Firouzbakht Law Firm | Colorado Personal Injury Law Firm
Firouzbakth Law Firm Logo

What Should I Do If I Was in a Wreck with a Rideshare Driver?

12/07/2021

There are numerous advantages of commuting with a transportation network company like Uber and Lyft. You can conveniently make a ride request from wherever you are and have a taxi show up in no time. Rideshare services have improved transportation for Americans in more ways than one. However, like other motorists, rideshare drivers can get into traffic accidents too. 

Uber, the most popular ridesharing services provider, reported a total of 58 deaths due to Uber accidents in 2018. From terrible road conditions to reckless driving, many factors are responsible for these crashes that could cause loss of life. Where it's not fatal, they could lead to severe, life-threatening personal injuries and physical damage. As such, innocent victims in rideshare accidents need maximum compensation for their losses and pain from the liable parties.

What you do after a rideshare accident impacts significantly on the outcome of your accident injury claim. The quality of the personal injury attorneys you hire matters a great deal too.

Man calls for help after being involved in a car accident in Colorado

What To Do After a Rideshare Accident

Take the following steps immediately after a rideshare wreck:

  • Seek Medical Attention 

The first thing to do after a rideshare accident is to assess your physical condition and seek medical care. Even if you've only sustained minor injuries or feel no pain, medical attention is still necessary. That's because you will likely be in shock after an accident. As such, the adrenaline you feel can make you unaware of your physical injuries. 

Sometimes, accident victims feel okay even when they've sustained internal bruises. These internal injuries get complicated later on and may even lead to loss of life. Again, a doctor's report could save the day in your subsequent rideshare claim. In summary, regardless of your cases' peculiarities, always seek medical attention after an accident.

  • Ask for Contact Details 

You can help your accident claim by asking for the contact information of everyone involved in the accident. This includes the driver's license plate and car model, home and office addresses, etc. You can also get information about their insurance carrier and look up the at-fault driver's personal auto insurance policy.

Sometimes, the liable parties in the accident may refuse to give that information to you.. If it's an Uber driver, for example, you can call the rideshare company for help. If the responsible party is a regular car driver, you can get the info you need from law enforcement officers. Alternatively, you can seek legal advice on what to do from your attorney.

Again, apart from the drivers and other passengers, don't neglect to speak with eyewitnesses. You can record their accounts of the accident and get their contact details. Also, gather enough evidence by taking pictures and videos of the accident scene from different angles.

  • Seek Legal Advice From Your Rideshare Accident Attorney 

Your rideshare accident attorneys want what's best for you as you pursue your accident claim. Since they know all about auto accidents and insurance laws, you must seek their direction before taking any step. They'd ensure that you don't make mistakes as you progress and guide you through every process till you get a fair settlement. Your lawyers will also represent your case in a lawsuit if it comes to that.

  • Call Law Enforcement and Fill a Police Report 

If you were a pedestrian, ensure that you file a report with a police officer at the accident scene. Also, ensure that your driver fills an accident report if you were a passenger in the accident. However, you can fill the accident report form yourself if the driver neglects to do so. It'll help if you were as detailed as possible while filling the police report.

  • Confirm the Liable Party's Liability Insurance Policy and Insurance Details 

Another vital thing to do is to check out the liable auto insurance company. By doing this, you will get information on the auto insurance policy in place and know what to expect. If the insurance policy limits provide sufficient coverage for your losses, you can file a claim against them. However, if the insurance coverage isn't enough, your attorney will advise on the next step early on.

Can I Get Fair Compensation if My Rideshare Driver Is At-fault?

Ride-share drivers share some similarities with taxi drivers working for a taxi company. Like a taxi company, a rideshare company doesn't own, drive or control the rideshare vehicles. Instead, the drivers contract the rideshare companies to organize rides for passengers with their personal vehicles. As such, rideshare drivers aren't employees of the companies in strict terms.

Getting fair compensation for your injuries depends a great deal on finding the liable parties. So, while finding the liability party in regular car accidents is relatively easy, it's not so with rideshare accidents. That's because there's usually confusion on who bears liability between the company and the driver. 

