Today, ridesharing is the most popular way for everyone to conveniently get around town, especially if you don’t have a car of your own or need a ride home after a night out at the bar. Statistics show that there were one hundred and seven uber related fatalities that occurred in ninety-seven accidents between 2017 and 2018. From the deaths, 4% were other fatalities such as hitting a tree, 30% were pedestrians, and 65% were due to a crash with another vehicle.
From the statistics, it’s evident that sometimes ridesharing accidents are inevitable. But, have you ever considered what you can do in case you’re involved in a ridesharing accident. This guide explores some of the fundamental aspects you need to understand about such accidents to help you make an informed decision the next time the unexpected happens.
Steps to Take in Case of a Rideshare Accident
The rideshare accidents may be a relatively new and complex area of law. But, the help of a reputable California personal injury attorney can help you heal financially, physically, and emotionally.
It’s also important to note that liability issues tend to get complicated in rideshare accidents, which is why it’s prudent to take immediate steps to safeguard your health and that of your insurance claim. That said, here are several things you must do immediately after an accident.
Seek Medical Help – You probably will be feeling fine after an accident, but understand that shock can sometimes disguise injuries. There are still symptoms of conditions such as whiplash that take about forty-eight hours to appear. So, whenever you are involved in an accident, the most important thing is to protect those involved in an accident.
Seeking immediate medical attention is a crucial first step because it minimizes any physical harm you may suffer and, at the same time, help in establishing the link between your injuries and the accident.
Alert the Police – If you are in a position to make a phone call after a rideshare accident, the first person to call is the police. Law enforcement will take a detailed report based on the accident scene, and this document will be beneficial when claiming damages. As a rideshare driver, you have to contact a rideshare company and report the accident.
Take Pictures – The evidence at the scene of the accident will soon be cleaned up, which is why you need to take pictures of the accident scene, roadside debris, or any visible injuries. Also, don’t forget to take information about your passenger or driver and your ride’s status.
Steps to Take If an Uber Driver is at Fault in a ridesharing accident
As a passenger in an Uber or Lyft accident where a driver’s negligence is the cause of the accident, you can bring a claim against your damages and the driver’s negligence. Still, if you are in a different car and hit by a Lyft or Uber driver, you can bring a claim for any injury you may have experienced.
In case of reckless driving by an uber driver while transporting a passenger, the coverage will be that of the uber commercial insurance policy. It is also highly likely that Uber may end up suspending a reckless driver pending investigation of such a case. Many ridesharing drivers are worried about the consequences of an accident and will try whatever it takes to avoid taking responsibility.
That is why aside from documenting the crash, you should also work with a trustworthy California uber accident lawyer.
Steps to Take If an Uber driver hits you?
Suppose you are a pedestrian and hit by a uber reckless driver. In that case, the question of whether responsibility lies with a driver’s personal insurance policy or uber insurance cover depends on the ridesharing application status. Remember that there are four statuses a ridesharing driver can choose. First of all, if you were hit by a Lyft driver when the application is turned off (driver not working), your California Lyft accident lawyer will opt to file a claim against the driver’s personal insurance company.
If the application’s status is at waiting, it’s only a specific limit of the Uber insurance that will help cover your costs. Usually, the limited liability coverage of Lyft or Uber is $25,000 for property damage and $50,000 per person. If the expenses go above this coverage, then the coverage will go back to the Uber driver’s personal insurance policy.
The last status is where the driver in on-route to pick up a passenger (the ride is active). In such a case, the one-million-dollar policy will kick in. The same policy applies if you hit a passage while giving another passenger a ride.
What can you expect in A Ridesharing Accident Settlement?
If you’ve suffered injuries following a ridesharing accident, you should not face such cases alone; a reliable California Lyft acccident lawyer can help you obtain fair settlements based on all factors. A reputable attorney will help you navigate hospital bills and insurance claims, and they’ll be there every step of the way so that you have all the information you need about a particular case.
Remember that just like any other personal injury settlement, your settlement will be dependent on the circumstances of your case. That said, there is a certain consideration that will influence the compensation that you are going to expect. Here are a few you should know.
Have you incurred any serious injuries?
If you want to secure any outstanding uber accident settlement, you’ve got to prove the full extent of your injuries. You don’t expect to inform your insurance company about your injuries and think they’ll believe and pay. You have to get medical treatment then figure out whether your injuries will have a long-term impact.
You will get a higher settlement if you’ve got serious injuries that cause other losses such as increased medical bills and lost earnings. At times injuries may not seem serious, but over time become problematic. That’s why you have to get medical attention immediately after an accident before finding a California uber accident lawyer to settle your case.
How Much Is Available for Your Settlement?
Ridesharing accidents sometimes bring about a complicated analysis of the amount available for your settlement. Some uber passengers may have coverage such as underinsured motorist overage that they could recover from. In instances where the Uber driver caused the accident, there are comprehensive insurance policies that can cover the damage, which could increase the amount you receive as settlement.
If there is more than one party injured in the accident, they’ll be a race to establish who’ll be first to get compensation, resulting in a substantially lower settlement.
Remember that you’ll not know how much to expect for your settlement until these factors have been evaluated. This could take time, but it’s worth waiting as any rushed settlement could make you get hundreds of dollars less than what you are entitled to.
Seek The Help of Experienced Attorneys for Your Case!
Given the complexities associated with insurance coverage, you should seek professional help from a California personal injury attorney. Understand that many insurance companies will work to minimize the value of any claim, which is more reason why you should seek the services of an experienced attorney.
