Uber and Lyft are both massive companies, together employing millions of drivers around the world. Accidents are going to happen, yet if you’ve been in a Lyft or an Uber accident, what are your rights? Can you claim compensation?
The answer is yes. If you were the victim of negligence, you have every right to claim compensation for any injuries or distress that you have suffered.
In this guide, we’re going to look at the steps you need to take after a rideshare accident if you want to win your case. We’ll cover everything from whether or not to hire an attorney to gathering evidence.
Are you ready to learn more? Then read on!
What Should I Do After the Accident?
If you want to have the best chance of winning your case, you need to follow a strict set of steps. Let’s take a look at what’s involved.
Right Away: Check Everyone Is Okay
The first thing that you should do after an Uber or Lyft accident is to make sure that everyone is okay. This includes yourself, your driver, the occupants of any other cars, and any pedestrians.
If anyone is injured, call 911 and request an ambulance immediately. You should also ask 911 to send police to the scene of the accident.
Gather Evidence
When medical attention is on the way or you’ve ensured everyone’s safety, it’s time to start gathering evidence. You should take pictures of the scene of the accident. You should also take pictures of the cars that were involved: both interior and exterior shots could be useful.
You should also take pictures of any skid marks or other debris on the road.
In this particular circumstance, you should also take screenshots of the rideshare app. This will prove that you were indeed a passenger in the vehicle.
You should also speak to any police officers on the scene and explain your side of the story. It’s also worth getting the badge numbers of any police that are on the scene.
Exchange Contact Information With Other People
If the case goes to court, you need to be able to contact the other parties involved in the accident. Gather their contact information now.
Report the Accident to the Company
No matter whether you’re using Uber or Lyft, you should report the accident to them through the app. You shouldn’t expect to receive compensation from the companies directly, at least not quickly, however.
Reporting the accident can help to keep the compensation claim process smooth.
See a Medical Professional
Even if you don’t think that you’ve been injured in the accident, it still pays to see a medical professional.
This is because some accident injuries don’t appear until days or weeks after the event. You may have an injury and not even know it!
The second reason this is crucial is that, if you are injured, it shows the insurance companies involved that you were in enough pain or discomfort to go to a doctor. If you don’t do this, they may argue that your pain wasn’t severe enough and that you’re not entitled to compensation.
How Long Will It Take to Claim Compensation?
There’s no simple answer to this question. Depending on the evidence that you’ve gathered and the specifics of your case, it could take months or even longer.
There will need to be an investigation into the accident to discover who was at fault. When this has been determined, and presuming that you were not at fault, the process of negotiating a settlement will begin.
You, as a passenger, are unlikely to be found at fault, unless you deliberately distracted the driver or caused the accident in any other way.
How Much Money Will I Receive?
This also depends on the particulars of your case. If your driver was 100 percent at fault, then you will receive more money than if a passenger wandered out in front of them, meaning that your driver was only partly responsible for the accident.
You don’t need to be injured to receive money, either. There are other factors that could still win you a payout, but you are likely to receive more compensation if you have suffered an injury.
Is There Any Difference Between a Lyft and an Uber Accident?
There aren’t any particularly significant differences between a Lyft and an Uber accident. They’re both rideshare companies, so they both fall under certain legal requirements for these companies.
If you have been injured in one, the advice for the other will likely still be of a lot of use to you.
Should I Hire an Attorney?
If you’ve been involved in a rideshare accident, you should absolutely hire an attorney. An Uber accident attorney can provide many useful services, including speaking to your insurance company for you. Your insurance company will likely try to avoid making a payout, so having an attorney speak to them for you can help your case significantly.
Your attorney can also help you make solid offers to Uber or Lyft, as well as assessing any offers that they send you. If the case goes to court, you will also need an attorney on your side. While you could represent yourself, you’re less likely to win the case if you do this. Expert lawyers, like those at this company, will be a huge help during your claim.
Claiming Your Compensation
If you’ve been injured in a Lyft or Uber accident that wasn’t your fault, you stand a very good chance of winning compensation, so long as you follow the steps that we’ve laid out. Make sure that you secure evidence, see a doctor, and lawyer up.
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