However, you can determine who will pay compensation based on the period the accident happened: 

  • Period 0

In period 0, the rideshare driver was offline. That means that the driver had the rideshare app installed but wasn't working for the rideshare company at the time. In that case, the rideshare company offers you zero coverage. You'd have to claim compensation through the driver's personal insurance coverage.

  • Period 1

Period 1 refers to when the driver is online on the app but hasn't accepted a ride yet. Here, if the rideshare driver is at fault. Uber/Lyft provides up to $50,000 injury per person liability coverage. In this period, Uber and Lyft also offer $100,000 bodily injury per accident and $25,000 property damage per accident.

A women calls for an Uber on her phone in Colorado
  • Period 2

Period 2 is when the at-fault rideshare driver matches with a passenger. That is, the driver accepted the ride and was going to pick up the passenger. Here, Uber and Lyft will grant $1 million per incident in third-party liability coverage.

  • Period 3

Period 3 is the last stage in the classification. Here, the rideshare driver is online on the rideshare app and has picked up the passenger. That means both driver and passenger were en route to their destinations when the accident happened. Here, Uber and Lyft will grant $1 million per incident in third-party liability coverage just like in period 2.

In addition, the rideshare companies also have $1 million per incident in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. That's not all. Uber and Lyft also offer comprehensive and collision coverage for up to the value of your car. 

In summary, rideshare insurance policies provide comprehensive coverage for different types of compensation depending on when the accident occurred. To get fair compensation for your injuries, you must report the crash as soon as possible. You can log into the ridesharing app, select the ride, and indicate that an accident has occurred.

What if the At-Fault Driver Has No Insurance?

The at-fault party in your rideshare accident may be a driver without liability insurance coverage. As such, they have no bodily injury or property damage liability insurance to cover your losses. If that's the case, you may have to file a personal injury claim against them.

Alternatively, you can approach your personal insurance company for damages if you have personal insurance coverage. For example, your uninsured motorist coverage can handle your medical treatment and property damage where the driver is uninsured. Where your losses exceed the driver's policy limits, you can cover the remainder with your underinsured motorist coverage.

What Will My Accident Attorneys Do For Me?

Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer for your settlement claims is always a wise thing to do.. Your attorneys will help you with the following: 

  • Negotiations With Insurance Adjusters 

Most times, the amount of compensation you get depends a great deal on your negotiation skills. That's because insurance companies, through their adjusters, will hardly offer you adequate compensation at the first instant. A great lawyer possesses impeccable negotiation skills. They'd leverage their talents to get you the best settlement deal possible.

  • Investigations 

Your claim's success depends significantly on the information at your disposal. The more information you have about your case, the higher your chances of making quality decisions. If you have an experienced attorney, they will source all the information you need for your case.

  • Paper Works and Compliance 

Pursuing personal injury claims requires a lot of paperwork. Aside from that, you must also ensure that you file all documents within the required time limit. Otherwise, you risk losing your rights to compensation. An attorney will ensure that you don't make any mistakes or lose your settlement due to noncompliance.

  • Legal Advice 

Your injury lawyer has extensive knowledge and experience in insurance and car accident law practice. Hence, they are in the best position to offer you advice on the best steps to take.

  • Representation in Court

Not all rideshare accident cases get settled out of court.. Sometimes, you may need to file a lawsuit to get justice. In that case, your attorney will offer you top-level legal representation in the courtroom.

Consult Experienced Rideshare Accident Lawyers Immediately!

What Should I Do If I Was in a Wreck with a Rideshare Driver

Were you involved in a Lyft accident, or do you need help with your Uber accident settlement? Maybe you need some legal advice with respect to your rideshare accident claims processes.? Then our personal injury attorneys at Firouzbakht Law Firm are here to offer assistance.

We are renowned rideshare accident lawyers in Colorado and Texas. Our law firm has successfully handled both personal injury claims and lawsuits for claimants in rideshare accidents for years.. Our decades of experience, coupled with our determination for justice, make us the best legal professionals for your case. Give us a call today, and let's begin your journey to maximum compensation in your accident claim.

Free Case Review
crossmenu linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram