Car Accident With An Uber Or Lyft
Getting into a car accident with an Uber, Lyft, or any other ridesharing driver can be a confusing and complicated process, simply because there are a lot of different prerequisites that you will need to examine in order to even determine who you will be filing your claim with. Since rideshare services utilize “gig workers” instead of employees, an Uber or Lyft driver is only operating with the company at the exact time that they are performing work through the platform, and are otherwise completely on their own.
Trying to navigate even the first steps of filing a car accident claim against an Uber or Lyft driver can be complicated, especially when you are trying to handle your injuries, medical bills, and lost wages at the same time. In order to alleviate a significant amount of your legal stressors, contact Abercrombie, P.A. as soon as possible to get the legal support that you deserve.
Read more below to get a general idea of what you can expect following an accident with a rideshare driver, and contact our firm now to request a free initial consultation so that you can speak directly with an experienced legal professional.
What To Do After an Accident With an Uber or Lyft
Regardless of whether or not the other driver is working for a company or simply driving their own passenger vehicle, the initial seconds, minutes, and hours after a car accident can be agonizingly stressful as you try to make sense of the situation. Adrenaline is coursing through your body as you try to decide which steps to take and how to handle yourself. These following steps are intended to be a general guideline to what you should do following an accident.
Prioritize Your Own Safety First
In order to be as effective as possible while trying to handle the situation, it is essential that you address your own needs first. If you have suffered from injuries, you need to make sure that you do not make your injuries worse, since you may simply cause further complications for the emergency responders, as well as for your future legal case.
Call 911
Call 911 as soon as possible so that you can get into direct contact with an experienced emergency operator who will be able to dispatch the police, fire department, and EMTs to the accident as soon as possible. Additionally, speaking with a 911 operator can be a great way to get advice on how to handle the situation as you wait for the emergency responders to arrive and take control.
Get Medical Care Immediately
Oftentimes, adrenaline, pride, or a need to stay strong causes people to look past their own injuries, both at the scene of an accident and beyond. The reality of the situation is that if you do not get medical care as soon as possible, your injuries may become more complicated, and the insurance company will be able to point to a lack of evidence when they refuse to pay for them. Seeing a doctor is the best way to get appropriate care while establishing a clear and official record.
Contact a Lawyer
Regardless of whether or not you follow these previous steps, if you are planning to file an insurance claim then the most important administrative step that you can take is to hire an attorney as soon as possible. When you are working with an insurance company, especially the company representing the other driver, you can be certain that they will be taking all possible steps to limit your settlement. When you are working with an Uber or Lyft accident attorney like Abercrombie, P.A., you can be confident that you have a lawyer who is fighting for your rights every step of the way.
Determining Where To File a Claim After an Uber or Lyft Accident
As we mentioned, trying to determine which insurance policy is active at the time of the accident can be somewhat confusing. Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services only cover their contractors when they are actively working as a driver, meaning that they are either driving a fare or on their way to pick up a fare. Even then, there are more complexities that will need to be unraveled before we make a final decision. Our history of experience with these types of cases will be a significant help during this process.
