to the police and the doctor so that it becomes a documented part of your claim. Many people do not want to say anything about minor aches and pains at the scene because they assume they are just sore and will get better, but the reality is that most of the time these pains only get worse as the adrenaline rush comes down.
What is My Uber or Lyft Accident Worth?
The value of your Uber, Lyft, or rideshare accident claim depends on a number of factors, including the severity and permanence of your injuries, as well as the total amount of financial damage caused by your injuries. You are entitled to economic damages as well as damages for pain and suffering. Economic damages cover things like medical bills, costs related with medications, treatments, surgeries, in-home care, and transportation to and from medical appointments. Economic damages also include lost wages or reduced earning potential if you were unable to work due to your injury, or if your injury will keep you from returning to a job at the same pay rate you were earning previously.
Pain and suffering damages are generally calculated by taking the full amount of your economic damages and multiplying them by a factor that corresponds to the severity and permanence of your injury. The more debilitating and permanent your injury, the higher the multiplier will be. In some cases additional damages, or even punitive damages, may be available. Because there are so many factors involved, the best way to get an accurate idea of your claim’s total value is to consult with a personal injury attorney who can provide an estimate based on information specific to your case.
In many cases, people accept settlements that are far too low because they were not aware of certain categories of damages that they were entitled to. For instance, many people are aware that they can be reimbursed for medical expenses that they have already incurred, but may not know that they should factor in the cost of all future anticipated care. Not knowing this one fact could cost them millions of dollars in damages, so it’s always a good idea to get experienced eyes on your claim before considering any offers or attempting to DIY your claim.
Do I Need a Lawyer for an Uber or Lyft Accident?
There are many benefits to having a lawyer’s help when dealing with an Uber, Lyft, or rideshare accident. The biggest benefit being the recovery. As noted above, law firms often offer higher initial settlements to claimants represented by an attorney because they know the threat of litigation is looming and it is less costly to offer a higher settlement than it is to go to court. Having a lawyer is a great way to get on the same level as the insurance companies and make sure that you are not being taken advantage of.
Contact the Uber and Lyft Car Accident Lawyers at the Law Firm of Kruger & Hodges
If you have experienced serious injuries in an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare accident in Ohio and are struggling to get the compensation that you are entitled to, the experienced personal injury and rideshare accident attorneys at the Law Firm of Kruger & Hodges want to hear from you. We are ready to fight to get you the support, benefits, and compensation that you deserve. Contact the Law Firm of Kruger & Hodges today to schedule a consultation.
Call or text 513-894-3333 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form