Protecting Your Rights After an Uber or Lyft Motor Vehicle Crash
Uber, Lyft and other rideshare companies have changed the landscape for much short-distance travel in the United States, offering convenient and often cost-effective alternatives to public transportation. One study found that more than a third of the people polled had used some form of ridesharing service in 2018, more than twice the number who had used such services three years earlier. Though rideshare companies may carefully screen drivers to maximize passenger safety, accidents happen. What should you do if you’re injured in a motor vehicle collision while using a rideshare service?
Get Any Necessary Medical Attention
Your physical well-being takes priority over everything else. If you’re unable to move, don’t try. This isn’t the time to be brave or strong… that might only make things worse. Defer to the knowledge and expertise of emergency medical professionals. Be willing to travel to the hospital by ambulance, if necessary.
If you can get up and walk around without significant discomfort or disorientation, you still need to seek medical care as soon as possible. Take yourself to an urgent care facility or make an appointment with your personal physician. When receiving medical care, be certain to tell doctors and nurses about anything that feels out of the ordinary. Don’t focus on the obvious—cuts, bruises, broken bones—and neglect to talk about your stiff neck. Often, the most debilitating injuries are the ones that take some time to fully manifest. Furthermore, make sure medical personnel document everything in writing.
Protecting Your Legal Rights
In the immediate aftermath of any motor vehicle accident, it’s always a good idea to call the police. The police report may or may not be admissible in a personal injury lawsuit, but police officers typically gather important information that can help you and your attorney, including the names and contact information of witnesses and parties to the accident, the weather conditions at the time, and a description of any roadway problems. If possible, though, you should gather that information yourself, as the police report might be incomplete.
In a rideshare accident, you should notify the company—Uber, Lyft, etc.—as soon as possible. The major rideshare companies carry insurance policies with substantial limits of liability—Uber’s covers losses up to $1 million. You may face problems down the line if you don’t notify the rideshare company in a timely manner.
If possible, get pictures of everything, including the damage to the vehicles, your injuries, road conditions, and the weather. The camera on your smartphone should be sufficient.
Retain qualified legal counsel as soon as possible. Your attorney will know what evidence you need and how to safeguard that evidence. Your attorney also will know who the potentially responsible parties are and ensure that all notice requirements are met. Your lawyer should be your advocate with rideshare companies, their legal counsel, and their insurance providers.
Contact the Proven Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers at Bailey & Galyen
At the law office of Bailey & Galyen, we know the impact a motor vehicle accident can have on every aspect of your life. We offer a free initial consultation to anyone who has been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, including an Uber or Lyft crash. To set up an appointment with an experienced Texas personal injury attorney, contact us by e-mail or call our offices at 844-402-2992. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
